Carver cascade 2 gas water heater boiler propane butane

[Head Womble]

this make it 85c non adjustable i think? replacement stat

dodgy as at 90c the wax emegency plug will melt and shower water on the burner

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carver-Cascade-2-Water-Heater-GE-Heater-Element-Manual-Thermostat-/180942016635?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item2a20fc107b

My rother changed his stat, they're a standard type unit ad ca e brought i different temps.

[chariot]

I have a plan for 'central heating' setup in a big Merc van I may buy - in my head. It would be simpler than the cascade setup and have dual purpose. Also much cheaper to run. It was inspired by the vod postings a few years ago about the Sprinter van with the large veg oil tank between the front seats as mentioned above.

For a start, the van would be very well insulated so heat losses were minimised. The heating bit would be a water tank in the middle of the van. It would have a very well-insulated cover in sections so that when the water is hot, the heating could be adjusted.

A hot tank (say 70-80C) would be sized - through trial and error with intelligent guestimates - sufficient to keep the van from getting uncomfortably cold in the small hours. It would be heated by the engine via a fphe when the vehicle was running, with a 12v pump to circulate the heating tank water. I've no idea how long it would take for 60 litres of water to heat up to 60C at 60mph, I would try it and see.

The tank's dual purpose would be that when the heated tank wasn't needed for heating, the insulation cover would stay on and the next morning there would be plenty of heat left. With an underbonnet 12v pump running in the engine cooling system and by circulating the tank of hot water through the fphe, the engine could be preheated.

I have done no calculations, it is purely a thought which one day I will try out.The heated tank could also provide shower and washing water. It could also have a circuit to heat the fuel tank, potentially creating a vehicle which could run (twin-tanked) on lard.

A really small log burner/rocket stove would also make sense if you were planning on sub-zero camping or when daylight hours are very short. Waste heat from this could heat the water tank via a copper coil and a bit more pipework.

In theory this could give you a vehicle which had its engine and fuel tank pre-heated by wood.

[Rotary-Motion]

I have a plan for 'central heating' setup in a big Merc van I may buy - in my head. It would be simpler than the cascade setup and have dual purpose. Also much cheaper to run. It was inspired by the vod postings a few years ago about the Sprinter van with the large veg oil tank between the front seats as mentioned above.

For a start, the van would be very well insulated so heat losses were minimised. The heating bit would be a water tank in the middle of the van. It would have a very well-insulated cover in sections so that when the water is hot, the heating could be adjusted.

A hot tank (say 70-80C) would be sized - through trial and error with intelligent guestimates - sufficient to keep the van from getting uncomfortably cold in the small hours. It would be heated by the engine via a fphe when the vehicle was running, with a 12v pump to circulate the heating tank water. I've no idea how long it would take for 60 litres of water to heat up to 60C at 60mph, I would try it and see.

The tank's dual purpose would be that when the heated tank wasn't needed for heating, the insulation cover would stay on and the next morning there would be plenty of heat left. With an underbonnet 12v pump running in the engine cooling system and by circulating the tank of hot water through the fphe, the engine could be preheated.

I have done no calculations, it is purely a thought which one day I will try out.The heated tank could also provide shower and washing water. It could also have a circuit to heat the fuel tank, potentially creating a vehicle which could run (twin-tanked) on lard.

A really small log burner/rocket stove would also make sense if you were planning on sub-zero camping or when daylight hours are very short. Waste heat from this could heat the water tank via a copper coil and a bit more pipework.

In theory this could give you a vehicle which had its engine and fuel tank pre-heated by wood.

there is some very nice ideas there fo sho, but dam it would be alot of pipes / wires.

K.H gave me a 12v heater i think 500 watts i willtry find a picture

[chariot]

The Carver Cascade I removed from an ex-gf's caravan had lots of pipes and wires too! 15mm copper, fphes, car coolant system hoses and gate valves I understand - not sure I could explain everything on a cascade, let alone easily and quickly mend one!

[Rotary-Motion]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-VOLT-Immersion-Water-Heater-Element-12V-Solar-Wind-V-/120315409646?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item1c035b74ee

[Rotary-Motion]

The Carver Cascade I removed from an ex-gf's caravan had lots of pipes and wires too! 15mm copper, fphes, car coolant system hoses and gate valves I understand - not sure I could explain everything on a cascade, let alone easily and quickly mend one!

water in / out pipe

gas pipe

12v

switch

and flue out of van

oh and 240v if you have that model

[chariot]

Aye, well this one had an electronic control unit, pressurised lpg supply, 240v, plumbing fittings which I've never seen before, which broke very easily, etc. Sure, nothing too impossible but I'd prefer a water tank and a fphe supplied bywith a coolant loop from the engine, with a 12v water pump in the system. Nice robust connections, ubiquitous fittings etc.

But I agree, there'd be more pipework length than with a carver, which would have to be carefully insulated.

[Rotary-Motion]

oh ye all doable for sure on your idea, was gonna have simarlar on my day van, engine heat a tank for hot water, i already got a twin tanked van on veg, even got the fphe ready to install, but to many pipes under van bonnet already fo me... i already have a space heater off the van coolant between the front seats for your ideas and T off for the fphe inside the van... oh yes im on your wave length

[Rotary-Motion]

ok everyone have a look at this pic, does that look like that whale pressure switch is setable on pressure?

it looks like a turn down screw on the top

if so i could use that to turn down my 30 PSI pump to 20 PSI/1.4bar then use my already fitted tank to pull cold feed into heater, hence getting hot AND cold running water...

[chariot]

Agree, don't like too much stuff under the bonnet. Never yet twin-tanked, even though have had the 3-way valves sat on the shelf for years! Cascades are compact and deliver the goods, but if you're going to have a wood stove in your van (which I think is a good thing - it means you're not reliant on 240v hook ups and lpg supplies or the cost of all that) it'd be a shame not to link it to a simple 'central heating' tank which could also be heated by your waste engine heat as well as pre-heat your engine.

Wish I was Vectra man, happy with a couple of crap foreign holidays. In some ways. But not many!

[Rotary-Motion]

Agree, don't like too much stuff under the bonnet. Never yet twin-tanked, even though have had the 3-way valves sat on the shelf for years! Cascades are compact and deliver the goods, but if you're going to have a wood stove in your van (which I think is a good thing - it means you're not reliant on 240v hook ups and lpg supplies or the cost of all that) it'd be a shame not to link it to a simple 'central heating' tank which could also be heated by your waste engine heat as well as pre-heat your engine.

Wish I was Vectra man, happy with a couple of crap foreign holidays. In some ways. But not many!

not too worried on 240v hookup as dont intend visiting a site much, maybe only to steal a shower or take a dump...

i plan pulling up wherever at any time, so 12v and gas is utmost, but i do have an inverter 1100watt in the van and a 1000watt genny / 12v battery charger

[chariot]

Wood is free! So is the waste heat from your engine. Both can be gathered anywhere. LPG ain't and can't. But I take your point.

[Rotary-Motion]

Wood is free! So is the waste heat from your engine. Both can be gathered anywhere. LPG ain't and can't. But I take your point.

i hear ya for sure, forgot to add got split charger, 2x batts aswell just in case...

so chariot when you buying this van and get stuck in? 

http://www.biopowered.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,748.0.html

[greasemonkey]

Have you seen this?
http://deepredmotorhome.com/index.php

Quite an interesting read. Big budget campervan, some interesting writeups about the build. Not really relevant to what your doing, but worth reading.

[chariot]

Wood is free! So is the waste heat from your engine. Both can be gathered anywhere. LPG ain't and can't. But I take your point.

i hear ya for sure, forgot to add got split charger, 2x batts aswell just in case...

so chariot when you buying this van and get stuck in? 

http://www.biopowered.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,748.0.html

When is a good question. Two v young offspring and icy (Vectra-style, well-hidden on consumation) ex don't help. But one day there will be perfection in life for me 

Btw, which 2.5 lump is it in your motahome?