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I see no reason at all why you can't fit a timer in the Electrical supply for the heater. However, to arrange to switch the heater onto gas by timer may be a touch more undesirable, not to say difficult for the layman.  - The electrical side depends on how old your van is, really.

On most new vans, the heaters tend to be simply plugged into a 13A socket near to the heater (quicker on the production line, you see). If it is just use a plug-in timer.

If it isn't and it is wired into a fused spur, then you will need a wall-mounting type timer which will need to be wired in permanently. They are starightforward to do - Usually labelled L,N,E and Load L, Load N, E. The wiring to the heater is disconnected from the spur unit load terminals, connected into the terminals marked Load on the timer, and a new piece of flex wired between the spur and the timer.

If you are not 100% confident about work on mains electrical gear then you are strongly recommended to get hold of a friend or similar who is. (as a last resort pay someone!)

Hope this helps.

In the summer we switch off the central heating to save hot water pipes heating up the house on the way to the cylinder and use the immersion heater on an inline timer purchased from a plumbers merchant.

The immersion heater uses a lot more current than the van water heater so I can't see any reason why you should not be able to do the same.

The problem you have is cost effectiveness?, once the water is hot it will only need topping up. If you let it go cold overnight and then switch on you will use a lot of gas getting it hot again and this must be off set against the saving of switching off. Modern Trauma water heaters are not insulated while older ones had about 2" of fibreglass 'loft' insulation around them, you should get a decent saving by installing some of this as there is little or no cost for materials.

As far as electric is concerned, most people say " we have payed for it so we will use it", it is admiral that you do not think this way. If you do go for a timer, I wouldn't use a wall mounted type, they cost about £40 while the plug in type are three for a tenner. Again it's cost effectiveness.

Gary I was interested to read that you say that modern Truma water heaters are not insulated.

Things change so quickly these days that I wonder if you class our 18 month old model as modern!

As one of the leave it on and let the thermostat do its job brigade I am not aware of great heat coming off the casing or that my feet get hot in bed !

We do use the gas and electric together when we both shower as it heats up quicker again.We do of course switch off the gas immediately as we have to pay to replace it.

I take your point about the attitude of not switching off the electric and my conscience did prick yesterday on leaving the toilet block at CC Warwick when I read the notice saying stick to 5 amp in cold weather and we'll all stay on.!!

We always switch off when using the microwave .

Also agree with your point about the cost of plug in timers ---now that would be a little job to do when"The Weakest Link" is on.   

Cheers  and GOODBYE

I only made the point about a wall-mounted timer because I wasn't sure whether there would be a 13A socket. If there isn't, a plug in timer isn't going to be much help!

Wozzer

Me too

Quote: Originally posted by Wozzer on 16/08/2004

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I only made the point about a wall-mounted timer because I wasn't sure whether there would be a 13A socket. If there isn't, a plug in timer isn't going to be much help!

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But at 3 for £10 - a plug in timer is still going to be much cheaper than a fixed unit even if you need to buy a fixed socket and a plug to feed the water heater.........

The amount of wiring that needs doing is the same and you can take the opportunity to install a double socket so that you have one spare in case you need it for anything in the future!

Quote: Originally posted by BOZZ on 27/04/2005

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Would there actually be a saving in tuning the hot water of at night?

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I am asked a few times a week for an 'electric' upgrade for the Carver water heater "as we are paying for it so we might as well make 'best' use of it"...well the truth is the cost of about £180 pays for an awful lot of gas!!...As a newly wed..many moons ago?? I kept our heating on (such as is was) 24/7, neighbours with the identical system used to comment on how warm our house was compared with their's and how big our bills must be?. Well the truth on comparison was we paid somewhat less...which pleased me no end

The point is what you might think is a saving....quite often is not 

P.S. yes John your trauma water heater is not insulated...even though it's now more than two years old!!!

Quote: Originally posted by arc systems on 28/04/2005

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I am asked a few times a week for an 'electric' upgrade for the Carver water heater "as we are paying for it so we might as well make 'best' use of it"...well the truth is the cost of about £180 pays for an awful lot of gas!!...though it's now more than two years old!!!

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I'm not sure I understand........are you saying that modern vans come with a gas only water heater?

The new van we bought a few weeks ago of 1992 vintage has gas/mains water heater - however the heater for the blown air is only gas and does not work off mains electric