Aldi Heating Help needed.

[OldAgeTravellers]

Hi All, Just had a call from a friend who is selling his Motorhome on Tuesday and today has found that the Aldi heating is not working. He is very much non-technical so I got a cry for help call this morning. Now I have never even seen an Aldi Heating system so am really going to be working blind tomorrow when I go over. Does anybody have any pointers as to obvious things to check from their own experience? I don't know what model it is except it is in a Rapido A-class about 4 or 5 years old.
Thanks for any pointers at all.
Steve

 

[M-J]

What sort of pump does it have?

In line or header tank?

 

[M-J]

Does the hot water still work?

Which control panel?

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

What sort of pump does it have?

In line or header tank?

Sorry, no idea yet until I see it tomorrow. Any suggestions which ever type it is.

 

[tonka]

World class heating for motorhomes and caravans | Alde UK

Comfortable heating all year round in all weathers. We are a world leading company which developsand produces heating systems for motorhomes and caravans.

www.alde.co.uk

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[M-J]

Could be pump not spinning, air lock, hot water boost on overriding the heating, control panel not set correctly.

I would first try to reset the panel (should be just hold power/select button down until it goes off and back on or similar)

 

[canopus]

If it's the submersible pump in the header tank type, it could be that the level in the header tank has dropped below the operating level, which can occur if the system has not been run for a while. Alternatively there could be air locks within the system. If you need to add coolant, ideally you really should add the correct coolant, but if unavailable, you could top up with water to enable to test the system.

Fault Finding - Alde Compact 3010 Operating Instructions Manual [Page 11]

Alde Compact 3010 Manual Online: Fault Finding. the boiler does not start 1. No LPG? Incorrect type for conditions? 2. Is the main tap fully open? 3. Check that a suitable type of LPG is used for the prevailing outdoor temperature. Using butane is unsuit- able at temperatures lower...

www.manualslib.com

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I now have a few things to look at when I go today. Will report back if I manage to fix it!

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

If it's low on coolant, don't top it up with just water, use distilled water mixed 50 50 with glycol. This is what our Truma Aquatherm uses and should be the same for the Aldi system.

 

[GAVLAD]

Could be something more obvious - are they on hook up or gas?
If hook up - do they have electric and is it set to electric on control panel?
If gas - do they have enough gas and is panel set to gas?

Where is the header tank/reservoir with the coolant? Can they hear a humming noise when switched on? Mine has the submerged pump into this tank and you can hear the impeller when it’s switched on.
If all of the above is on and working and the heating system is not warming up do they have sufficient coolant is the system?

Maybe your mate should join Fun and post this question as at the moment, it’s like someone saying tell me why my boiler at home goes on the blink - there could be a hundred reasons but with everyone giving suggestions and asking questions, you mate needs to answer and go through the process of elimination.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Trout bum]

Treat it like a mini home central heating system look for the simple things first before delving in too deep , check fuses, level in small heating tank, loose wires after going over a bump ,hopefully it will be something simple keep us informed

 

[The Wino]

Sounds to me like your mate ought to get it looked at by someone who knows about the system and how to fix it. If he gets it working but not very well how will the buyers feel when they find he's sold them a dud. Worse still if you top it up with the wrong coolant (or just with water and it freezes over the winter) what happens then?. He at least ought to point out to the buyers that its been on the blink and needs a service.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I found this thread:- https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/alde-3010-blank-control-panel-solution-fix.154521/ which was exactly the problem. A thermal fuse inside a heater to ensure the system regularly fails so as to give a constant revenue stream to Aldi and it's agents. The trouble was that it was four hours to strip the sink unit out enough to get to the top of the heater then ten minutes to short out the thermal fuse to get the system working again. Just need to source a resettable thermal fuse so that I can replace the short with similar to the original. So, best part of a day but success. Putting the sink unit together was much quicker and next time I will have more tools with me so I can cut the sink unit base to provide simple access.
Thanks again for all the help and especially to dpsuk999 for his detailed original post.
Steve

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Just noticed that I have been spelling Alde wrong, oh well saves them getting upset about me dissing their built-in failure system. I am sure if "Aldi" did heating systems they would be very good and much, much cheaper.
Oh The Wino I saw just how much damage the "people who know about the system" did when they were supposed to be fixing it last time and I did fill it with exactly the correct spec ready-mixed antifreeze and yes if I don't find the right sort of thermal fuse, but resettable this time he will be pointing out to the buyers exactly what has been done and needs to be done.
Steve