Truma combi elements replacement

[Googlebot]

Noticed last Easter in France that the Truma Combi 4E I have was a bit rubbish on electric where it was usually fine.

On electric only with one element, it was doing nothing and a check with the ammeter confirmed it was drawing 0. Never bothered doing anything as the other still worked.

Fast forward and both are now not working.

Truma now only sell an exchange heat exchanger complete and it’s £500. :-(

However you can get the elements elsewhere for £150 so thought I would give it a try. I don’t want to open up the water or combustion chamber as the seals kit is another £70 so was resigned to pulling the elements out instead of being able to separate the fins.

Hardest thing was getting the heater out the van and in the house. I had expected the elements to be seized in as several people suggested they would be as they split and expand when broken.

I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled them out and they both moved. Only took light taps with a hammer to fully remove them.

One indeed had split and the other was also reading massive resistance so confirmed both were bust.

It’s all now back together and just waiting to be put back in.

Got everything crossed that it goes well and all will be working Monday. The replacement was much easier than I thought it would be and YouTube has several videos of the process.

 

[Lenny HB]

Well done but I don't think I would bother on mine if they went.

Our new van has the electric elaments, previous 3 Hymers were gas only. Tried the heating on electric a couple of days ago when I was doing some work in the van. After a couple of hours just about took the chill off the van, on gas the van would be nice and warm in 10-15 mins.
I knew they weren't much cop but didn't reliase they were total crap.

 

[Googlebot]

Well done but I don't think I would bother on mine if they went.

Our new van has the electric elaments, previous 3 Hymers were gas only. Tried the heating on electric a couple of days ago when I was doing some work in the van. After a couple of hours just about took the chill off the van, on gas the van would be nice and warm in 10-15 mins.
I knew they weren't much cop but didn't reliase they were total crap.

In all honesty, they have been fine till they broke and van has always been toasty. It isn’t a huge van though and heater is in the middle so that might make a difference.

I wasn’t going to bother as we are hardly ever on hookup.

However we use it as an extra bedroom when the kids have friends over, I quickly realised that the gas wouldn’t last all that long in the cold temps we have been having which persuaded me to have another look.

Also, I really hate something not working when it should.

 

[Lenny HB]

In all honesty, they have been fine till they broke and van has always been toasty. It isn’t a huge van though and heater is in the middle so this might make a difference.

We only have a tiddler now 6.65m, but the heat distribution is not as good as in the Hymers.

Had the van 6 months and done nearly 6000 miles in it that was the first time I'd tried the heating on electric.

 

[Googlebot]

We only have a tiddler now 6.65m, but the heat distribution is not as good as in the Hymers.

Had the van 6 months and done nearly 6000 miles in it that was the first time I'd tried the heating on electric.

I am sure it’s nearly 5KW on gas, so much more powerful.

I have to admit, the heat distribution is outstanding, even the vents down the side of the beds at the back.

Your van is still nicer though.

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[Lenny HB]

I am sure it’s nearly 5KW on gas, so much more powerful.

6kw.

Had to do some mods bed area was like a sauna but the cab is too cold.
Basically a nice van but the people who design them need to use them.

 

[mikash]

Well done but I don't think I would bother on mine if they went.

Our new van has the electric elaments, previous 3 Hymers were gas only. Tried the heating on electric a couple of days ago when I was doing some work in the van. After a couple of hours just about took the chill off the van, on gas the van would be nice and warm in 10-15 mins.
I knew they weren't much cop but didn't reliase they were total crap.

It's ok for maintaining temperature but doesn't have enough muscle to warm the van up very fast or to keep up if you're constantly coming and going through the side / back doors or otherwise venting a lot for reason or another. The 1.8kW should keep you cozy down to maybe 0c or slightly below and with a little help, like an Ecomat at 750W medium mode, could stay all elec even closer to -10c. You just need the gas / diesel to get cozy in the first place.
Still, very nice on days like this when electricity costs <1c/kWh (or <5c/kWh incl grid transfer costs) if you have an EHU where you pay by the hourly spot price. For comparison, heating with diesel is about 18c/kWh and gas about 20c/kWh here at the moment.