Electrical problem - help!

[Allan & Loren]

We have an autotrail dakota 2006 with an Sargent ec200.

We have developed 2 problems in the last week. Up until then everything working as it should

We are on ehu on a campsite.

1. I turned off the truma electric water heater. The indicator light has gone out but the water is still heating up. This has been several days now.

2. We can turn off the ec200 but still have 240v getting to all sockets, lights, etc.

Any suggestions what we should be looking for to fix this?

 

[chaser]

dont know the first thing about modern van elactrics but one of the most common one on here is reverse polarity, perhaps worth a check.

 

[lunarman]

Cannot help with the heater but the power switch on the sargent unit only switches the 12v charger on and off. To isolate the 240v sockets etc. you need to switch of the mcbs.

instruction manual for the unit can be down loaded here

John

 

[tonka]

If your on EHU then in answer to no 2, you will / should have power to all sockets.. Thats how it should be..
The EC200 is for the 12v so does not control the water heater.. You say you are turningit off, is this like a domestic mains switch with a red neon light ??? Not familiar with the Dakota so unsure where the site the switch. You are not turning something else off by mistake are you ? ie the mains to the fridge or cooker..

 

[Allan & Loren]

If your on EHU then in answer to no 2, you will / should have power to all sockets.. Thats how it should be..
The EC200 is for the 12v so does not control the water heater.. You say you are turningit off, is this like a domestic mains switch with a red neon light ??? Not familiar with the Dakota so unsure where the site the switch. You are not turning something else off by mistake are you ? ie the mains to the fridge or cooker..

This is the switch turned off and when on you'll see the green indicator. Definitely for the water heater. Definitely off but water still red hot!

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[Allan & Loren]

Cannot help with the heater but the power switch on the sargent unit only switches the 12v charger on and off. To isolate the 240v sockets etc. you need to switch of the mcbs.

instruction manual for the unit can be down loaded here

John

Thanks. Getting bum info on site here then. That makes me happier. Scaremongering neighbours warning me of failing electrics and fires!! Knew I'd get proper answers on fun.
Loren

 

[Allan & Loren]

dont know the first thing about modern van elactrics but one of the most common one on here is reverse polarity, perhaps worth a check.

Checked that thanks.

 

[mitzimad]

first thing is it heating on gas or electric flue should be cold it its on 240 hot for gas

 

[mitzimad]

i thought an ultraheat was the space heater caravan gasfire type thingy just checked and im right ultraheat doesnt do hot water you may have a truma water heater as well with a seperate switch for 240 usually just a spur

 

[jezport]

Is the water heater electric only I dont see gas controls on your photo

i thought an ultraheat was the space heater caravan gasfire type thingy just checked and im right ultraheat doesnt do hot water you may have a truma water heater as well with a seperate switch for 240 usually just a spur

It is as far as I know.

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[Allan & Loren]

Is the water heater electric only I dont see gas controls on your photo


It is as far as I know.

Water heater has separate switches to heat either gas or electric. Left is gas

 

[Allan & Loren]

first thing is it heating on gas or electric flue should be cold it its on 240 hot for gas

Flue is cold

i thought an ultraheat was the space heater caravan gasfire type thingy just checked and im right ultraheat doesnt do hot water you may have a truma water heater as well with a seperate switch for 240 usually just a spur

Mmmm will go and look. Only ever switched on the one I pictured so confused now.

 

[autorouter]

The EC200 is for the 12v so does not control the water heater.

The 240 volt circuits are supplied by the EC200 mains section. There is one RCD (shock protection), and three MCBs (overload protection) for three separate circuits. MCB1 protects the sockets, MCB2 protects the space heater and a few other things. MCB3 protects the water heater, charger, fridge etc. That's according to the manual, but your MH may be a bit different of course.

I would think that if there's a fault with the water heater failing to switch off, it will be in the heater controller section, not the EC200. Switching off the appropriate MCB will switch off the water heater, but might also switch off other appliances like the charger and the fridge.

 

[Allan & Loren]

Ah ha just found this in the cupboard.

So ultra store heats my water by either this new found switch lol or the gas switch on the panel.

And electric heater is the ultra heat switch I've been thinking g was heating my water.

Have I just had a light bulb moment?
Loren

 

[Allan & Loren]

Thank you everyone for replies. I now understand and everything is working ok. It is definitely user error only. I've read the manuals but all seemed to go on one ear and out the other. You guys explained in 10 mins.

Amazing fun to the rescue yet again.
Loren

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[tonka]

The 240 volt circuits are supplied by the EC200 mains section. There is one RCD (shock protection), and three MCBs (overload protection) for three separate circuits. MCB1 protects the sockets, MCB2 protects the space heater and a few other things. MCB3 protects the water heater, charger, fridge etc. That's according to the manual, but your MH may be a bit different of course.

I would think that if there's a fault with the water heater failing to switch off, it will be in the heater controller section, not the EC200. Switching off the appropriate MCB will switch off the water heater, but might also switch off other appliances like the charger and the fridge.

All noted.
However the EC200 is the control panel above the door.. No mains goes into that.
Confusion may that you thinking of the PSU2007 mains unit / charger that goes with the EC200.

@Allan & Loren glad your sorted anyway...

 

[autorouter]

Confusion may that you thinking of the PSU2007 mains unit / charger that goes with the EC200.

Yes you're right. I try not to believe everything I read on vendors' websites, but sometimes I trip up over careless descriptions

 

[mitzimad]

sounds like you have a truma ultraheat which is space heating which can be gas only ort gas electric looks like this

and probaly a truma ultrastore which looks like this
for your hot water thats the flue you can see on the side of the van the other one for heating is under the van the temperature of water when using electric is preset i belive

 

[TheBig1]

aha the well known iD ten T error code