FAQ

You can both service and purchase products from Alde and Truma at the new Truma Service Center.
However, we have no online or phone sales. If you are not going to be in the vicinity of Truma Service Center, we refer you to our talented dealers who are trained and know about our products. You will find all service locations in North America under ”Service and support”.

Yes, you can use your heating system as normal even if the water heater is empty.

Yes. There isn’t a specific “frost protect” setting but if you’re hooked up to 120 V electric power you could leave the system running on 2 kW electric heating at 41 °F (5 °C) on the control panel. Check regularly for signs of condensation and remember to drain down the fresh water.

But be kind to the planet; ask yourself whether you really need to heat an empty caravan or motorhome all winter?

Most people should set their modes to All, to do the same thing every day, since you can’t set different programmes for each day.

As for the time, it’s best if you imagine a 24 hour clockface.

If you want the room temperature to be warm during the day but cooler when you go to bed at night

In this example we set desired temperature on the Main Menu to 72 °F (22 °C). This is our “normal mode”. We set Night Mode to 63 °F (17 °C), starting at 22:00 and ending at 06:00 when we get out of bed. At 06:00 the desired temperature will revert to the 72 °F (22 °C) we set on the Main Menu. We do not set Day Mode.

If you go out in the morning and come back later in the day

Night Mode is set as before but we also use Day Mode. We set Day Mode to 50 °F (10 °C) to keep off the chill, starting at 09:00 when we leave, ending 15:00 when we get back. In the times between Day and Night Mode, the desired temperature reverts to 72 °F (22 °C).

If your programmes don’t work together

If you set Night Mode and Day Mode to start/end at exactly the same time, they will conflict. There’s also no reason to set Night Mode and Day Mode back to back. Your programme should have an hour or so in “normal mode” between Night and Day Mode, otherwise you don’t need all three modes.

Finally, don’t forget to set the clock.

Try these quick guides:

• Compact 3020
• Compact 3010 with touchscreen control panel
• Compact 3010 with digital control panel

You can also play around with our online emulators.

Make sure you’ve bled the heating system (it should be filled using an Alde filler pump 1900 811). Make sure that the ventilation ducts in the furniture aren’t blocked. Use maximum immersion heater and gas output while heating. Avoid taking hot water for showers, etc. until the vehicle is warm. Don’t allow the temperature in the vehicle to fall below 50 °F by day/in the evening.

Set the desired temperature to well below ambient on the digital control panel.

Since the Alde Compact is a combi boiler, it heats both central heating fluid and hot water simultaneously.

If the desired temperature is set ≈41 °F 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.

All instructions are available to download or print under “Manuals”. If you don’t know which boiler model you have, look at the pictures under “what boiler model do I have“.

The heating system must be filled with a mixture of water and glycol. Use only high quality ready-mixed glycol (with inhibitor) intended for aluminum heating systems. The heat transfer medium must be Propylene glycol based boiler antifreeze. The antifreeze must meet FDA (GRAS) standards or be non-toxic fluid having a toxicity rating or class of 1, as listed in Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, 5th ed.

If you are using concentrated glycol, the mixture should consist of 60% distilled water and 40% glycol. If the heating system will be exposed to temperatures below -15 °F (-25 °C), the glycol content must be increased but not to more than 50%.

Do not mix different types of glycol; this can lead to coagulation of the glycol fluid.

Note: Never use tap water!

Alde heating system is an open system with aeration in the filling / expansion vessel. By using an open system, wall thickness in pipes, connecting rubber and other system details can be reduced, which has a positive effect on the system’s total weight.

When the liquid is cold, the level in a system of normal size should be about 0.5 inch (1 cm) above MIN. The bigger the heating system, the more the liquid expands and so the level should be lower when the system is cold.

The heating system must be filled with a mixture of water and glycol. Use only high quality ready-mixed glycol (with inhibitor) intended for aluminum heating systems. The heat transfer medium must be Propylene glycol based boiler antifreeze. The antifreeze must meet FDA (GRAS) standards or be non-toxic fluid having a toxicity rating or class of 1, as listed in Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, 5th ed.

If you are using concentrated glycol, the mixture should consist of 60% distilled water and 40% glycol. If the heating system will be exposed to temperatures below -15 °F (-25 °C), the glycol content must be increased but not to more than 50%.

Do not mix different types of glycol; this can lead to coagulation of the glycol fluid.

It depends on the quality of glycol already in your heating system. Glycol is a consumable item and has to be replaced before it stops providing protection (lubrication and rustproofing). The glycol should be replaced every two years. So in the long run, it’s worth using a good quality glycol.

Varies. As a rough guide, most caravans and motorhomes hold between 4-8 gallons.

Yes, you can use your heating system as normal even if the water heater is empty.

Find your safety/drain valve. Lift the yellow toggle and water will drain out through the underside of the vehicle. Open all taps, showers, and water outlets.

If you’re draining down for winter, don’t forget to empty your grey water and black waste too.

Set the room temperature required to well below the ambient temperature on the control panel. As Alde Compact 3010 and 3020 is a combination boiler it heats both the heating fluid and hot water at the same time. If you set the required temperature to about 41 °F  below the ambient temperature on the control panel, the heating fluid won’t circulate out to the convectors as the circulation pump will be stationary. THERM (green) should be activated beneath the pump operation symbol on the control panel.

The Alde Compact 3010/3020 has a water heater with a volume of approx. 2.2 gallon of hot water at >122° F When the hot water is mixed with cold water (approx. 50° F) to normal usage temperature (approx. 100° f), this gives you around 3.2 gallons of hot water every 30 minutes.

The colder the water, the longer it takes to heat up. If the 120 V electric elements are used instead of gas for heating the water heater, the capacity is slightly reduced. The function ”extra hot water” on the digital control panel for Compact 3010/3020 raises the water temperature to > 149 °F in under 30 minutes. This means ≈ 4 gallons of heated water, mixed and ready to use. Assuming an average flow rate of 0.8 gallons 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 149 °F.)

As a point of reference, a typical instantaneous water heater will draw ≈40 A on 120 V mains, and that’s without providing central heating.

Regulations require stored hot water to be heated to scalding temperature to prevent the growth of legionella, a deadly bacteria.

Some installations are covered by regulations that also require thermostatic mixer valves to be fitted, to mix the hot water down to non-scalding temperature before the outlet. In the UK, touring caravans and motorhomes built for sale to end customers who are private individuals, are not required to fit thermostatic mixer valves.

The Alde TMV3 meets the highest UK standard for care homes, hospitals and nurseries and can be retrofitted by any Alde Service Partner.

This varies enormously depending on the internal and external temperature, how many people are present, the design of the heating system and the vehicle’s insulation. And also depending on whether you’re just using the 120 V immersion heater (1 or 2 kW) or just gas, or the immersion heater and gas together. This gives an output of anything from 1 kW to 7,4  kW. Room temperature inside the vehicle normally reaches a pleasant level within one hour if you’re using both gas and the immersion heater.

There are two mechanisms in the Alde Compact boilers that draw >0.1 A current from the vehicle 12-volt 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 ≈0.2–0.6 A, including the control panel. Max draw is 1.9 A for approximately three seconds at system start-up.

Max draw from 120 V mains is ≈7,9 A on 1 (1 kW) or ≈15,8 A on 2 (2,1 kW)

The burner in the boiler operates in two stages. Minor heat requirement – lowest output stage (0.54 lb./h – 245 g/h propane) and major heat requirement – highest output stage (0.9 lb./h – 405 g/h propane).

The boiler is so ingeniously designed that in the first instance it selects the immersion heaters as primary heat source if 120 V is connected to the vehicle and if the immersion heaters are activated on the control panel. If this is not enough, the LPG burner starts automatically (if this is activated in the control panel).
Electricity is often cheapest, so this heating option is the cheapest one.

Yes.

Unless your vehicle is explicitly stated to be self-winterizing, even if the central heating is left at 41° F over winter there may be chinks in the fresh water system that are insufficiently heated to prevent the freezing.

Set the desired temperature to well below ambient on the digital control panel.

Since the Alde Compact is a combi boiler, it heats both central heating fluid and hot water simultaneously.

If the desired temperature is set ≈41 °F 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.

High communication load on the yellow connector on the control panel.

1. Check the cable, connectors and your vehicle’s master panel.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

Error with the red cable between the boiler and the control panel.

1. Check red cable between boiler and panel as well as its red contacts.
2. Check cables connected to the boiler’s black connector, e.g. cable between AC and boiler or panel.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

Can occur if the panel has been exposed to high humidity for an extended period of time.

1. Ensure that the panel dries up and then restart.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

The circuit board in the boiler is not intended for the Alde Compact 3020 HE and will not work with the 3020 HE panel.

Contact Alde Service Partner.

There is a connection error between the boiler and control panel.

Probably a problem with the boiler’s PCB. The error may also occur due to incompatible software in the boiler and control panel.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

There is a Remote Control error: The remote control connected to contact JP3 on the back of the control panel is disconnected or defective. For example, remote control can be Alde Smart Control.F

1. Check cable and connectors.
2. If it has been disconnected press the “uninstall” button on the control panel.
3. Press reinstall to connect the device again.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

If the vehicle’s battery voltage to the boiler is lower than 10,8 V the boiler will stop. This automatically resets when the voltage reaches 11 V. If the voltage drops further other error messages may appear.

These messages only occur because the battery voltage is/has been to low and are therefore not real malfunctions.

Ensure that the boiler gets the right voltage for right function.

The combustion fan is defective.

Contact your Alde Service Partner.

Ensure that gas is available to the boiler. To reset the error;

1. break and reconnect 12 V to the boiler,
2. after 12 V has been reconnected gas operation has to been reactivated in the Control Panel.

The error may also be due to a faulty spark generator and/or burner.

Contact Alde Service Partner if the error is not reset.

Overheating in the boiler or boiler space. To reset the error ;

1. Wait till the temperature in the boiler or boiler space has dropped.
2. Break and reconnect 12 V to the boiler.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

Overheat protection (red cable) tripped.

This fault can arise if the boiler is run at high power at the same time as there are air pockets in the heating system, the heating system should then be bled properly, see user manual.

Also check that the fluid level in the expansion tank is at least 1 cm above the min line when cool.

If the fault remains, contact your Alde Service Partner.

This error can occur if the boiler is running at high effect while there are air pockets in the system.

1. Bleed the system thoroughly, see user´s  manual.
2. Check that the fluid level in the expansion tank is at least 1 cm over the min-line when the fluid is cold.

This can also occur if the circulation pump is broken or disconnected from the boiler.

To reset the error,

1. The glycol temperature must drop below 41°F  (50 °C)
2. Break and reconnect 12 V to the boiler.

If the error persists, contact Alde Service Partner.

During the winter or when it is really cold outside, it is usually not enough to just heat the vehicle with electricity. You will need to support with gas heating as a complement to the heat from the immersion heaters.

There are no general temperatures on what the boiler should be able to heat on electricity alone. It depends on the vehicle insulation, size, system dimensioning, which differs from vehicle to vehicle.

To get the temperature up as quickly as possible in a cooled vehicle, we recommend running the boiler on combined gas and electricity if possible. The energy power from the immersion heaters is up to 2 kW while the LPG power is as much as 5.5 kW, which together gives an output corresponding to 7.5 kW.

Varies. As a rough guide, most caravans and motorhomes hold between 4-8 gallons.

Yes, you can use your heating system as normal even if the water heater is empty.

No.

Copper particles will cause galvanic corrosion in the aluminum surfaces in the boiler’s glycol cylinder.

The boiler’s domestic hot water cylinder is stainless steel.

LPG bottles made of steel or aluminum are ideal. But you should avoid LPG bottles made of composite materials as LPG has trouble vaporizing below 32 °F.

Propane can be used at temperatures down to -42 °F, while butane is more suited to temperatures of +41 °F and up.

Propane. Alde recommend 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 50 °F; the most suitable temperature range is from 55 to 86 °F. For temperatures less than 55 °F, the use of propane should be considered.”

Propane will operate down to -42 °F and is more suitable for a colder climate.

Be aware that Campingaz (formerly Camping Gaz) is butane, and therefore not recommended for use in our systems.

Alde systems are fitted into a wide range of models, please contact you nearest dealer for more information.

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 6.6–15.4 lb. more than a separate heating and hot water system, the equivalent of up to 3 bags of sugar.

The convectors put out ≈400 W per 3.3 ft. Doubled up, they put out ≈600 W per 3.3 ft.

Yes, you can use your heating system as normal even if the water heater is empty.

Yes. There isn’t a specific “frost protect” setting but if you’re hooked up to 120 V electric power you could leave the system running on 2 kW electric heating at 41 °F (5 °C) on the control panel. Check regularly for signs of condensation and remember to drain down the fresh water.

But be kind to the planet; ask yourself whether you really need to heat an empty caravan or motorhome all winter?

The vendor should provide a maintenance schedule, though the following can be assumed:

The heat transfer fluid is a consumable and will need replacing before its corrosion protection expires. Most OEMs use antifreeze with 2-year corrosion protection from new.

If in doubt, replace the heat transfer fluid after the first 2 years.

Seasonally inspect the boiler’s flue hoses. Check that the hoses are still secured and undamaged, and that they’re clear and free of obstruction. Contact your vendor if the hose is damaged.

When in constant use, completely drain and refill the fresh water system once a month.

Safety and emissions tests should be carried out in accordance with local regulations.