Carver space heater
Darren Jarvis
experience of servicing Carver appliances)!
I have the Carver Traumatic SB1800 heater (with thermostat) fitted to my
caravan. When set to high (i.e. "T" position), it works for a few minutes
and then immediately shuts off with a clunk. I think the thermocouple is
shutting off the heater, but this doesn't happen when set to low.
I did notice that for a day or so before this started happening, the flame
was bright yellow when set to low, but the normal blue colour when on high.
It now burns with a blue flame again on all settings, but shuts off on high
after a few minutes.
I suspect there may be a blockage (soot, rust, dead rats, etc.) which would
have caused the original yellow flame; and possibly also causing the
thermocouple to trip if the stronger flame is being pulled away from the tip
in it's search for air...
Thanks in advance - I know I can count on you all!
Darren
Darren Jarvis
> caravan. When set to high (i.e. "T" position), it works for a few minutes
> and then immediately shuts off with a clunk. I think the thermocouple is
> shutting off the heater, but this doesn't happen when set to low.
It *was* the thermocouple - but I didn't find out until it started tripping
out with the heater on low; and eventually wouldn't keep the burner lit when
the control knob was released.
The nut which secures the thermocouple into the gas valve had come loose and
it was't making proper contact...
> I did notice that for a day or so before this started happening, the flame
> was bright yellow when set to low, but the normal blue colour when on
high.
> It now burns with a blue flame again on all settings, but shuts off on
high
> after a few minutes.
>
> I suspect there may be a blockage (soot, rust, dead rats, etc.) which
would
> have caused the original yellow flame; and possibly also causing the
> thermocouple to trip if the stronger flame is being pulled away from the
tip
> in it's search for air...
Heater seems to be running fine (though the flame does have a yellow spike
in the middle) unless it's been on high for a while in which case the flames
become bright yellow. Reading the Carver manual confirms my suspicions that
there may be a blockage somewhere...
Darren
Darren Jarvis
As in previous posts, the flame did have a yellow spike in the middle -
deciding the burners needed a good clean I set about removing the plastic
air inlet. One of the threaded rods (with a wing nut to hold the assembly
on) snapped whilst undoing the nut. Not a problem, I though, spares should
be available.
Attempting to undo the (badly corroded) burner supply pipe, the pipe twisted
in half. Again, not a problem, I thought.
The burner itself wasn't in too bad condition so I decided to remove the
aluminium heat exchanger however it had previously been bodged with some of
that aluminium exhaust/intake piping used on cars instead of the proper
exhaust pipe. The seal between the exchanger and the floor also looked
suspect, and the thermocouple looked like it was about to die...
Total cost now would have been bad enough (probably around £60) -
unfortunately, when I filled the heat exchanger with water (to rinse off any
loose soot), it showed a leak in the seam! This would have been dangerous
since it was not properly room sealed and the leak would've allowed the
fumes into the caravan.
So now I've disconnected the heater and I'm wondering whether or not to
replace it with another or just rely on mains and a fan heater. I wonder
how much a new heater is, or if someone has one in good condition they want
to sell???
Darren
George Hendry
Darren Jarvis <sec...@ntlworld.com> writes
>Just condemned the heater - here's why...
>
Just fir interest Daren,
How old is the van. The heater was fitted as original equipment and with
the level of corrosion you found perhaps we should all be aware of the
problems. The previous 'bodged' repair means that the problem has been
there for some time. Was the van serviced in the last 12 months?
Regards
--
George Hendry geo...@agcomp.demon.co.uk
Merseyside UK http://www.agcomp.demon.co.uk/engines
Robinson Hot Air Engine\ Armstrong,Whitworth\ Lister B\ Lister D
DazB
As an aside to this thread, you state that the exhaust has been "bodged" by
using some of
that aluminium exhaust/intake piping used on cars instead of the proper
use the flexible aluminium type tubing for the exhaust as standard. IIRC, my
new Truma heater, which indecently exhaust vents through the roof, does most
definitely have this type of flexible pipe. Similar to the hot air ducting
around the van, though of smaller diameter.
But, that said, it sounds as though your heater is most certainly not in the
prime of life!! having a leaking heat exchanger is certain reason alone to
dispose of the heater. IMHO, heat exchangers, by there nature, should not
have any repairs attempted on them once they are past there sell by date!!
Good luck, with finding a replacement.
DazB
"George Hendry" <geo...@agcomp.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4O9EjAAQ...@agcomp.fsnet.co.uk...
Darren Jarvis
>
> How old is the van. The heater was fitted as original equipment and with
> the level of corrosion you found perhaps we should all be aware of the
> problems. The previous 'bodged' repair means that the problem has been
> there for some time. Was the van serviced in the last 12 months?
> Regards
The 'van is 20 years old, so I should really be expecting some work of this
type - better check the rest of the gas lines...
Darren
Darren Jarvis
by
> using some of
> that aluminium exhaust/intake piping used on cars instead of the proper
> exhaust pipe. Well, I do believe that from new, a number of heaters
actually
> use the flexible aluminium type tubing for the exhaust as standard. IIRC,
my
> new Truma heater, which indecently exhaust vents through the roof, does
most
> definitely have this type of flexible pipe. Similar to the hot air ducting
> around the van, though of smaller diameter.
> But, that said, it sounds as though your heater is most certainly not in
the
> prime of life!! having a leaking heat exchanger is certain reason alone to
> dispose of the heater. IMHO, heat exchangers, by there nature, should not
> have any repairs attempted on them once they are past there sell by date!!
Whilst I can't comment on new heaters, I know mine should have had a shaped
solid pipe (as shown in the exploded diagrams). Also, mine had a thin bead
of silicon smeared around it where it had been forced into the outlet on the
heat exchanger (there should be a silicon O ring).
As you said, a knackered heat exchanger really does spell the end for it.
:-(
Darren
Darren Jarvis
I'm not too worried about spending money to replace the heater - obviously I
don't want to spend much because the 'van itself is so old (though in very
good condition); but equally, I don't want to wake up dead!(?)
If I can find a s/h heater in good condition, then I would probably buy it -
but how do you tell?
Darren