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Topic: Whale Space Heater - Power and Noise

AllanI

08/12/2016 at 11:36am
Location: High Peak Derbyshire
Outfit: None Entered

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The caravan is a 6 month old Elddis Chatsworth 482 purchased from Glossop Caravans. It is fitted with Whale underfloor space heating. Up until last weekend the caravan has been used with electric hook up or the space heater has not been needed. The weekend just gone however no EHU was available and heating was required so gas was used.

The 12 volt electric requirement of the fan when the space heater on gas alone was such that a 110amphour battery was discharged over 48 hours to below 11 volts.

The space heater is very noisy on gas, not only the fan but the burner as well. The external exhaust flue also makes a loud noise which can be heard in the caravan, this noise appears to be caused by the shape of the end of the flue pipe. The noises are so loud and caused vibration of the bed box such that undisturbed sleep was not possible.
I have raised these issues with Whale and Elddis.
Elddis response was contact dealer and Whale said what was happening was normal.

I am very disappointed with this installation and wouldn't have bought the 'van if I'd realised how much it would affect rallying without hook up.

shaggy2000

08/12/2016 at 12:50pm
Location: County Durham
Outfit: Explore 304

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I've got an Elddis Xplore 304 and it probably uses the exact same Whale heater (its slung underneath the van to save on space) and I agree on gas its not quite, but I wouldn't call it loud. As for vibration, cant say I ever experienced anything like that.

As for the discharge of the battery, not really too sure about mine because I've always been on EHU, I only used heater on gas once just to make sure it actually worked.

I would definitely take it back to the dealer and see what they say.

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navver

08/12/2016 at 7:37pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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It says it uses 1.6 Amps of 12 volt on gas so yes a 110Ahr battery probably will be gone in 48 hours.

There's quiet night time setting of 500W on electric

http://www.whalepumps.com/rv/siteFiles/resources/docs/resource-library/ah_cok_spac........

Greg M

08/12/2016 at 8:47pm
Location: South Wales
Outfit: Elddis Majestic 155

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Hi,
I have the same system and I have used it on gas.
I wouldn't call it silent but I don't find it so loud as to upset sleep or be a nuisance and certainly no vibration.
As regards the battery ,I would think if other things were used ,lights etc that would be about right.
Regards,
Greg

-------------
Growing old is not for sissies

Grampian91

09/12/2016 at 12:36am
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

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Seems to be similar to a night heater on a lorry.

They burn the diesel and not unknown to have a dead battery in the morning if the batteries are getting on a bit. At least twin 12v batteries that are larger than a 110Ah leisure one and as navver says 1.6amps soon takes its toll.

The diesel fired ones sound like jet engines when they fire up, you can get exhausts for them though. Maybe an option to look into? Or even extending the intake and exhaust to face away from your sleeping area?

Opensauce

09/12/2016 at 7:40am
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If the noise is intrusive then it will be due to installation. This type of system will aways be slightly noisy. As pointed out similar diesel powered systems are used in trucks but only overnight & cut outs are fitted to avoid excess battery drain.

If retailer & manufacturer will not admit to any specific problem with installation then really it's preception. Some might find noise more intrusive than others. The op could fit an extra 110a/h battery in parallel to extend running period for heater & get an independant service engineer to look at heater with a view to re route exhaust & maybe install sound insulation material.

AllanI

09/12/2016 at 9:34am
Location: High Peak Derbyshire
Outfit: None Entered

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The manual says it draws 1.7 amps on gas only. It does not it draws 2.7 amps when the burner kicks in. I know there is a quiet setting on electric but that isn't much use when you're not on hook up. My issue is that a modern caravan is not able to be used away from hook up or without a reserve of power that cannot be provided by a battery that fits in the battery box.
Whale have said any alteration to the device including changing the exhaust will invalidate the warranty.

Johnnie Boy

09/12/2016 at 9:38am
Location: Cleveland
Outfit: Swift select 164

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I would take a spare battery with you and change the battery out when needed, then you have a chance of getting the battery charged up if you need more power later in the trip.
You can also charge it in the tug when driving around sightseeing.

I have that heater type in my now 6 year old van and have no issues with it, runs OK. (when I get the chance to use it !)

navver

09/12/2016 at 7:13pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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We have a combi boiler in our bailey pursuit and can restrict the fan speed with the control panel. Can you do that.

It is a sad fact that modern caravans are less suitable to run on battery than older ones. Many of our old vans would run with a gas heater using no 12 volt at all.

shaggy2000

12/12/2016 at 12:52pm
Location: County Durham
Outfit: Explore 304

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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 09/12/2016
We have a combi boiler in our bailey pursuit and can restrict the fan speed with the control panel. Can you do that.

It is a sad fact that modern caravans are less suitable to run on battery than older ones. Many of our old vans would run with a gas heater using no 12 volt at all.

I've never been on a site that doesn't have electric hook-up, but I have to admit, I really couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to use my van without it.

Like you say, I get the feeling that most vans these days are bade purely for electric hook-up with all the bells and whistles that go with it. I mean I saw a van advertised the other day that allows you to turn the heating on from an app on your mobile. The idea being that you've been out for the day, and want to get back a nice warm van. So you access the vans heating using your app while your "out and about".

I'm not saying this would use a lot of electricity, but most of the sites I've been to have difficulty getting a phone signal, let alone one that's good enough to access the net.

Grampian91

12/12/2016 at 9:52pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

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My fridge and cooker require no 12v power but the water heater does, uses 12v for the ignition and control panel.

Never looked at the power consumption though.

The 1.6A / 1.7A will be the continuous rating not the initial boost required to ignite the burner etc.

If its having to do that repeatedly then that maybe why it killed the battery so soon? Have it on a lower fan and heat setting but continuous instead of on/off to see how that compares.

AllanI

13/12/2016 at 1:32pm
Location: High Peak Derbyshire
Outfit: None Entered

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Amp draw when burner and fan are running is 2.7 amps continuous. When a Whale Space Heater is running on only gas the user has no control over fan speed or heat setting. The unit runs until the 'van thermostat says it is up to temperature then it turns off until the temperature drops and the cycle begins again.

checkley1973

14/12/2016 at 9:04am
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636

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We had this heating system in our Bailey Bologna. Works fine but not great on gas due to the noise. Didn't bother us as we always had hookup.

I note bailey have stopped using it again now so maybe too many complaints.

Grampian91

14/12/2016 at 3:27pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

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Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 14/12/2016
We had this heating system in our Bailey Bologna. Works fine but not great on gas due to the noise. Didn't bother us as we always had hookup.

[B[ I note bailey have stopped using it again now so maybe too many complaints.

If it uses enough power to zap a 110aH battery in 2 days im not surprised. Seems someone didnt think that through properly.

navver

14/12/2016 at 10:24pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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I reckon you could put a gas heater under the floor with no electrics at all and put a Riviera label on it. I'll bet it would keep you warm as toast.

The problem is that if you want the heater to take up no wall space it really needs to be fan assisted to blow the heat around because most caravans have a lounge, a bedroom and a washroom.

Little caravans don't really fit into that but still end up being stuck with the big caravan heating system as they have even less wall space.

A gas convector heater like they used to put on the wall would work fine but just wouldn't distribute the heat through all the rooms, although it's all that's needed in a little caravan.

AllanI

20/12/2016 at 1:13pm
Location: High Peak Derbyshire
Outfit: None Entered

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Response from Elddis:-
"Further to your email of recent date.

Unfortunately, due to the design of the heater being fan assisted this will take a certain amount of draw from the battery.

We can advise we will certainly forward a copy of your concerns on to our research and development department in order that your concerns are known at the highest levels and we can only offer our sincere apologies for any disappointment this issue may have caused.

Assuring you of our best intentions at all times."

Thanks for nothing.

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