travelyounger wrote:

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We built a plywood box around the heater so as to put things on top of it and to protect the unit .Best to leave a gap around it to allow air flow .

Cheers

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 Timber boxes around/over heaters can be a recipe for disaster - manufacture an aluminium cover. - easily bent and pop-riveted.

Luvtravelling wrote:

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Hi
I have boxed the unit in but my concern is dust entering the gas cowl mounted on the outside of the van I have installed a mud flap to protect it from stones etc. but dust may be a problem n unmade roads.

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 Where is the cowl located.

It is located just below the outside wall in a specially designed metal protective duct the same as Jayco use on their Silverline

My flue passes through the outer floor and into a metal protective duct which is dust and water proof. The cowl is fitted to the front of duct flush with the outside wall. My only concern is dust entering the flue via the cowl, Truma used to supply a cover but they are no longer available.

I have contacted Truma they said the caps have not been available for two years and they have had no warranty claims in that time due to dust. Thanks for your input.

No I havent Bob I am just trying to find out whether it is necessary or not. Truma don,t seem to think it is so I might just leave it open, the problem with a cap is that if you forget to take it off the unit will backfire and possibly cause damage.
Cheers
Noel

From my perspective as a licensed plumber that explanation is totally BS. This from the installation Manual. I am not being critical here, just stating what I believe to be the truth.

Exhaust duct
With the Trumatic E 2400 (Australia) only use the Truma exhaust
duct AA 24 (part no. 39420-00) with wall cowl and the
combustion air supply duct ZR 24 (part no. 39440-00) for the
installation, as the appliance has only been tested and approved
with these ducts.

You see if that is still part of the manual on your heater it is a requirement of the manufacturer

It is part of its fitting and permit into Australia.

The fact that they no longer have it available is a separate issue and in no way discharges them from their responsibility of correct flueing. The air-in, and the exhaust pipe are made of one tube within another tube.They both terminate at the wall. and dust will certainly get into the workings over time in very dusty conditions.

Some arbitrary claim from a bloke who has had no problems is not going to help you if dust gets into yours.

Thems the facts as I know them to be....They can be mitigated only if they have it on the say so of the Australian licensing permit authorities. The reason most companies push diesel heaters its that any one with a spanner can install them. Gas heaters come under licensed plumbing regs.

I would say you have been give a story to match the suppliers non availability of parts. But I might be wrong and you need to go further with questions or take the initiative and fit a cover. Even fitting a self made cover, though seemingly ok is wrong in the eyes of the law.

An incorrect cove might let exhaust gas back down the inlet pipe and ruin a heater parts. Man have lit the thing with the cover on and it simply stalls. A home made one may let it run to destruction. But this is not know to me as I have no info on their demise.Most likely the thing would stop automatically with out fresh air.

It is a common thing that Truma make covers for their Hot water systems as well to prevent dust whilst traveling.

Any way food for thought, all the best with it.

 

 

Thanks Bob I think I will find something to cover it as not only dust but wasps spiders etc. may choose to nest in the flu and would be difficult to clear without removing the flue and reinstalling it with new O rings, which are only available from Truma.
100mm pvc cap sounds like it might do the job.
Cheers
Noel

Luvtravelling wrote:

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Thanks Bob I think I will find something to cover it as not only dust but wasps spiders etc. may choose to nest in the flu and would be difficult to clear without removing the flue and reinstalling it with new O rings, which are only available from Truma.
100mm pvc cap sounds like it might do the job.
Cheers
Noel

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 That's what I'm thinking. Dirt and bugs.

 

I was told there was an incident relating to it starting with cap on. But as its an intake as well as an exhaust dont know how that could happen.

 

bobsa wrote:

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My Truma gas heater has a Truma supplied plastic dust cap

screw to a metal cowl
I have only ever seen plastic caps

As I mention before mine will not start with the cover on , 

the cap seals itself against the wall and no air or exhaust can get in or out

wont light without air

bob

-- Edited by bobsa on Tuesday 18th of May 2021 02:30:13 PM

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 The Truma caps are not PVC Bob.

Well Chris you are bloody wrong
check out the name on the cap
this from my TRUMA heater
looks like a Truma PVC cap

Bob

-- Edited by bobsa on Tuesday 18th of May 2021 06:02:29 PM

Bob the PP Cap has a melting point of 160 deg C, the PVC caps melt at around 85deg C.

 

 

PP TV20.

Polypropylene, also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-polar. Wikipedia

Melting point: 160 °C

Formula: (C₃H₆)_n

IUPAC ID: poly(propene)

Density: 0.855 g/cm³, amorphous; 0.946 g/cm³, crystalline

 

Pvc (pipe)

Polyvinyl chloride is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year. PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. Wikipedia

Formula: (C₂H₃Cl)_n

Solubility in water: insoluble

Solubility in alcohol: insoluble

Solubility in tetrahydrofuran: slightly soluble

Threshold limit value (TLV): 10 mg/m³ (inhalable), 3 mg/m³ (respirable) (TWA)

Abbreviations: PVC

Melting point

185° F/ 85 C

Material

PVC, Rigid

Thanks Guys for all your input it is much appreciated. I am going to go with a PVC pipe cap and put a sign beside the power switch to my heater as a reminder to remove cap before turning on power.
Cheers
Noel

I had installed gas heater with exhaust out under van , that was no good as exhaust didnt move away and stayed around outlet i was getting error messages . I phoned truma who advised need to get outlet to side of van where there is natural air flow/movement , problem solved .