Carver cascade 2 gas water heater boiler propane butane

[Rotary-Motion]

hi all

i need some input on a Carver cascade 2 gas water heater boiler propane butane anyone know much about these? there for caravan/campers/horse boxes etc...

they come in gas units (12volt feed needed) - also gas and 240volt units - and i think gas and 12volt units too.

they are water heaters, i guess for showers and sinks to wash with, water gets upto 70c and has its own 9 ltr tank, and i think needs a permanant feed (pressurised pump/system) which i have.

ok my plan is to use one for central heating (to 1 radiator) in my camper.

first thought is the whole water system needs a header tank will i need it pressurised ? radiator will be higher than the heater, and can i put a stat in it?

this below one is gas heated only (12v just for control box ignitor) these units are very compact and easy to fit, very nice bit of kit!

[william crosby]

They will use loads of gas if you are running a rad from it as it will be working overtime to keep it hot.Only really designed for shower and taps unless you get a modern truma type.Would you not be better with a diesel water heater running a rad.When you are on a site you want electric as you are paying for it so might as well use it.

[Rotary-Motion]

thx for that, i was thinking 240v and gas unit (run both same time too if needed), for site and i have a genny 1000watts

and was thinking can i put a thermostat (with pump on 12v or solar powered) in the system keep heat low and gas use to a minimum (if its not pumping round the gas wont trip in alot) 9 tr tank and heater jacket holds heat in at 65/70c

[julianf]

if you have gas, why not just use the gas for direct heat, rather than heating water to then heat the air?

those little caravan gas fires heat up a small space in no time

[Rotary-Motion]

if you have gas, why not just use the gas for direct heat, rather than heating water to then heat the air?

those little caravan gas fires heat up a small space in no time

plan was to sleep with it on (vented outside) with gas flue, gas fire are ok if awake...

[Head Womble]

I have one in my caravan, 240v + gas, if you use both at the same time they heat up quite quickly.
I doubt they're the most efficient way of heating water as you loose quite a bit of the heat to the outside.

If you rig it up so a circulation pump is turned on and off by the stat and leave the heater unit to do it's own thing you should be ok.
A small header tank may be a good idea, but an expansion vessel is probably a better bet.
You'll have to find a way of filling and bleeding the system, but that should be easy enough by linking it to the water system.

But wouldn't it be easier to install blown air heating insted.

[Rotary-Motion]

I have one in my caravan, 240v + gas, if you use both at the same time they heat up quite quickly.
I doubt they're the most efficient way of heating water as you loose quite a bit of the heat to the outside.

If you rig it up so a circulation pump is turned on and off by the stat and leave the heater unit to do it's own thing you should be ok.
A small header tank may be a good idea, but an expansion vessel is probably a better bet.
You'll have to find a way of filling and bleeding the system, but that should be easy enough by linking it to the water system.

But wouldn't it be easier to install blown air heating insted.

not sure on blown heating with gas?

thank you for that, does the system need to be pressurised?

does it have its own water pump? or caravan van pump?

[Head Womble]

I have one in my caravan, 240v + gas, if you use both at the same time they heat up quite quickly.
I doubt they're the most efficient way of heating water as you loose quite a bit of the heat to the outside.

If you rig it up so a circulation pump is turned on and off by the stat and leave the heater unit to do it's own thing you should be ok.
A small header tank may be a good idea, but an expansion vessel is probably a better bet.
You'll have to find a way of filling and bleeding the system, but that should be easy enough by linking it to the water system.

But wouldn't it be easier to install blown air heating insted.

not sure on blown heating with gas?

thank you for that, does the system need to be pressurised?

does it have its own water pump? or caravan van pump?

It doesn't need to be pressurised.

They use the standard water pump that does the cold feed as well, the water is pumped through the heater to the taps/shower, so self bleed when you fill the system and turn the tap on.

[Rotary-Motion]

is yours pressurised?

[Rotary-Motion]

do yo know it yours has a pressure switch in the water feed or outlet of unit?

on one i see has some kind of one, but not sure if should be there or a safety thing?

unit wasnt fitted by qualified engineer. te one i see that is...

[Head Womble]

is yours pressurised?

No.

but I think that with your proposed setup an expansion vessel would be good as it'll be a closed system,
you can add antifreeze and leave it filled permanently.

[Rotary-Motion]

is yours pressurised?

No.

but I think that with your proposed setup an expansion vessel would be good as it'll be a closed system,
you can add antifreeze and leave it filled permanently.

got a feeling the one i see was/is pressurised, not sure if they should be as when water is hot it expands like you say, could blow pipes and burst.

but love the anti freeze bit  great idea...

need to find an instalation manual from somewhere, do you have one?

[Rotary-Motion]

found a manual 

http://www.swift-owners-club.com/support/oem_handbooks/carver/carver_cascade2_ge.pdf

pump needs to be no more than this - 1.4 bar = 20 psi

10:3 Pumps & Taps
Taps which control the pump by a switch in each tap are considered most suitable but the heater will also work on systems using a pressure switch to control the pump (provided that the pressure operating the switch is below 1 .4bar). Where a pressure switch is used temperature fluctuations can be expected when showering.

my pump is 30 psi, bit of a beast if i fit to my domestic water system, was gonna think about this so i can have hot sink water for washing aswell, maybe best make it separate just heating and open system not pressurised? not sure...

if usein a pressrised system where is the expansion tank? is it the cold feed holding tank??? basically back feeds if expanding? if so my tank is vented to atmosphere ok. BUT it would back feed or need to back feed through pump which it can not! it will be holding pressure

im confused here?

[Head Womble]

The way I see it if you're going to use the heater for hot water and a radiator you'll need to either make a copper rad or use a heat exchanger, a standard house rad will contaminate the hot water.

[1958steveflying]

Bud what you need is one of these. http://www.alde.co.uk/itemdetails.php?itemId=1