Visit our Popular Forums

dickschaak · 01-08-2017, 11:46 AM

Bud, how is the doggie?

paiceman · 01-09-2017, 04:14 AM

Dick:

Thanks for asking. We take her into the surgeon this morning at 8:00am to see if he thinks the tumor should be removed. My wife and I believe it's shrinking, which is what it is supposed to do according to the oncologist, just not sure. They measured it with calipers and pictures last week so we will find out today if we have it removed tomorrow or not. In either case everyone, including our Vet say we can leave on Thursday as long as there are no complications if we have it removed.

Bud

paiceman · 01-09-2017, 04:20 AM

MoJo and Pete:

The best I can figure from the Alde manual and talking with them is when one is hooked up to shore power and electric on the control panel is selected the electricity takes precedence over the propane. Which means warming is going to take longer, however, in 30 minutes one should at least feel warmth.

I am going to guess you are low on fluid. Check the fluid level in the cabinet above the toilet over on the left side, remove the panel with two Philips head screws. It's hard to see, but the level should be about 1/8" above the minimum with the system off. If it is not or is not visible your system is low and in all probability you will not get heat. Nor when purging the valves will you get much air out of them. Add some fluid if low and turn the system back on and not much goes wrong with these systems so you should be good to go.

Bud

mojoe7009 · 01-09-2017, 10:27 AM

Good news! Thanks to Pete, the system appears to be functioning properly. Had plenty of fluid but the offset was set to 10 degrees and I didn't have the temperature cranked up enough. I also switched to propane only an got a much faster response. Trailer was cold, 39 degrees, when I arrived. Within a hour it was up to 66! Surfaces still felt cold when I left but I didn't give it much more time and that's to be expected coming up from 39. Thank you!

Breathe in, breathe out, move on!

paiceman · 01-09-2017, 01:04 PM

Good to hear.

Captain Hank · 01-09-2017, 04:19 PM

Does anyone know the how the Alde system works at low outside temps. Will electrical only keep the inside temp at set point or do you need to use propane?
My experience is that at low outside temps you must use electrical and propane to maintain set point inside. Also if electrical only is used it could take 2 hours or more to get to set point and it may not get to set point.
It would be nice to know Airstream's design and testing data for electrical and propane.

Pete B55 · 01-09-2017, 04:47 PM

The Alde electric elements can deliver 1900W while the equivalent from the propane equates to 8800W. So using propane will deliver energy at a rate 4.8 times faster than electric. But that's only one side of the equation. The colder it is outside the greater the energy loss through the walls and windows so who know where the threshold is that electric can keep up. Empirically from my short experience is it's around 50 because I could not get enough hot water and heat when the temp was below that

paiceman · 01-10-2017, 03:44 AM

I have not tried the hot water aspect of the system in cold weather. However, with just electric and the temp set at 68f with an outside temp of 18f they system kept up on electric only. Again no hot water was attempted, in fact the hot water portion of the boiler is empty of water as the unit is winterized.

Bud

dickschaak · 01-10-2017, 10:02 AM

Bud,
Here is hoping there will be no complications and you will be out the door. The loving that you will give her/him on the trip will make her well in no time. Keep us informed, this is more important than an Alde.

mojoe7009 · 01-10-2017, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hank

Does anyone know the how the Alde system works at low outside temps. Will electrical only keep the inside temp at set point or do you need to use propane?
My experience is that at low outside temps you must use electrical and propane to maintain set point inside. Also if electrical only is used it could take 2 hours or more to get to set point and it may not get to set point.
It would be nice to know Airstream's design and testing data for electrical and propane.

According to the Alde manual, if both electric and propane are turned the system will prioritize electric over propane. It doesn't run on both at the same time even though both indicate "on" at the control panel screen..

Breathe in, breathe out, move on!

paiceman · 01-11-2017, 04:30 AM

Dick:

She did well, her name was Hope when we adopted her, changed it to Hopey. We might leave in the Classic after the stitches are out in two weeks. No more plans as this is our third year of planning FL in the winter and having to cancel.

MOJOE: Its what I read as well, but a number of people have written that when both are on it heats up quicker. One time ours did as well and the propane level dropped from 98% to 89% overnight. But, I do agree with your interpretation of the Alde manual.

Bud

dickschaak · 01-11-2017, 07:26 PM

Well tomorrow the weather should allow me to go 40 miles North to the dealer I bought my Classic from.i have been trying to get up there for four days. Tomorrow looks good. I should have it back home by 1 o'clock. I will start by starting up the Alde to see what happens. I would like to leave the heat set at 50 for the trip to Texas. That is if the Alde works alright. We will leave Friday morning about 7:30 AM for Kansas City and spend the night in a hotel. Our next stop will be Oklahoma City and if the weather is OK i will un winterized it and stay in it. The next stop will be Texas. We are anxious to see how we enjoy the AS.

Zybane · 01-11-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete B55

The Alde electric elements can deliver 1900W while the equivalent from the propane equates to 8800W. So using propane will deliver energy at a rate 4.8 times faster than electric. But that's only one side of the equation. The colder it is outside the greater the energy loss through the walls and windows so who know where the threshold is that electric can keep up. Empirically from my short experience is it's around 50 because I could not get enough hot water and heat when the temp was below that

Just as a reference, my electric heating load maxes out at about 3000 watts in my 2016 Classic. This will keep the interior at about 68F down to about 18F outside.

The coldest it's been this year is 12F in D.C., the propane heater would need to kick on once and a while to supplement. At 12F I'd say with full 3000 watts of electric heat going, the LP furnace would kick on for 3 minutes every 20 minutes or so. If I put another 700 watt electric heater in, I'd be good for about 10F wih no LP use. If I go with another 1500 watt heater, I'd probably be good to about 0F until I would need to use LP (4500 watts electric heat).

paiceman · 01-12-2017, 03:38 AM

Dick:

I am guessing you are going up to pick your trailer at Colonial. I'd have them turn the system on, run it a bit and check the fluid and air in the system. Have them do the purges before you take it and then check it when you get home.

Another member on here has run from TN up to Jackson Center, camped at Terraport at the factory and all in sub freezing temps while using the Alde. They ran the system at 55f if I recall and it worked fine by the time they stopped for the night at JC.

Good luck today and enjoy the trip.

Bud

dickschaak · 01-12-2017, 03:36 PM

Thanks Bud,
We live in Minnesota so Colonial is a bit too far. We bought it from Shorewood RV in Anoka, MN. I love Colonial and I have bought two Airstreams from Pat. They are top notch and I can't imagine someone buying from the and having a speck of trouble. It has been well below zero here so the first thing I did was turn on the Alde. Surprise! No heat. However, after flooding all of the posts it did not bother me. I bled the towel rail valve and very little came out. I then checked the resovoir and found that I had to add almost three bottles of fluid. I waited about two hours and the heat went up to 40. That is pretty good for starting below zero. I probably should have purged more valves but I just used the one on the towel rack. It worked fine. If I get to some warmer weather I will check some others. The resovoir tank is gurgling but it will take some time for all the little air bubbles to disappear. I will run it while under way tomorrow and I am sure it will be all gurgled out. I read about the Alde purge and fill accessory. All it does is substitute a more powerful pump for the one on the Alde. The big pump forces all the air bubbles through the system and into the expansion tank where they gurgle out. I am very happy with the system. Can't wait to get some water in it in a couple of days.

stujan · 01-12-2017, 05:20 PM

Has the mixing valve helped with hot water? Can you take a normal shower

paiceman · 01-13-2017, 04:02 AM

Dick:

Yep, Colonial is a bit far, forgot you are in MN. Drive safe and keep us posted on the system, hot water as well. Did you add Alde fluid or another brand?

The heat should have gotten your unit warmer. We were 17 degrees and within two hours ours was up to the setting I had it at - 60 degrees.

Enjoy.

Bud

dickschaak · 01-13-2017, 07:34 PM

We made it 454 miles as far as Kansas City MIssouri. We might not be able to leave here until Monday. Starting early in the morning they are expecting the largest ice storm in their history. Oh well, we don't have a schedule and we will find something to do.

dickschaak · 01-14-2017, 12:23 AM

What voltage should the batteries show when not plugged in or attached to the car?

paiceman · 01-14-2017, 03:49 AM

Dick:

I am not sure on these units. I have solar and if the sun is out and intense, not necessarily warm and I am not running anything I can get them up to 13.7, BUT, once I turn something on I drop to 80% and they then show 12.7.

Could be something amiss, but then we seldom "boondock". Maybe someone with a better handle on this system can respond.

Hunker down as they even moved the Steeler - Chiefs game from 1:00 to 8:30 due to the impending storm on Sunday.

Bud