Truma heating - gas/electric mix

Smileydaz replied on 26/11/2019 11:26

Smileydaz

Posted on 26/11/2019 11:26

Hi All,

This is my first time using the discussion forum so be gentle with me.

I purchased my first motorhome a few months back, a Swift Escape 614 and have used it several times over the past 3 months or so. I’ve encountered a few teething problems which the dealer has happily rectified, however, it’s due to go back in later this week as whilst away for the weekend last week, the heating stopped working on electric!

The dealer thinks it could be the fuse on the Truma boiler as it’s working fine on Gas.

My question here is, when should I use the heating on Electric only, or Gas only, or Mix? I currently use it on Electric only when on sites but with the weather getting colder, I have been advised to switch over to Mix, some people have even advised me to leave it on Mix all the time. I’d be grateful for your thoughts on this subject as I’m currently very confused.

Thanks

57 replies

SteveL replied on 28/11/2019 10:32

Member

SteveL

Motorhomer from Nottinghamshire

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:32

I suppose all systems have there problems. We really liked the Alde in our U2 Cadiz. However, it was not fault free. A significant leak and a £300 PCB failure out of warranty. We would have liked it in our current MH but it was not available. Plus looking at others where it was, it presented too much of a weight penalty for a 3.5 tonne van. So far despite our reservations we have got on fine with the Truma. Keeping the van warm at night the fan is very quiet and the heating whilst not as even as the Alde is better in some respects, as the bedroom end stays cooler and the bathroom is toasty warm.

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Tinwheeler replied on 28/11/2019 10:34

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:20 by Bakers2

Gosh I'm considering another motorhome, ours has had to go due to OH health this yearand a damp related problem plus I wasnt confident enough to drive it at the time. (Long time since I last drove it and all the emotional upheaval.)

Thought we'd go for something smaller and newer that I felt confident to deal with on my own. Reading this I'm put off by more by heating than the choice of vehicles and driving...... Ours was old and until the damp, which could have been solved the guy who bought it has sorted, but beyond the issues I needed this year! The heating and hot water was on or off - simples. Never been cold in there once we had that sorted 😂😂.

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:34

B2, there’s no doubt that the modern electronic controls are mind bogglingly complicated to start with but, like most things, you get used to them and it soon becomes second nature.

I’d not let that put you off getting another van but be prepared to sit down quietly with the instructions and have a dummy run or two before you use the van and always carry the instructions with you.

replied on 28/11/2019 10:56

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:20 by Bakers2

Gosh I'm considering another motorhome, ours has had to go due to OH health this yearand a damp related problem plus I wasnt confident enough to drive it at the time. (Long time since I last drove it and all the emotional upheaval.)

Thought we'd go for something smaller and newer that I felt confident to deal with on my own. Reading this I'm put off by more by heating than the choice of vehicles and driving...... Ours was old and until the damp, which could have been solved the guy who bought it has sorted, but beyond the issues I needed this year! The heating and hot water was on or off - simples. Never been cold in there once we had that sorted 😂😂.

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:56

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

replied on 28/11/2019 12:14

Posted on 28/11/2019 10:56 by

I have had both Alde and now Truma and although we had an early introduction to its quirks in a very cold Spain earlier this year, now that I am on top of that I much prefer it to the Alde. It warms up quicker, is quieter at night and as we rarely need heat the option to use it as ventilation instead has been very useful. Like the Alde there is the option for all sorts of clever settings to automate timing and temperatures but again like the Alde I have not bothered studying it enough to set it and just manually control the temperature in the van.

Posted on 28/11/2019 12:14

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SteveL replied on 28/11/2019 13:08

Member

SteveL

Motorhomer from Nottinghamshire

Posted on 28/11/2019 13:08

I'm surprised your Alde system was noisy though, if ours is on electric it is virtually silent and I have excellent hearing, in fact I need check the panel to see if the pump is running.

I suspect it depends where the pump is placed. In our U2 Cadiz it was under the front seating mounted on the boiler. Sleeping in the rear singles it was virtually silent. However, I suspect it would have been a different matter if we had ever used the front seats as a bed, as you would have been directly above it.

replied on 28/11/2019 13:19

Posted on 28/11/2019 12:14 by

Being able to use the Truma for added ventilation sounds good; I was not aware that it takes air from the outside. I'm surprised your Alde system was noisy though, if ours is on electric it is virtually silent and I have excellent hearing, in fact I need check the panel to see if the pump is running. On gas there is some slight noise from the boiler especially on start up, but I imagine the Truma is much the same. The Truma system in our previous MH was not good but that would be an unfair comparison as it was much older.

PS I have a suspicion that Truma Air is more suited to caravans and Alde to MH's.

Posted on 28/11/2019 13:19

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JVB66 replied on 28/11/2019 13:56

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 28/11/2019 12:14 by

Being able to use the Truma for added ventilation sounds good; I was not aware that it takes air from the outside. I'm surprised your Alde system was noisy though, if ours is on electric it is virtually silent and I have excellent hearing, in fact I need check the panel to see if the pump is running. On gas there is some slight noise from the boiler especially on start up, but I imagine the Truma is much the same. The Truma system in our previous MH was not good but that would be an unfair comparison as it was much older.

PS I have a suspicion that Truma Air is more suited to caravans and Alde to MH's.

Posted on 28/11/2019 13:56

Why would one system be more suited to each individual type of LV as both are caravans just that one is self propelled,and the other has a separate vehicle that is available without having to pack up to go out in

Tinwheeler replied on 28/11/2019 14:09

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 28/11/2019 13:56 by JVB66

Why would one system be more suited to each individual type of LV as both are caravans just that one is self propelled,and the other has a separate vehicle that is available without having to pack up to go out in

Posted on 28/11/2019 14:09

You fell for that one, JV. 😀

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JVB66 replied on 28/11/2019 14:11

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 28/11/2019 13:08 by SteveL

I'm surprised your Alde system was noisy though, if ours is on electric it is virtually silent and I have excellent hearing, in fact I need check the panel to see if the pump is running.

I suspect it depends where the pump is placed. In our U2 Cadiz it was under the front seating mounted on the boiler. Sleeping in the rear singles it was virtually silent. However, I suspect it would have been a different matter if we had ever used the front seats as a bed, as you would have been directly above it.

Posted on 28/11/2019 14:11

The Aldi in one of our friends motor caravans was quite noisy at one point,(after a service)it was found that the pump had been turned up to high speed?for the service, and not reset slower?