Alde 101 for 2018 T@B 320S Newbie?

PNWtabber

I have pored over both the nuCamp and Alde manuals and I am still uncertain how to use the Alde, position valves, etc.  It is all very humbling.   

Trailer:  2018 nuCamp T@B 320S Boondock.
Alde:  Alde Compact 3010 (per the manual).

I purchased my trailer used from a private party last month and I didn't know enough to ask the right questions about operating it.  I am attaching photos of the Alde and related plumbing and valves.  Can someone help me out or point me to the discussion I should be looking at?  I would like to run this trailer through its paces before winterizing.  I would also like to be able to use the trailer in the winter, so need to be able to use the Alde for heat. Thanks!  


Figure 1.  Overview of the Alde system in its current state.


Figure 2.  Valve on the blue line on driver's side, looks like it is in a closed position.  Is blue cold water????


Figure 3.  This valve on the red line appears open?  Is red hot water?

{Figure 4 deleted -- it was a duplicate image}

Figure 4.  A second valve on the red line.  Appears open?


Figure 5.  Is this yellow thing a valve?  It is in vertical position?

pthomas745

It will take many hours of quiet contemplation to make sense of this pretzel.  Here on the Forums there are many photos from threads that will help mark what each one is. 

A couple of things:  any pipe that goes through the bottom of the trailer is, obviously, a drain.  The valve closest to that drain controls it. So:  Figure 2 is your cold water drain. Under the plug in the top photo is a valve for the hot water pipe drain.

To the left is the "Alde Bypass" valve on a "red/blue" hybrid pipe.  I'll let you read up on that one in the winterizing manuals. 

The Alde has a strange way to "bypass" the Alde boiler when winterizing/sanitizing to keep chemicals out of the boiler.  Figure 3 is that Alde valve that prevents the flow of those chemicals to the Alde.  When you are NOT using chemicals and want the Alde to work normally, those valves are open, as your picture shows.  (This is the "camping season" or "summerized" mode).  The picture you show of the red pipe is the hot water.  On Figure 1, there is a parallel blue cold water pipe which has a valve just like the hot water one shown.  It should also be "open" in the "camping mode". 

Appears to me that Figures 3 and 4 are the same.

The yellow valve is the Alde boiler drain AND the system's pressure relief valve.  One of the most common things people ask is "why is water draining from under my trailer?"  If you have a hose attached to the trailer's city water connection, and you have NOT used a water pressure regulator, this valve pops up and releases the pressure, draining the water.  It is a spring loaded sort of "locking" valve.  Push it back into position (flat) and you should feel it snap into the proper position.  So, if you use a "city" water connection, you must have a water pressure regulator attached to it.

Here is a link to a ton of photos from various threads.  Click on the photo to find a link to each thread.  It will make more sense...soon!

https://www.google.com/search?q=valve+positions+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03GY1MuXggzMJ6QJuRLkSUdaK_FHg:1601874878000&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=xkbenJYw0FpfsM%2CVadMIMw2avu-SM%2C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTli_FDHHtZkNa_K9dK-UE9Kgu60Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_mc_42JzsAhVxOX0KHSWoD6cQ9QF6BAgKEAg#imgrc=OErEZ6s9hJ3SjM

PNWtabber

@pthomas745 -- thanks!  And you are correct, I inadvertently posted the same photo twice (shows how confused I am, LOL).

pthomas745

You can ignore all the "white" hoses, they are for the shower setup.  Just remember there is a plug in that compartment for the Alde.  The black hoses carry the Alde heating around to the back and other side of the trailer. 

Once you separate those "distractors" out, you are left with the red/blue pipes and the "only" six valves.  I borrowed a couple of the photos, printed them, and marked them up for "winterizing/sanitizing" mode and "summer/camping" mode.  Once you recognize each valve's function, it really isn't too hard.

PNWtabber

@pthomas745 -- so do I have this correct?
blue = cold water
red = hot water
black = glycol

pthomas745

Yes. 

The black pipes are the "heat exchanger tubes" that distribute heat through the cabin.

Here is a thread with some good description:

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7794/just-getting-ready-to-crank-up-the-alde-heater-need-advice-please