mack100 Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Chatting to our mobile caravan engineer the other day, he advised us not to leave our water heater on overnight. His view was that as the pump wasn't being used during the night, the water level would drop below the level of the heating element and cause a burnout. This event would not then be covered by any warranty. Quote Now a Swift motorhome owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screenman Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Sounds a bit odd to me, I would imagine it would have a thermal cut out to prevent this. I knoe our van does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatric Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I would assume that for efficiency the heating element is in the bottom of the tank [hot water rises] and in a good system nothing would drain back unless air was getting in somewhere, somehow. My first thought is the caravan "engineer" is no such animal, just a part competent amateur trying to make some money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dobbie Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 My pump is on all night and always plenty of hot water. Never heard of this before, what happens if you don't use hot water during the day? Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianinhull Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Mack100, I agree with Screenman & geriatric. there should be a thermal cut out that will prevent overheating and maintain water at 70c. Plus, the element is located in the bottom of heater as in a kettle, only way it would drain is if there is a hole in tank below element or drain valve left open. Maybe he is a caravan "environmentalist" rather than an engineer, trying to save on electric. Brian Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blue '07 X Trail Aventura 2. 2dci, S7 Pageant Provence + Truma MK2 Original Mover, Blue Kampa Rally 390 Awning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brecon Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 As has been said, unless you have a leak in the water system or the non return valve is not working, then what you have been told is rubbish. as long as your water system is in good order it is quite safe to leave the heater on all night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack100 Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 My first thought is the caravan "engineer" is no such animal, just a part competent amateur trying to make some money. Not so, he is a highly competent and skilled caravan engineer who has every certificate going. However, I take on board all that is said here and assume that perhaps truma water heaters are a gap in his knowledge! Quote Now a Swift motorhome owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 The Truma water heater has an overheat trip switch built in to it, so even if you switch it on with no water in it, it will just trip out and not burn itself out. We leave ours on all the time. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatric Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Not so, he is a highly competent and skilled caravan engineer who has every certificate going. However, I take on board all that is said here and assume that perhaps truma water heaters are a gap in his knowledge! That may very well be the case, and if you are happy to use his services good for you, but on the evidence of his comments re the hot water system I would not let him anywhere near my caravan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John KS Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 That may very well be the case, and if you are happy to use his services good for you, but on the evidence of his comments re the hot water system I would not let him anywhere near my caravan. Nor me. Have caravanned for years and left the water heater on. Never had a problem. Think he may be a little mistaken or perhaps misunderstood!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatric Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Nor me. Have caravanned for years and left the water heater on. Never had a problem. Think he may be a little mistaken or perhaps misunderstood!!!!!!! The only criticism of my hot water system is that until I added a mains neon there was no indication the electric water heater was switched on. Twice I came home after EHU use and left the heater on for 2/3 weeks without using any water. Never tripped out, never burnt out, just cost me pennies to keep a tankful of water hot unnecessarily. I blamed the Boss, iit's her job to do inside, I do outside. She said she couldn't see the little red bit on the switch - that's why I added the neon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack100 Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 I would not let him anywhere near my caravan. Thanks for the advice, I didn't realize he was so useless. Quote Now a Swift motorhome owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian dunning Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Thanks for the advice, I didn't realize he was so useless. Hi Mack, If you were happy with his abilities previous to this issue, why not question him on the subject as he may explain what he meant, Regards, Ian. Quote Bailey Unicorn Vigo and a 2017 Ford S Max and a Mercedes SLK AMG Sport 9 speed, my mid life crisis solver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatric Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I'm not claiming your 'engineer' is useless - just that he's talking rubbish about Truma hot water tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
univega Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 As said before, it's perfectly safe to leave the water heater on overnight. It's fitted with overheat protection. If it trips, switch off for 5 minutes and switch on again. You'll damage the overheat device if the water heater is left switched on for prolonged periods with no water in it, but these can be replaced without having to change the complete water heater. Quote Kia Sorento XT & 2009 Swift Challenger 620 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechSteve Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 its perfectly safe to leave it on, trust me on this one, im not going into the nine yards of how it works, but the ultra store is a good peice of kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechSteve Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 My first thought is the caravan "engineer" is no such animal, just a part competent amateur trying to make some money. were not all like that though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arc Systems Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Good bit of kit until it goes wrong- then it's fundamental weakness comes to light, ie, it's a sod to work on!! However, overheat protection is not a weakness, it would have to be well covered on this score simply to gain CE approval, worst case would be the overheat to trip and as can happen. .. refuse to switch back on again! I'm trying to think of a plausible possibility to suggest otherwise? is it possible for the water to syphon back into the aquaroll perhaps? Quote Arc Systems are specialist Carver caravan product repairers, committed to providing a comprehensive service as well as spare parts for these popular heaters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechSteve Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 is it possible for the water to syphon back into the aquaroll perhaps? Only if the NRV fails Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atom Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Or infact that it has ever been fitted !!! Also I have known it to be fitted on the wrong side of the drain valve Ant Quote Atom If it sounds too good to be true-----it probably is !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechSteve Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Or infact that it has ever been fitted !!! Also I have known it to be fitted on the wrong side of the drain valve Ant LOL, seen that before to The NRV in the pump housing would have to fail too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 LOL, seen that before to The NRV in the pump housing would have to fail too or as happened to me the NRV failed back to the onboard tank, left with an empty heater and sizzling noises when the tap was turned on to wash in the morning after turning on the heater 20 minutes earlier. IT DOES HAPPEN. geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BertieBassett Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 always leave mine on when out in the van, never heard of a problem. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Rubble Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 (edited) Twice I came home after EHU use and left the heater on for 2/3 weeks without using any water. Never tripped out, never burnt out, just cost me pennies to keep a tankful of water hot unnecessarily. Have I misunderstood this or do you really mean that you tow your caravan home with the water heater tank full of water ? Or perhaps you meant you left your caravan on site with the EHU connected and the heater left switched on ? Edited April 6, 2009 by Barney Rubble Quote Barney. BAILEY UNICORN BARCELONA behind a KIA SORENTO 2. 5 CRDi XSWe used to take the CHILDREN. ........now we take the GRAND-CHILDREN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian dunning Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Have I misunderstood this or do you really mean that you tow your caravan home with the water heater tank full of water ? Or perhaps you meant you left your caravan on site with the EHU connected and the heater left switched on ? Hi Barney, I believe many people, some of them members on this Forum, do tow with the various systems, such as water/toilets etc, charged. I think it's a lot of uneccessary weight to be towing around but each to their own , Regards, Ian. Quote Bailey Unicorn Vigo and a 2017 Ford S Max and a Mercedes SLK AMG Sport 9 speed, my mid life crisis solver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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