Did I Ruin My Alde/Hot Water Heater? T@B 400

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 834
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
Hi Guys, I decided today to plug in the 400 to charge up the batteries. I didn't realize I had left the Alde in the on position the last camping trip. So when I went back to unplug it much to my surprise the camper was toasty warm!!!!  Uh Oh! I left the Alde on AND the shower symbol was in the first level position meaning the hot water heater was on WITHOUT ANY WATER IN THERE!!! Did I ruin it do you think? I know you can run the Alde without water, but what about the hot water heater! Does it have a dummy switch where it cuts itself off if there is no water in there?? Gosh I hope sooo because I'm a dummy!!!!!!!
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Comments

  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,655
    edited December 2019
    There is no "hot water heater" per se.
    The heaters (electric or propane) warm glycol fluid contained within the Alde. The fluid is contained in a jacket that surrounds the hot water tank and heats the water contained therein, if there is water contained therein.
    To warm the cabin the same glycol is circulated through the fin-tube convector heaters.
    In short, The Alde doesn't care if there is water in the tank and you didn't damage anything. RDWHAHB and camp on!  :-)
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 834
    Oh awsome! Thanks so much for the quick reply.  I was picturing a heater element somewhere getting super over heated!  Soooo what is the purpose for turning on the little shower icon then?  Perhaps that directs the glycol to go in additional areas to maximize the contact with the water tank?

    I will do as directed and RDWHAHB (thanks to google I know what that means now!)
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  • atlasb
    atlasb Member Posts: 584
    I think I read somewhere, in the Alde manual, if you are heating the cabin with the alde then switch the shower boost on, it diverts that energy to heating water and reduces the cabin heat.  Some one might know if this is the case or not.
    2018 T@B 400, 2017 Nissan Titan Crew cab
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  • db_cooper
    db_cooper Member Posts: 748
    edited December 2019
    Warning thread hijack coming.
    @ScottG homebrewer by chance?
    2015 Max S Outback | 2010 Xterra  -- Retired
    2022 Ford F350 Tremor |  2022 Cirrus 620



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  • webers3
    webers3 Member Posts: 435
    You are correct @atlasb, specifically the hot water boost stops the circulation pump from circulating the glycol through the convection heaters in the cabin and thus concentrating the hot glycol in the water heater. It resets the boost after, I think, 10 minutes.
    2017 T@B 320S   2019 Jeep Cherokee - Southern Connecticut
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  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    The only thing you shouldn't do is run the Alde at ALL if it has RV antifreeze in it. Some dealers I have heard do that instead of bypassing and draining. It won't probably hurt to have the antifreeze in there as long as you don't heat it. Otherwise if it is empty, no damage as mentioned and that is in the manual.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,655
    db_cooper said:
    Warning thread hijack coming.
    @ScottG homebrewer by chance?
    Yep. Not religiously, but I do a few batches a year of my favorites.
    And, to keep the discussion on topic, sometimes I even take some camping!  :-)
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • lkc001
    lkc001 Member Posts: 877
    If you were to leave your hot water heater "on" in any kind of RV that has the typical hot water heater, it would have been ruined for sure, but the Alde is different, as explained above.

    2018 Tab 400
    2016 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4 Crew Cab
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 834
    I love the Alde...now I have another reason to love it more!
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