I found water around the wall in the ensuite and took me a while to figure out it was coming from the Truma B14 in the cupboard next door.
The previous owner had it fitted (as replacement for old one) in 06/09, so only 3/1/2 yrs old. It's on a drip tray but I bet the tray has rusted somewhere out as nothing is coming out of the drain holes.
My caravan repair guru says go Suburban (SW6DE) and as I've got enough room to do it, I'll go that way - plus it will give me 22l instead of only 14
I have to cut it in to the outside wall & I may have to do some small cabinetry on the door panel on the inside but it will be worth it for peace of mind seeing the Truma didn't last that long.
-- Edited by Happyjack on Monday 21st of January 2013 01:54:40 PM
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
Thanks, Ozjohn. Hopefully the anode shouldn't be a problem for the next 12 months or so as I'm on rainwater from a 22000l tank that's just for me - although it is getting a bit low without rain for many months here. Howard
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
We have a Suburban, Gas only, mate has one Gas/240vac. He told me that when in a caravan park for a quick heat up turns the unit on gas and 240 at the same time. But
Talking to someone in the industry, his comment was the dual units use up the anodes quicker, do not know the truth about this comment.
Peter, the only reason I can think that 240v heating uses up the anode quicker is that there must be some current generated within the unit eg there is a very small current between the positive and the earth wire, which I guess must be attached to the tank somewhere, which then forms an electrolytic circuit through the anode. Electricity & Electrolysis can do funny things - talk to boat owners. I've heard of props eaten away because someone on the marina was doing arc welding and the earthing (?) was faulty. BTW there's an excellent instruction for installing the Suburban at Dreampod.net
Howard
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
Just off to pick up the unit from carriers - great price and service by Coast to Coast in Brisbane - ordered yesterday and was here this morning. Now the fun begins,:)
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
Question on with the Suburban: Do I need to refit: 1: the tempering valve that was fitted with the Truma? The Suburban manual says it has a 60C thermostat to comply with AS/NZ 3500 Part 2. so one would expect that this should do the job required an do away with the need fro the tempering valve.
2 at the HW outlet there was a red JG elbow that also has a a one way hose fitting that I think is designed to allow air to be drawn back in to the tank, maybe when it was drained. There was a short hose from this going out through the floor As the Suburban is drained by taking out the anode I can not see the need for this. BTW I have not been able to find any reference to this fitting anywhere.
Cheerss Howard
-- Edited by Happyjack on Saturday 26th of January 2013 04:57:19 PM
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
I suspect the pipe through the floor you are talking about maybe the overflow from the TPR valve, caravans do not normally have a tempering valve. I personally would suggest that if you are not sure what you are doing, especially with the gas I would get it installed professionally, and have an LPG lock up test and operating pressure test carried out. Otherwise you may be building a bomb.
Do I know what I am talking about? I am a qualified and still licenced electrician, gas fitter and refrigeration mechanic.
Thanks Andy, I have spoken to my local caravan repair man as well. It is all as much as i suspected: 1: The Suburban does not need a tempering valve as the thermostat does the job. He is puzzled as to why one was fitted in the first place. 2: the pipe from the red JG fitting at the hot water outlet from the old Truma was to allow air to be drawn back in to the cylinder when it was drained so as not to cause an airlock. Interestingly there was no isolating valve or the cold water inlet either - now remedied. 3: For the gas i am only re-aligning the short length of pipe from the shut off/isolating valve to the Suburban inlet. The caravan guy says all I need to do is the soapy water test on the 2 joints - and as an ex-LPG bottle fill trainer I know all about that. I would think that the 2 tests you mentioned would still be ok from when done when I bought the caravan 9 months ago?
I am taking all the prep work slowly and have just finished: Running all the loose 12v supply wires on the cylinder through a flexible conduit and cable tying where necessary to keep them all tidy and in a position that allows me to slide the unit into the cavity. Suburban left all these 4 wires at different lengths where they come out of the junction box and the terminate at the controller - grrr.
Contouring the previous copper gas line to fit ( the aforementioned caravan man kindly loaned me his bender to make it all look professional. :) )
Creating a fibreglass drip pan with through floor drain so that hopefully I don't have the problem I had with the Truma when it leaked.
Building an aluminium frame around the opening that the door flange will seal & screw to.
2 annoying things: bought a tube of Sikaflex 291, though it was white but didn't see the very small "Black" :(. used it on the internal parts of the cavity as it's not seen, but today bought a tube of Fullers white sealant adhesive. Went to use it and it's obviously out of date as Bleedin hard to squeeze out of the gun. 3rd time lucky tomorrow at Mitre 10 ?? with a grump to the manager.
I'll post some pics of the various stages.
And thanks to Dreampod ( http://www.dreampod.net/boroma/hws/suburban.html) for such great info - made fitting a lot easier.
Cheers HOWARD
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The secret to a good old age is an honourable pact with solitude - One Hundred years of Solitude
We've got a Truma in our Avan and have had a few problems with it. First we had to have it repaired for a leak while still in waranty. Secondly, I rinsed it out with white vinegar then, alas, the heater element kept throwing the earth leakage circuit breaker then discovered the automatic igniter would not stop running even though the gas burner was on. Next I find that the gas is burning back near the vent as well as in the burner itself so am thinking of changing to a Suburban SW4DEA as I have had enough with the Tr"a"uma of the Truma. It is only 4 years old! Cheers Lee
-- Edited by LeeDJ on Saturday 25th of May 2013 11:08:14 AM
-- Edited by LeeDJ on Saturday 25th of May 2013 11:08:51 AM
Have got the suburban and have a leak inside the van, looks like it is coming from the inlet pipe, and like everything in a van not the easiest to access. Will check with the local caravan repairer to see how to fix Ken
