[Nathanael Jones]

So, you can actually set the temp on the heater itself? So the mixing valve was more like a safety feature, just to be certain it wouldn't be a higher temp?

Yep,... just a safety feature really. I'd heard of a heater not switching off quick enough when the flow stopped, and the pipe overheated and burst. So far the heater is switching off perfect every time, so I'm not too worried about it anymore. I'm interested in the new hose Gardiners are developing for hot systems,... if it's rated for higher temps than the 60 deg that standard minibore is,.. the valve will be obsolete then anyway!!

The heater has 3 numptys,.. 1 controls the flame, cool to hot (I have it set close to minimum power),.... the second is a summer/winter switch where the winter setting seems to switch on a second burner and effectively double the heat output (I have it set to summer),.... and the 3rd numpty is to restrict the water flow (I have this one set to full flow all the time).

[[GQC] Tim]

Sounds like a really neat heater. So you've done away with the DI vessel then? After somebody mentioned it might have been gunk in the system, I thought, why didn't I think of that.

Glad it's all pure now.

[Nathanael Jones]

Yep,.. DI vessel is out of the system now, and it's all working well. If anyone did want to put a DI there, "just to be sure" it'd have to be a very small one, otherwise it takes ages for the heat to filter up through it. As it is, the water going through the reel takes 3 or 4 minutes before you get heat at the brush head!
I'm considering a 50 mtr hose for everyday use so the hot water comes faster, and just use the longer reel when its needed.

[[GQC] Tim]

Wow, that takes quite a long time. How's the temp when the water in the reel is finally heated up? Does it stay hot if you have to travel do different domestic jobs?

Yes. 50m hose would be ideal I reckon.

[Nathanael Jones]

The reel stays warm for  a good long time once the hose is wound back in, so at the next job you'll still have warm water,.. even if it's not hot until you're 5 or 6 windows in.
On a cold day you do notice the drop in temp over a long run of hose,.. but warm still works better than cold wfp. I've installed an aquarium thermometer in my van, with the probe dropped down inside my WFP tank. It averages between 8 and 9 deg Celsius in there,... colder than I expected. Even if the water is only 20 deg C when it hits the glass,.. its still a big improvement in cleaning power,... though at that temp you prob won't notice it drying any faster.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

How would you go about installing the heater on a 2 man setup?  Would it be possible to put the heater after both pumps or would you need to heat the water before the pumps?

It all looks really smart.

Simon.

[Nathanael Jones]

I'm told that there is a 2 man pump available and some kind of pressure balancing valve to make sure both poles get equal pressure (I've never used one, just been told about them!), so I'd just plumb it as normal and split the feed after the heater.

[Nathanael Jones]

It's getting hard to post details of the setup on so many forums at once,.. so I'm going to put all the info on ACS first, and copy it over here when I get a chance,... sorry if there's a bit of a delay though,.. V busy at the mo!

I finally got the roof vents yesterday, but I haven't got a hole saw big enough (110 mm!),.. so I'm off to my old fellas place tomorrow to raid his workshop and get them fitted. I'll post pics when it's done.

I'm still running the heater on minimum power most of the time, and I experimented with recycling the heat back to the main (400 litre) tank today. 20 minutes on minimum power (about 20% capacity according to the manual) raised the temp in the tank by 6 deg Celsius, so I'd estimate at full power for 20 minutes you'd get a 25 - 30 degree temp rise!!

Not bad for a little RV heater!!

 

[Nathanael Jones]

I got the roof vents fitted today,.. not as big a job as I expected, though I did cringe when taking the jigsaw to the roof!! I've used a SIKA brand industrial sealant which is like silicone sealant but much tougher, stickier, and more durable, and it easily fills the gaps where the ridges are in the van roof.
The vents are quite low profile and inconspicuous when installed,.. approx 35-40mm above roof level when closed, and 55-60mm open.
I'll post pics tomorrow,.. but it was too dark when I finished today to take any"

[[GQC] Tim]

Very nice. Looking forward to it.

[Nathanael Jones]

Ok,.. a few pics as promised!

The vents are installed in this pic, but from a distance you'd hardly notice them, in fact you can only see the one because its on the outline of the van:


Here's a closeup of one of the vents (in its closed position):


A pic of the flue connected on the inside:


And a pic of the spare vent on the other side of the roof that leaves fresh air back in:


I fitted these after lunch yesterday, and the storms and rain have been fairly severe since,... but not a drop of water leaked in!

[[GQC] Tim]

Awesome man. 

[Village Gleam]

I've been in Sharm (Egypt) but read this thread with interest on my return.

I'll be interested to see how your mixer works ( I don't think it will because you need all the flow you can get going through the heater).
I fitted the regulater (hoselock) that matt suggested today, the trouble was even when I opened it slightly there wasn't enough pressure to do upstairs. I do now have an easy way of diverting water into the tank and relieving the pressure though and possibly further insights will come my way.

I am thinking of putting a hole in my van roof- not for a flue- but to let some of the moisture that condenses on the underside of the roof out.

I also used my electric reel attachment for the first time today (I though about it while scuba diving and bought a couple of bits from screw fix  when I got back). It's the business, and makes nearly as much difference to making a job easy as working hot does. There are a couple of tweaks to be done, but the principle is proven, and just as you will probably never work cold again I will never wind a reel in manually again.

One thing I did notice Nat, you didn't get the argy bargy that some of us have had. Maybe people are accepting the idea more (or maybe I just get up their nose?).

Anyway, well done, and welcome to the first rank

[[GQC] Tim]

Mr. S, dunno if you replied in the other thread on my question, but do you care to share what you've made?

[NWH]

I've been in Sharm (Egypt) but read this thread with interest on my return.

I'll be interested to see how your mixer works ( I don't think it will because you need all the flow you can get going through the heater).
I fitted the regulater (hoselock) that matt suggested today, the trouble was even when I opened it slightly there wasn't enough pressure to do upstairs. I do now have an easy way of diverting water into the tank and relieving the pressure though and possibly further insights will come my way.

I am thinking of putting a hole in my van roof- not for a flue- but to let some of the moisture that condenses on the underside of the roof out.

I also used my electric reel attachment for the first time today (I though about it while scuba diving and bought a couple of bits from screw fix  when I got back). It's the business, and makes nearly as much difference to making a job easy as working hot does. There are a couple of tweaks to be done, but the principle is proven, and just as you will probably never work cold again I will never wind a reel in manually again.

One thing I did notice Nat, you didn't get the argy bargy that some of us have had. Maybe people are accepting the idea more (or maybe I just get up their nose?).

Anyway, well done, and welcome to the first rank

What hot setup do you have.

[Pj]

A really interesting topic here, I'm enjoying reading it's development.

Thanks for sharing it with us, Nathaniel.


Just one little thing, on your van you have written "up to 60' hight"
I'm sorry I notice these things.  The spelling is "Height".
Strange but true

[ClearviewServices]

A really interesting topic here, I'm enjoying reading it's development.

Thanks for sharing it with us, Nathaniel.


Just one little thing, on your van you have written "up to 60' hight"
I'm sorry I notice these things.  The spelling is "Height".
Strange but true

Hes got high! on there not hight 

[Pj]

ough!

glasses

[Nathanael Jones]

A really interesting topic here, I'm enjoying reading it's development.

Thanks for sharing it with us, Nathaniel.


Just one little thing, on your van you have written "up to 60' hight"
I'm sorry I notice these things.  The spelling is "Height".
Strange but true

You had me worried there,.. I only got the signwriting done last week,... I went out to check, just in case!!! 

Anyway, well done, and welcome to the first rank

Thanks Mr Sol,.. but I'm not first rank yet,.... not till I get an SL2 anyway!!!

 

[Nathanael Jones]

I'll be interested to see how your mixer works ( I don't think it will because you need all the flow you can get going through the heater).

You may be right Mr Sol,... I'm finding I have to have the flow up very high to keep the heater running no the thermostatic valve is installed. I'm torn between getting rid of the valve or fitting a small bypass line to increase the flow by diverting back to the tank.
I'm going to have to play with it over the next few days and see what works best.