Alde heat exchager

[G1969]

Hello all,

I am looking to purchase a replacement motorhome ( Carthago c line) and pondering over if the alde heat exchanger is worthwhile , and worth the extra £1000?

Any comments welcome

 

[Steve and Denise]

Yes definitely a great addition but £1000 seems a large sum for what it is ?

 

[bigtwin]

Yes definitely a great addition but £1000 seems a large sum for what it is ?

This

Ian

 

[NRM]

If you go for the Alde system also look at the extra option of underfloor heating, it really makes a difference

 

[Wh05apk]

We have the heat exchanger and it is fantastic when travelling in winter, the whole van gets warm effectively from waste heat, but, it depends on your usage, if you don't use out of season, or stay pitched for long periods you may never see any benefit.

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[G1969]

Thanks for the replies, yes we do use all year, so I think I will add it on.

 

[Reevsie]

The heat exchanger is great if you have it, but not worth £1000. I would question why they want so much for it.

 

[ctc]

A very nice luxury.

 

[EuroTrotters]

`Yes, but I fitted my own.

 

[CazPaul]

Wow a £1000, waste of money.

We don’t have it, the Alde warms up quick enough anyway and also have a separate Truma heater.

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[jongood]

Thanks for the replies, yes we do use all year, so I think I will add it on.

Its great for winter travelling.

 

[funflair]

The heat exchanger is great if you have it, but not worth £1000. I would question why they want so much for it.

The heat exchanger is about £250 plus a couple of isolation valves possibly and some piping, then you need to break into the engine cooling circuit and fit a diverter valve and pump if it is going to double as engine heating, wire pump back to control panel etc and then of course a bit of profit and a lump of VAT, it all adds up.

And yes we would always have one.

 

[KUSKUS]

Absolutely love ours nice and warm when you arrive on site and a tank of hot water.

 

[Neilh]

We have it fitted but I’m not 100% sure how to correctly operate it.
is, set pump to continuous, but do not switch the fan switch on the dash on, as that function is purely for warm the engine before starting?
Alde told me do not switch the fan switch on when engine running, as the pump on the engine would in any case work against it!

 

[funflair]

We have it fitted but I’m not 100% sure how to correctly operate it.
is, set pump to continuous, but do not switch the fan switch on the dash on, as that function is purely for warm the engine before starting?
Alde told me do not switch the fan switch on when engine running, as the pump on the engine would in any case work against it!

Correct ish you can set the heating pump to continuous but then there will be no temperature control. better to set it to "therm" and just make sure that the gas is off then the temperature of the van will be controlled on the thermostat, you may or may not have a valve to isolate the heat exchanger so that needs to be open of course.

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[Reevsie]

oopps. I have always switched on the pump whilst driving. My Kontik never had a switch on the dashboard and it just worked on its own. Since I got the Frankia I I have always used the switch on the dashboard to switch it on. Maybee that's why it never got as hot as the Kontiki.

 

[peterc10]

Our Hymer has one fitted. From what I can see it is not an Alde supplied one but it works fine. We used it on our journeys to and from Spain in December and January. Kept the whole motorhome cosy and warm and also heated up the water, all without using gas. Like Martin says, we switch gas and electrics off on the heater control and relied upon the thermostat to switch the pump on and off to maintain a steady temperature.

 

[Neilh]

Correct ish you can set the heating pump to continuous but then there will be no temperature control. better to set it to "therm" and just make sure that the gas is off then the temperature of the van will be controlled on the thermostat, you may or may not have a valve to isolate the heat exchanger so that needs to be open of course.

Thank you Martin