webasto heaters, losing my patience (1 Viewer)

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Well been to south downs, after much discussion we are now going to see if their workshop can resolve the problem at their workshop on Friday. If not a company in Nottingham PB Auto electricians are webasto specialists who will replace the system on Monday if I take it their as they keep stock of the dual tops. This is a pain as I live near Portsmouth.

If Southdown's do rectify the problem AGAIN (5th time) I will take a extra layer of clothes to Spain.

But no matter what Spain here we come!

So what happened did it fire up, did you check your batteries voltage wise, was there a drop in the voltage or did your lights flicker when it tried to fire up?
 

pappajohn

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Using EHU as suggest above will be too slow as your charging system will not supply enough amps to fast charge the battery.
Doesn't need to......when on hookup you use 12v directly from the charger.
The battery is there to provide power above that which the charger can supply, usually around 15amps.
 

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Doesn't need to......when on hookup you use 12v directly from the charger.
The battery is there to provide power above that which the charger can supply, usually around 15amps.

No not in all cases, depends on how the MH is wired

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Debs

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Well been to south downs, after much discussion we are now going to see if their workshop can resolve the problem at their workshop on Friday. If not a company in Nottingham PB Auto electricians are webasto specialists who will replace the system on Monday if I take it their as they keep stock of the dual tops. This is a pain as I live near Portsmouth.

If Southdown's do rectify the problem AGAIN (5th time) I will take a extra layer of clothes to Spain.

But no matter what Spain here we come!
Er if it's this company it's a bit past Nottingham, it's about 3 miles from us. Good to know about them though. Really hope you get sorted without having to come up here.
 

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Doesn't need to......when on hookup you use 12v directly from the charger.
The battery is there to provide power above that which the charger can supply, usually around 15amps.

Thinking about you quote PJ that would be worrying as what your saying is 12 volt items bypass the batteries direct to charger when on EHU. If this was the case and you have a large amount items drawing amps to around 10/12/14 amps from long periods would the on board charger not get very very hot. How would the on board charger know when the batteries are full as well.
 
Aug 6, 2013
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Thinking about you quote PJ that would be worrying as what your saying is 12 volt items bypass the batteries direct to charger when on EHU. If this was the case and you have a large amount items drawing amps to around 10/12/14 amps from long periods would the on board charger not get very very hot. How would the on board charger know when the batteries are full as well.
PJ is correct. The voltage output of the onboard charger (even if it's a smart charger) is a stable 13.8v (varies slightly with battery type) which is the float voltage of a charged lead acid battery. Any load presented by the van will be drawn directly from the charger unless it's sufficient to pull the voltage below 13.8. If this happens the battery will share the load. Most van chargers (which are power supplies) are rated at 15A or more so the battery will not be used until the load approaches 15A (or more depending on rated output of charger/PSU).

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Jul 8, 2008
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hi you could try these just found
malcolm morling not the tidies of workers but cheap at haslar
google keto marine
p t marine engineers /sparkes marine hayling isl
 
Sep 23, 2013
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Webasto error codes

You don't say exactly which model you have, but I'm guessing it's an air heater only (not air/water combined).
For the basic Air Top 2000 fitted with the rotary control, a series of fast flashes, followed by five long flashes translates as 'Flame monitor interrupt or flame sensor short circuit'.

That's for the current model. I don't image they've changed the codes, but it's always possible.

The two commonest problems with these heaters are firstly under voltage, as already suggested by many, and insufficient fuel in the tank. The fuel pick up pipe is deliberately fitted some way off the bottom of the tank so that the heater can never leave you with insufficient fuel to drive away & get some more. The last one I had needed at least a quarter of a tank full showing on the vehicle fuel gauge before it would work. I only discovered this one beautiful clear February night in North Yorkshire. Discovered later that it was the coldest night of the year, which came as no great surprise to me - pop-top VW camper vans do not retain their heat well!

The error code you are getting, assuming the above interpretation is correct, doesn't point to either of those two problems. Replacing the flame sensor wasn't on the list of things you said they have tried, although you did say 'etc'.

Manuals for current models are available to download here.
 

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
PJ is correct. The voltage output of the onboard charger (even if it's a smart charger) is a stable 13.8v (varies slightly with battery type) which is the float voltage of a charged lead acid battery. Any load presented by the van will be drawn directly from the charger unless it's sufficient to pull the voltage below 13.8. If this happens the battery will share the load. Most van chargers (which are power supplies) are rated at 15A or more so the battery will not be used until the load approaches 15A (or more depending on rated output of charger/PSU).

I see were your coming from, but if all leads are connected to the battery therefore the amps are withdrawn from the battery and at the same time the on board charger replaces the amps drawn from the batteries.
The on board charger cannot bypass the batteries. Any load presented by the van will be drawn directly from the charger is incorrect as NO leads from any item drawn power is connect to the on board charger.

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Nov 30, 2009
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Weve got Webasto . Until we got 2 trojan deep cycle batteries , we couldn't use it how we wanted. The batteries went after we'd had flashing warnings.
That was without hook up , off site , wild camping or rallying.
( By wild camping I mean wild. Not on Benidorm streets or aldi car parks. Though we do like the odd pub in the middle if no where too )
Since getting the trojan batteries we've not looked back. We'd tried other leisure batteries to no avail. A trucker told us about trojan .
We never use a genny , always have the Webasto on, and use the tv and every other electrical thing we have on board .
We're actually on a site in Moffat now , for New Year's Eve.
We've brought a couple of electric heaters as we have 16A . We've had to pay for it although we don't need it , so we are using electric. As all are bulbs are led and we have a gas fridge ..........
It's not a nice heat. Warm but very dry on the eyes. When you stand up its red hot , and the floor us cool. Much prefer the Webasto.
Stick with it. Find the reason it's not working.
I know when we crack on with our R&B pvc we are having Webasto fitted, and it's not blooming cheap. But in our opinion , well worth it.
 
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Daz n Tina
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Please read the above snip from Minx post.

There is no error code 5

5 flashs indicate a fault has occurred...
Not the actual fault.
Please check the details for dual top RHA 100 fault with 5 flashing red it is there.
 
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Daz n Tina
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Weve got Webasto . Until we got 2 trojan deep cycle batteries , we couldn't use it how we wanted. The batteries went after we'd had flashing warnings.
That was without hook up , off site , wild camping or rallying.
( By wild camping I mean wild. Not on Benidorm streets or aldi car parks. Though we do like the odd pub in the middle if no where too )
Since getting the trojan batteries we've not looked back. We'd tried other leisure batteries to no avail. A trucker told us about trojan .
We never use a genny , always have the Webasto on, and use the tv and every other electrical thing we have on board .
We're actually on a site in Moffat now , for New Year's Eve.
We've brought a couple of electric heaters as we have 16A . We've had to pay for it although we don't need it , so we are using electric. As all are bulbs are led and we have a gas fridge ..........
It's not a nice heat. Warm but very dry on the eyes. When you stand up its red hot , and the floor us cool. Much prefer the Webasto.
Stick with it. Find the reason it's not working.
I know when we crack on with our R&B pvc we are having Webasto fitted, and it's not blooming cheap. But in our opinion , well worth it.
Thank you and we will persist:xThumb:

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OP
OP
Daz n Tina
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hi you could try these just found
malcolm morling not the tidies of workers but cheap at haslar
google keto marine
p t marine engineers /sparkes marine hayling isl
Thank you and only around the corner:xThumb:
 
OP
OP
Daz n Tina
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Er if it's this company it's a bit past Nottingham, it's about 3 miles from us. Good to know about them though. Really hope you get sorted without having to come up here.
That's the one, peter seems really switched on to problems with the webasto.
 

Debs

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That's the one, peter seems really switched on to problems with the webasto.
If you do end up coming it's J28 M1, heading for Mansfield and if you fancy a bit of shopping, this is more or less on the junction :xThumb:

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Sep 23, 2013
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I see were your coming from, but if all leads are connected to the battery therefore the amps are withdrawn from the battery and at the same time the on board charger replaces the amps drawn from the batteries.
The on board charger cannot bypass the batteries. Any load presented by the van will be drawn directly from the charger is incorrect as NO leads from any item drawn power is connect to the on board charger.
It doesn't matter in what order things are connected. If all loads are connected to the battery and all charger/PSU connections go to the battery what happens is what I said would happen.
 

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
It doesn't matter in what order things are connected. If all loads are connected to the battery and all charger/PSU connections go to the battery what happens is what I said would happen.

Tony, I think you will find that: Amps ARE taken from the BATTERY DIRECTLY and replaced by the on board charger and not BYPASSED to the charger.

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mjltigger

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Tony, I think you will find that: Amps ARE taken from the BATTERY DIRECTLY and replaced by the on board charger and not BYPASSED to the charger.
My 12v works straight off the charger. I know this because it works with the battery disconnected
 

Don Quixote

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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Then my apologies to anyone who has said otherwise in this post ( I'm happy to be correct when I'm wrong ), I will go and check my MH charging system on the next few days.
 

mjltigger

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Then my apologies to anyone who has said otherwise in this post ( I'm happy to be correct when I'm wrong ), I will go and check my MH charging system on the next few days.

I expect there are different systems and some work one way some the other. Mine is very old and very basic..

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Aug 6, 2013
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Tony, I think you will find that: Amps ARE taken from the BATTERY DIRECTLY and replaced by the on board charger and not BYPASSED to the charger.
We are probably at crossed purposes with terminology. If the battery is fully charged it will sit happily doing nothing whilst the charger/PSU supplies any load the van may present up to the charger/PSU rated output. The battery does however remain physically connected to both charger/PSU and the supply to the van domestic stuff. The battery, whilst offering a buffer to sudden high current draw, will not contribute to the current drawn by the load.
 

jonandshell

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Webasto UK have a very competent technical department.
I would call them.

In my dealings with them, they have explained that the main problems with their products have been due to bad installations by converters

Past problems with our Dualtop have been down to bad installation.

We are currently sitting at the highest ski resort in Europe and our Dualtop has been going 24/7 since the 22nd December. All off hookup.

I think someone competant needs to look at your installation.
 

jonandshell

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20 degrees and cosy inside, -16 outside!
20141227_104546.jpg

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Minxy

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We are currently sitting at the highest ski resort in Europe and our Dualtop has been going 24/7 since the 22nd December. All off hookup.

How are your batteries - 9 days being static and off EHU is a LONG time so I'm sure we'd love to know how you're managing it!!!
 

jonandshell

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How are your batteries - 9 days being static and off EHU is a LONG time so I'm sure we'd love to know how you're managing it!!!

Sterling 160 Amp A2B charger, 3x115Ah traction monobloc bank and a 1hr run on tickover daily.

Simples!

PS also running a CAK Tanks defrost element in the waste tank. That hasn't frozen either!

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Minxy

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Sterling 160 Amp A2B charger, 3x115Ah traction monobloc bank and a 1hr run on tickover daily.

Simples!

PS also running a CAK Tanks defrost element in the waste tank. That hasn't frozen either!
No wonder you don't have a problem!!! Thought you might have found the 'holy grail' of unlimited MH electric power!!!!
 

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