Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Check out the most frequently asked questions and answers. Whether you are curious about our products, wondering about maintenance or have technical questions, we have the answers. If you have any further questions or need more detailed information, our service team is always ready to help you.

How much LPG does the heater consume?

The burner in the heater works in two stages. Low heat demand – the lowest power stage (245 g/h propane) and high heat demand – the highest power stage (405 g/h propane).

The heater is ingeniously designed to select the immersion heaters as the primary heat source if 230 V is connected to the vehicle and if the electric cartridges are activated on the control panel. If this is not sufficient, the LPG burner will start automatically (if activated on the control panel).

Keep in mind that it is possible to choose between and prioritise between electricity/gas energy sources.

How quickly should the vehicle be heated?

Varies greatly, depending on the inside and outside temperature, the number of people, the layout of the heating system and the insulation of the vehicle. Whether you run on 230 V electric cartridge only (1, 2 or 3 kW) or gas only or both electric cartridge and gas at the same time. This means that the power can vary from 1 kW to 8.5 kW. Generally, the room temperature in the vehicle reaches a comfortable level within an hour, if both gas and electric cartridge are activated.

Does my heater have a 2 or 3 kW electric cartridge?

To verify this, the data label on the heater must be read. It is usually located between the exhaust connection and the plastic cover on the long side of the heater. However, this is only the maximum power indicated. For example, the Alde Compact 3010 can be set to both 1 kW and 2 kW at the touch of a button if the vehicle is connected to 230 V mains voltage.

How much power does the heating system draw?

The short answer is that the Alde heater draws just over 1 A for basic functions/operation of the heater.

A more detailed answer follows below. There are two functions in the Alde Compact 3000/3010/3020 that draw >0.1 A of current from the vehicle’s 12-volt battery. The combustion fan that supplies air to the burner (≈ 0.4 A), and the circulation pump that circulates the hot glycol fluid in the heating system (≈ 0.2 A).

So normally the heating system draws ≈ 0-0.6 A in LPG operation and ≈ 0-0.2 A with 230 V electric cartridge.
At maximum, the heater draws 1 A for about three seconds when starting at 12 V DC. In 230 V immersion heater operation it draws ≈ 4.5 A on 1 (1 kW), ≈ 9 A on 2 (2.1 kW) and ≈ 14 A on 3 (3.2 kW).

How does the control panel work?

Manuals for the control panel and heater should be included in your vehicle. You can find these under > Manuals.

Simulator: Here you can test most of our control panels >

Quick guide for Alde Control Panel 3010

Quick guide for Alde Control Panel 3020 HE

Can I replace the LCD control panel on the Alde Compact 3010 with a touchscreen control panel?

No problem, all cables and equipment fit. There is a ready-made kit with control panel and cover frame (art.no. 3010615).

How to change the control panel >

How much hot water can I get?

The Alde Compact 3010/3020 has a water heater with a volume of about 8.5 litres of hot water at >50°C. When the hot water is mixed with cold water (approx. 10 °C) to the normal user temperature of approx. 38 °C, this results in approx. 12 litres of hot water every 30 minutes.

The colder the water, the longer it takes to heat up. If 230 V electric cartridge is used instead of gas to heat the heater, the capacity is slightly reduced. The “extra hot water” function on the Compact 3010/3020 digital control panel raises the water temperature to > 65°C for 30 minutes. This means ≈ 15 litres of heated water, mixed and ready.

Why do I get no or little hot water?

The control panel is probably set to constant operation of the circulation pump, which means that all power goes into the heating system.

How do I get hot water in summer without the heat circulating in the system?

Set the desired room temperature to well below ambient on the control panel. As the Alde Compact is a combination boiler, it heats both heating fluid and hot water simultaneously. If the desired temperature is set about 5°C below the ambient temperature on the control panel, the heating fluid will not circulate to the convectors because the circulation pump will be stopped.

For 3000/3010/3020: Under the pump operation symbol on the control panel, THERM must be activated (green).
For 3030/3030 Plus: Auto must be indicated at the pump.

How do I get the best performance from the heating system?

Make sure the heating system is vented. Make sure that ventilation slots in furniture are not blocked. Use maximum power on the electric cartridge and gas during heating. Avoid running hot water for showers etc. until the vehicle is heated. Do not let the temperature in the vehicle drop below 10°C during the day/evening.

Do the digital control panels also work with the Alde Compact 3000?

No, the Alde Compact 3000 does not have processor-controlled electronics, which the newer Alde Compact heaters are equipped with.

Is it possible to run the heater on both gas and electricity?

You can use both gas and electricity at the same time, giving you a higher maximum power output (up to 8.5 kW).

Can I run the heater without fresh water?

Yes, it is possible to run the heater without fresh water. However, you should not run the system without glycol.