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There are nine different 1800 models with three different maximum heat outputs dependent on the size of the van, these range from about 1.2kw to 1.8kw. With the 1.8kw on test I regularly see 180-200degC at the top of the heat exchanger which means it should do a fairly good job if it's the right type and working correctly.

Problems can be a blocked burner upsetting the flame or blocked jets cutting down the gas supply. On one 1800 model fitted with a temperature sensor, I am still finding the sensor is in it's travel position instead of being re-mounted near the base of the heater as it should have been...and this is after 15 years!!!. This causes it to shut down to quickly as it's reading the fire temperature rather than the general air temp

Anyway what do you mean by the flames "a bit pathetic"

If the symptoms are like mine, it could be gunge in a supply pipe. Look at the caravan pages on this website http://www.seered.co.uk

There are references to oily gunge blocking the feed pipe to the heater. Can also give poor ignition in cold weather..

It does sound like a blockage which is cutting down the total gas getting to the burner. Heavy ends or as sweet calls it oily gunge is allegedly causing the trouble with many of the new type fixed regulators today,  before then it used to get through the regulator and lay in the lowest part of the pipe system and generally this caused no harm. However if the oil finds it's way into a dip in the pipe work it can collect and more or less block the pipe and starve the appliances beyond of gas.

There is reference to feed pipes in SeeRed and the corrosion they suffer on the outside, I have also known them to rust internally and the flakes fall and block the narrow pipe as it turns into the burner.

But as I said there are nine different 1800's with three different jet bars fitted and unless you know how it was setup in the first place it could simply be how it should work.

Hi Gary,

As a newbie to this forum, I see you're the person probably best able to throw some light on my own Carver heater problem (and please forgive if I should be starting a new thread).

The Carver heater on our year 2000 Swift Baronette van has behaved strangely since only a few months after we got it three years ago.  For a start, the slider switch has always been very loose, i.e. it doesn't feel like it's making solid contact to change the settings, so we don't know whether it's operating properly or not.  The other round switch that incorporates the ignition seems to be OK.  The other thing is that once we start off using the heater at all, when it's switched off it seems to start up out of the blue and the fan cycles on and off.  This goes on through the night as well and we're continually fiddling with the slider switch to try to stop it.  The noise does our heads in especially at night.  We haven't been using the heater yet this season, just using an oil filled radiator for night time.  So it's lying quietly at the minute and glaring malevalently at us, it seems.  Sorry I can't remember the model number of the heater, and the book is in the van which is not kept at home.  (We don't tour any more and the van is used as a static).  Hope you can help with any suggestions.

Yours,

Gadgetgranny 

Blimey you dug deep to find this!!.

Carver made two versions of this fire, the 2000 and the 4000/5500 so it will be one of them.

Top and bottom though is that slide switch, until you know that works correctly it's not worth considering anything else

Gary

 Wonder if you could help me on my prob with my Carver blown air on Electric, its the 3000 model according to documentation was an upgrade when new, when we use it on auto fan we leave it on in the winter to keep us toasty anyway i always find once it reaches a certain temp it cuts off but dosent kick in when the temp drops again , and we have to press the reset button behind the fire to get it heating again otherwise its just cold air that gets blown out, and usually this happens at 3am.  Could this be a thermastat problem?

I have found the fan motor can spin to slowly on 'slow fan' if theres a poor earth and the Fanmaster overheats and trips, first then check you have a good earth connection to the control board from the control switch,

After that it generally comes down to the motor being worn and or a build up of fluff on the fan and internally on the elements. This requires a complete strip down to clear away the fluff and a new motor if stiff to turn or any sideways play whatsoever in the motor shaft.

Thanks for your reply, Gary.  Thought it might come down to what you said.  Can you easily take the front, top or both off these heaters to have a shufty?  We would like to have a look at it with the cover off, to see if anything obvious can be seen at the slider switch.  Look forward to hearing from you.

GG

The cover pulls of two catches at the bottom, it then lifts up and off, however the wiring loom to the slide switch only has a couple of inches spare length so as you lift you need to spin the front so the switch stays more or less where it is. Once the front is upside down the loom connection can carefully be pulled off, the switch itself you will now see is held by two screws.   If the cover is stiff to pull off then first check it has not also been screwed near the floor to stop it coming off while travelling.

Frankly the switch design is not the best and not wise to try and fix yourself, even trying to get it apart can damage it. I repair loads of them and have far more trouble fixing faults left by DIY attempts than what stopped it working in the first place.

Many thanks for your reply, Gary, and for the most illuminating description of things.We're going to the van tomorrow and will try to take the cover off for a look.  I take your point about trying to fix the switch, and if there's nothing obvious can be fixed, we'll just leave it alone.  I think we're simply hoping to see maybe a loose wire that can be tightened, or some such easy thing.  I can definitely say though that we'll not be meddling if the feeling is not to.

Will let you know how we get on over the weekend, but meantime many thanks for your help.

GG