Chunky Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I`am looking to buy an Autocruise Augusta, 09> and would be greatfull for comments on how good or otherwise users have found the Alde heating system,and pro`s and con`s of the Augusta itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 It is an excellent system (had it in 2 campers) more like domestic central heating. The heat circulates efficiently by convection, unlike blown heating where you end up with a hot head and cold feet and not very comfortable (IMO) My current van has underfloor heating where blown air is circulated in double floor, so not to bad, and very nice in the bathroom. my second camper had the alde underfloor heating as well which has the same effect..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Alde heating is very good but not effective on 240 volts when you only have a 6 amp hookup. The 240 volt elements are 1000 watts and 2000 watts. You can use gas at the same time as mains however. It takes a while to warm up a cold van. Some people add the heat exchanger option which means you arrive with a warm van and plenty of hot water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Alde heating - Brilliant. Some basic tests in our Concorde last year suggest that 1Kw (about 4 amps from a hookup) will manage about an 10 degree temperature rise with two bodies inside and all the windows closed. QUIET and no drafts. The output of the gas heater is 5 kw so thats quite a fast warm up. Electric switchable 1,2 or 3 kw. The heating can still be used with the fresh water system drained as its a seperate system for heating and has antifreeze in it. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Just a small point Clive. Most systems do not automatically come with the 3 Kw element. There are various configurations. On the Compact 3000 models, 92X and 93X being 2 Kw and 3 Kw I believe and the 94X is the 2 Kw model with a side venting flue instead of the roof vent. Just an added point. My van does not have the heat exchanger for hot water but it has something similar. It is a fan assisted blown air system. It takes the hot water from the engine cooling system, runs it through a heat exchanger and the warm air is blown into the back of the van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 It's perhaps worth adding that, because the principles of Alde's system differ from those of more conventional blown-air leisure-vehicle heating arrangements, it's vital that the motorhome manufacturer takes this into account when originally designing the motorcaravan. It shouldn't be a matter of taking a motorhome model that normally has, say, a Truma Combi appliance as the air/water heater and just shoving an Alde Compact-based system in instead. Continental motorhome manufacturers have had plenty of experience of Alde systems, but even they have sometimes made peculiar installation choices. Hopefully Auto-Trail will have done their research properly regarding the Augusta, so that the Alde system works efficiently and, should any problems arise, won't involve major surgery on the Augusta's interior to resolve them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonB Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Virtually silent and very efficient - one of our must haves when 'shopping'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Derek Uzzell - 2010-10-05 11:22 AM It's perhaps worth adding that, because the principles of Alde's system differ from those of more conventional blown-air leisure-vehicle heating arrangements, it's vital that the motorhome manufacturer takes this into account when originally designing the motorcaravan. It shouldn't be a matter of taking a motorhome model that normally has, say, a Truma Combi appliance as the air/water heater and just shoving an Alde Compact-based system in instead. Continental motorhome manufacturers have had plenty of experience of Alde systems, but even they have sometimes made peculiar installation choices. Hopefully Auto-Trail will have done their research properly regarding the Augusta, so that the Alde system works efficiently and, should any problems arise, won't involve major surgery on the Augusta's interior to resolve them Good point Derek. Burstner did (still do?) the Truma blown air system on the big fully winterised models. I often wondered how this was set up because of the false floor. Apart from the overcab and rear fixed bed, the Alde radiators are below floor level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hi Chunky Autocruise have been installing the Alde heating system in the Augusta for a few years now, so they should have it right. Same for the Oakmont model & also I think their previous Gleneagle & Wentworth models. (i.e. their top spec Driving range) No experience personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 747 - 2010-10-05 7:16 PM Derek Uzzell - 2010-10-05 11:22 AM It's perhaps worth adding that, because the principles of Alde's system differ from those of more conventional blown-air leisure-vehicle heating arrangements, it's vital that the motorhome manufacturer takes this into account when originally designing the motorcaravan. It shouldn't be a matter of taking a motorhome model that normally has, say, a Truma Combi appliance as the air/water heater and just shoving an Alde Compact-based system in instead. Continental motorhome manufacturers have had plenty of experience of Alde systems, but even they have sometimes made peculiar installation choices. Hopefully Auto-Trail will have done their research properly regarding the Augusta, so that the Alde system works efficiently and, should any problems arise, won't involve major surgery on the Augusta's interior to resolve them Good point Derek. Burstner did (still do?) the Truma blown air system on the big fully winterised models. I often wondered how this was set up because of the false floor. Apart from the overcab and rear fixed bed, the Alde radiators are below floor level. It's likely to be easier to install a Truma blown-air heating system in a motorhome with a double floor than in one without. You just run the air trunking between the floors and pop up outlets through the upper floor wherever you want them. With a 'single-floor' motorhome, you have to run the trunking above, under or through the floor. This can be challenging and I've seen some startling 'solutions' to permit air-outlets to appear where the designer wanted them. My single-floor Hobby had its front lounge air-outlets fed by a trunk embedded within the floor's insulation. A great idea except that the trunk was crushed flat during the factory-build. Now (courtesy of me) it's got two above-floor air-trunks feeding the lounge - much more efficient and a damn sight simpler than Hobby's original 'clever' arrangement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunky Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 Thankyou all for your oppinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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