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| 3010 Compact Boiler | Engine Heat Exchanger | Gas Leak Detector | FAQ | Company Profile | Global |
| Electronic Press Kit | Contact Us | Home |
| 3010 Compact Boiler | Engine Heat Exchanger | Gas Leak Detector | FAQ | Company Profile | Global |
How do you operate the digital control panel?
User instructions for the digital control panel should be included with your vehicle, but Alde also provides a 4-page quick start guide.
How do I get hot water without central heating?
Set the desired temperature to well below ambient on the digital control panel.
Since the Alde 3010 Compact is a combi boiler, it heats both central heating fluid and hot water simultaneously.
If the desired temperature is set ≈5 °C below ambient on the digital control panel, the central heating will cut out— the heating fluid will not be circulated to the convectors and the living space will not be warmed.
Hot water is still readily available and the central heating will still cut in if the ambient temperature drops below that desired.
How much hot water does the system produce?
The Alde 3010 Compact boiler uses a store of 8.4 litres of hot water at 50 °C. When mixed at the fixture to a usable 38 °C, this amounts to ≈12 litres of heated water every 30 mins. Cold water <10 °C will take longer to heat.
The Hot Water Boost function—the tap icon on the digital control panel—cuts out the central heating for 30 mins while another 8.4 litres of hot water is heated to 65 °C. This amounts to ≈15 litres of heated water, mixed. Assuming an average flow rate of 3 litres per minute, this gives ≈5 minutes of continuous heated water for showers.
This can also be used to kill Legionella bacteria if the system has been standing unused for a spell. (Legionella bacteria dies within 2 mins at 65 °C.)
For boats, the boiler can be coupled with the Alde Sigmar Marine Twin-Coil Calorifier for an additional 40 litres of hot water or ≈72 litres of heated water when mixed.
As a point of reference, a typical small household continuous, instantaneous hot water system can have a max draw of ≈68 A on 230 V mains, or consume ≈200 MJ on LPG.
How quickly should the living space warm up?
Varies greatly, depending on the interior and exterior temperature, the design of the heating circuit and insulation of the living space. How much power the boiler has available has an effect, from 1 kW to 7.5 (UK spec) or 8.5 kW (European spec). Generally the living space will reach room temperatures within the hour, similar to the warm up time in a household central heating system.
How do I get the best performance from the system in my vehicle?
Ensure the heating circuit is bled of air (it should be correctly filled using a genuine Alde 1900-811 service pump). Ensure that vents in the furniture are not blocked. Use the maximum power electric heating (either 2 or 3 kW) and gas heating (propane only). Take showers after the central heating has brought the living space up to temperature. Don't allow the temperature in the living space to drop below 10°C if out for the day/night.
Do I need to winterise my system?
Yes.
Unless your vehicle is specifically stated to be self-winterising, even if the central heating is left at 5°C over winter there may be chinks in the domestic hot water system that are insufficiently heated to prevent the standing fresh water freezing.
Can I operate my central heating while the domestic water is drained down?
Yes.
How much current does the heating system draw?
There are two actions in the Alde 3010 Compact boiler that draw current from the vehicle battery, the exhaust fan venting waste gases (≈0.4 A), and the heating fluid being pumped around the circuit (≈0.2 A). So normal draw from the vehicle battery is between ≈0–0.6 A with an LPG supply, or ≈0–0.2 A with a 230 V supply only. Max draw is 1 A for approximately three seconds at system start-up.
Max draw from 230 V mains is ≈9 A on 2 kW, ≈4.5 A on 1 kW. ≈13.5 A on 3 kW (European spec).
How much gas should the heating system consume?
The multi-stage burner in the Alde 3010 Compact boiler will consume 19.8 MJ (propane) or 23 MJ (butane) on full power, equivalent to 405 g/h (propane) or 460 g/h (butane).
The multi-stage burner is intelligently controlled, however. The boiler will use 230 V mains in preference to LPG, for example, and will only fire on one stage of the gas burner to maintain fluid temperature.
Generally, when running on gas in the British climate, a 6 kg bottle of propane should last all weekend.
The exact amount of gas consumed will vary from one day to the next, from one vehicle to the next. The heating system design is only one of three major factors, the others being insulation and ambient temperate.
At what level should the fluid in the expansion tank be?
When the fluid is cold it should stand approximately 1 cm above the Min mark.
What type of fluid is the heating system filled with?
A mix of 60% water, 40% ethylene glycol antifreeze in the UK, or a 50/50 mix for the rest of Europe.
60/40 will protect down to -25 °C. (The lowest temperatures recorded in the UK in the severe winter of 2010 were -22.3 °C in Altnaharra, Scotland.)
Ethylene glycol antifreeze is also used for car radiator systems, and is commonly available from fuel stations and car accessory retailers.
Alde UK use Comma Super Coldmaster Concentrated Antifreeze with 2 year Longlife protection. Castrol Antifreeze NF (Grade Code 1729) with 2 year service life is also suitable. Water should be clean, fresh water.
What general maintenance and consumables are there?
Your vendor should provide a maintenance schedule, though the following can be assumed:
The ethylene glycol antifreeze is a consumable and will need replacing before its protection expires. Most UK vendors use antifreeze with 2 year protection from new.
In the British market, 2928-420 and 2928-433 12 V circulation pumps are proven to have an average lifespan of 3–5 years. Other circulation pumps have a substantially longer lifespan.
Seasonally make a visual inspection of the boiler's air inlet and exhaust outlet hose. Check that the hoses are still secured and undamaged, and that the external flue is clear and free of obstruction. Contact your dealer if the hose is damaged.
An annual gas tightness test should be carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Propane or butane – what type of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) should I use?
Propane. Alde UK recommends the use of propane in all Alde systems within the UK.
The operating temperature ranges of propane and butane are different, and will impact performance even at mild temperatures. The gas in a smaller bottle will cool quicker as it is tapped than in a larger bottle, and bottles chilled overnight may not warm to operating temperature again during the day. Thus the size of a bottle and the temperature at which it's stored will also impact performance.
BS 5482 Part 1 states, "For butane cylinders, satisfactory service might not be obtained at temperatures of less than 10 °C; the most suitable temperature range is from 13 to 30 °C. For temperatures less than 13 °C, the use of propane should be considered."
Propane will operate down to -42 °C and is more suitable for the British climate.
Be aware that Campingaz (formerly Camping Gaz) is butane, and therefore not recommended for use in our systems.
Autogas is a blend of propane/butane, and the ratio varies greatly across Europe. Although UK Autogas is mostly propane it also contains additives that may make it unsuitable for use in Alde system.
What is the power output of the Alde aluminium convectors?
The convectors put out ≈400 W per metre. Doubled up, they put out ≈600 W per metre.
Can copper parts be used in the system?
No.
There are aluminium contact surfaces in the boiler, and copper parts will cause corrosive galvanic action in any aluminium parts of the system.
How much fluid is in the central heating system?
Varies. As a rough guide, most caravans and motorhomes hold 10–13 litres, boats 15–25 litres, portable cabins 18–22 litres.
How much does an Alde system weigh compared to a forced (blown) air system?
Varies. Bear in mind that even when the heating circuit is full, an Alde system provides both central heating and hot water, rather than having two separate systems. When full, an Alde system will weigh on average 7 kg more than a separate heating and hot water system, the equivalent of 3 bags of sugar.
What caravan and/or motorhome manufacturers currently fit Alde systems?
Alde systems are usually fitted into higher end models.
When fitting out your vehicle the Alde system is as flexible as you are, but Alde UK has some advice for getting the best performance out of your system, and for avoiding some common design mistakes.
Alde heating systems will have service requirements set by the vendor, based on their system design and relevant legislation.
Alde UK uses a network of certified service agents throughout the country.
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