Category Archives: Heating systems

Use Combi-Heater in winter with or without water?

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As a camper, questions arise during the winter season such as: “How do I make sure that the water in my heating system or vehicle does not freeze when I am not on site during the day?” or “Can I heat my camper or caravan without water in the boiler?

We answer both questions in this article.

If you are travelling with your vehicle in winter, you can choose between the above options to suit your needs. Both are possible, as long as the operation of the unit is adapted accordingly.

Option 1: If your motorhome or caravan is filled with fresh water, the heating should always remain active. As long as the frost monitor of the Combi, the FrostControl (FC), is exposed to an ambient temperature of >3°C, it remains closed and the water remains in the system. It is important here that the temperature is measured directly at the FC. Experience has shown that it is equally important that only the water runs out of the Combi when the FC is open. Whether the fresh water tank and all water pipes also run empty depends on the installation of the water supply by the vehicle manufacturer. This may or may not be the case. You should check this at your leisure before starting your journey.

You can set 5°C as the lowest room temperature on the heating control. If this is not sufficient to heat the FC because it has been installed further away from the Combi or a warm air pipe, a higher room temperature requirement should be set. This is possible with the CP plus from 5°C in 1°C steps. Simply approach a suitable value slowly. With the CP classic, with the two rotary knobs, level 1 also corresponds to 5°C, level 5 about 30°C. The other levels are in between. Level 2 should therefore be sufficient to keep the FC closed. Please note that such operation is only recommended during a journey. It is not a suitable means of keeping the vehicle frost-free throughout the winter. Short heating times of the heater promote the formation of condensation in the exhaust tract.

If the installation space of the FrostControl is too far away from the heater or completely unheated, a separate heating element for the FC can be purchased from our authorised dealers.

Option 2: If you are travelling without water in the system, the Combi can also be operated. The only important thing here is to set only room heating as a requirement for the Combi. The water heating programme must remain inactive. Make sure that the water tank of the Combi is correctly emptied. Residual water in the combi can get very hot very quickly. The resulting water vapour can irritate the temperature sensors of the heater and lead to a warning message “Water overtemperature detected”. For this reason, we recommend that you leave the FC open when using the vehicle in this way. This way, the water can find its way out of every corner of the fresh water supply during a winding journey. Optionally, you can help by using light compressed air or a balloon that has been put over and filled at the open water taps.

Please note: we recommend both modes of operation only on one trip. Operating the heater in one of the specified options for months should be avoided. The reason for this is that this type of use does not correspond to the intended use of an appliance for camping needs. In addition, under unfavourable conditions, condensation can collect in the exhaust pipe and disrupt the proper operation of the heating system.

With these tips, you’ll be well prepared, even when it’s cold outside. We wish you a wonderful winter holiday.

Mover and Combi flashing codes

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Some of our units have an error code that gives us more detailed information about the cause of the error.

The flashing code is similar to a Morse code. This means short and long flashing characters in an individual sequence (e.g. short, long, ls slls).

This can be used to offer faster help when contacting your dealer, service partner or our service centre.

Mover

On the Mover models, the flashing code consists of eight consecutive characters. This is repeated several times, each time starting anew after a pause of approx. three seconds.

As soon as a fault is indicated on the remote control, the LED (j) on the control unit emits the flashing code.

8 flashing signs

These mover models have the flashing code output:

  • Mover XT models
  • Mover SX
  • Mover SER/TER
  • Mover SR

l

Combi 4/6 (E)

With the Combi Gas connected to the CP classic analogue control unit, the flashing code also provides more precise information on the cause of the fault.

If the control unit reports a malfunction, the cause can be narrowed down more precisely using the flashing code on the heating board.

For Combis manufactured before 06/2018, there are eight flashes of the red LED. For Combis produced later, the number was increased to ten characters.

Combi before 06/2018 – 8 flashing signs
Combi after 06/2018 – 10 flashing signs

You are welcome to send us flashing codes by e-mail as a video or directly name them by telephone.

The fault 507, 516 or 517 appears in the display of the digital control panel CP plus – what to do

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Remote control Truma CP plus

Remedy fault 507 / 516 / 517 (gas supply interrupted)

Note: If the fault 507, 516 or 517 is displayed in the heater’s control panel, switching the control panel on and off does not help. This does not delete the fault, but blocks the heater for 15 minutes. The heater is also blocked for 15 minutes if the fault 507, 516 or 517 is deleted four times without the gas supply being established.


Remedying flashing fault 507 / 516 / 517 (gas supply interrupted)

The fault code 507, 516 or 517 flashes because the heater is still in a 15-minute blocking time. This was possibly caused by the heater control panel being switched off or because the heater’s 12-Volt supply was interrupted. The heater is also blocked for 15 minutes if the displayed fault is deleted four times without the gas supply being restored.

  • Wait out the 15-minute blocking time for the heater. During this time, do not switch off the heater’s control panel and also do not interrupt the power supply.
  • As soon as the heater’s blocking time has expired, the fault is then displayed permanently rather than flashing. It can now be deleted as described in the point above.
     

Important information about the new Truma App release in March 2018

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Integrate your Alde heater into the iNet System

Good news for Alde heater users. From April 2018, you will be able to integrate the Alde compact 3020 HE with new control panel into the Truma iNet System. All you have to do is connect the heater to the iNet Box.

  • This is great news above all for campers who use or would like to use a Truma air conditioning system or Truma LevelControl. You can now conveniently use all devices via the iNet System. From controlling the heater and air conditioning to using the automatic climate control and checking the gas level, all it takes is a single app.
  • The new version of the Truma App will be available from March 2018.

Important: Deactivate the automatic update function

  • Previously, Truma App users could download new releases to their smart phone and still have two months to install the new firmware onto the iNet Box via Bluetooth.
  • For the new update, the complexity of the project forced us to suspend this rule. This means that the two-month time frame does not apply for this release. You must update both your app and the iNet Box with the new firmware simultaneously.
  • If you have automatic updates activated in the Truma App, please deactivate this function and switch to manual updates. This will allow you to decide when you wish to install the update.
  • Otherwise, the app will perform the update automatically. If there is no Bluetooth connection to your iNet Box at this time, it will not be possible to update the firmware. The iNet Box will then no longer function until the new firmware is installed.
  • This is particularly important for campers who have parked their vehicle outside Bluetooth range and wish to use the iNet System.
  • For the next releases, the two-month time frame will apply as usual.

Do you have any questions? The Truma Service team will be happy to help.

No more empty gas cylinders

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Gas cylinders have the annoying habit of becoming empty in the middle of the night. You can put a stop to this with the Truma DuoControl CS which automatically switches from the empty operating cylinder to the reserve.

Truma_DuoControl_CS_vertikal_1000x750

The Truma dual-cylinder gas pressure regulator automatically switches to the reserve cylinder. The integrated crash sensor allows you to operate the gas system safely even when on the road.

Continue reading →

Controlling heating systems and air conditioning systems via the Truma App

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Want to turn on the Truma Combi heater whilst you are still on the ski slope so you can return to a warm vehicle? The Truma iNet System makes it possible. You can even (remote) control Truma air conditioning systems via a smartphone or tablet – for instance, when you are on the beach or out hiking. The new  Truma air conditioning control ensures a constant temperature in the motorhome  and coordinates the heater and air conditioning systems perfectly.

Das Bild zeigt den Überblick des Truma iNet Systems

The heart of this system is the Truma iNet Box. It is the central control unit of the system and enables communication between the Truma App and the Truma devices. When near the vehicle, all commands can be issued completely free of charge via Bluetooth, and if you are further away by means of SMS. Continue reading →

Air conditioning control ensures a constant temperature in your leisure vehicle

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Überzeugen Sie sich vom digitalen Komfort: Ob beim Städtetrip oder beim Wandern – mit einem Fingerwisch steuern Sie Ihre Truma Klimaanlage.

There is no way of knowing what the weather will be like. Not even in Italy. Being able to control your air conditioning system means you can cope whatever the temperature. The Truma iNet Box acts as a central control unit linked to the networked Truma devices.

It forms the interface to the Truma Combi and the air conditioning systems, and also enables the devices to communicate with each other.  The new air conditioning control function controls the system via the Truma App. The digital control panel CP plus – iNet ready coordinates the Truma air conditioning system and the Combi heater perfectly. Continue reading →

CP-plus digital control unit also for air-conditioning Saphir Compact/Comfort RC

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The digital control unit

can not only be used for our heater type Combi 4 or Combi 6 (gas/electro- or dieselversion), but is also compatible with our air-conditioning system Saphir Compact  and Comfort RC.

It must be notified, that the air-conditioning System Saphir Compact can only be operated with the digital control unit with serial-number 23091001 or higher. Otherwise the electronik must be changed in adition.

Heat exchanger

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Replacement of the heat exchanger is not necessary for Truma liquid gas heaters

Worried customers frequently ask us about the regulation that stipulates that heat exchangers in vehicle heaters need to be replaced after 10 years.

Here is our detailed explanation: (This can also be submitted to the TÜV/Dekra if they do not have a copy.)
In compliance with the Road Traffic Regulations “Technical requirements for vehicle parts for the type test in compliance with §22a StVZO” dated 05.07.1973 for heaters operated with liquid fuels (diesel, petrol), the heat exchanger must be replaced after 10 years of use.

The reason for this are combustion residues.

In the new version of these “Technical requirements” dated 19.03.1990 the Federal Motor Vehicle and Transport Authority also demands the replacement of the heat exchanger in heaters operated with gaseous fuels after 10 years.

However when liquid gas is combusted, no corrosive elements are created that could corrode the heat exchanger of the liquid gas heaters, so that for reasons of safety, a replacement of the heat exchanger is not necessary.
Knowing this, we are convinced that the safety and quality of the Truma products can always be guaranteed well beyond 10 years, which is why we decided to prevent the enactment of the new version of the “Technical requirements” for the benefit of our customers!

We commissioned a technical report on corrosion to assess the durability of Truma liquid gas heaters from the Research and Material Testing Institute for Civil Engineering, Corrosion Protection department, which came to a very clear result: “Heaters of this type can be operated without problems for 30 years or more, without any signs of leaks caused by corrosion”.

Based on this report we were able to convince the Motor Vehicle and Transport Authority to extend the periods of use of the heat exchangers in liquid gas heaters and the exhaust-carrying pipes from 10 to 30 years in the “Technical requirements for vehicle parts in compliance with §22a StVZO”.

This means that these costly replacements that have no technical relevance and do not benefit the customer are no longer necessary.

This now means that anyone who has installed a Truma liquid gas heater Trumatic C, E or S-K in their motorcaravan is freed of their duty to replace the heater exchangers and exhaust pipes over the next years.

Note:

The heater exchangers/combustion chambers in heaters in motor vehicles (lorries and motorcaravan) that were built between 1993 and 2006 must be replaced (after 30 years).
Older heaters have permission to operate in non-compliance and newer vehicle have an E1 code that relieves them of this duty. Example: A replacement duty for e.g. the year of construction 1993 would then come into effect in 2023.
The heat exchangers in caravans are not affected by this regulation.

Older S-heaters – what you need to be aware of!

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Anyone who wants to purchase a vehicle with an older Truma heater should note the following: The device should always be inspected by an expert or qualified workshop to check for faults. After so many years of use, it is possible that there may be gaps in the heat exchanger between the two half-shells that are pressed together with a sealing compound.

If the exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide) leak into the inside of the vehicle, this may, in worst case scenarios, kill the passengers.
Exhaust fumes can also enter the inside of the vehicle from corroded aluminium exhaust ducts. Since 1982 Truma has only fitted exhaust ducts made of stainless steel. Unfortunately, the exhaust ducts cannot be simply replaced 1:1 on heaters built before 1981 because they cannot be connected to the heat exchanger of the old heaters.

More information about “Replacing the heat exchanger”