ALDE bypass valve question

Jay_and_Kat

We're planning on winterizing soon, I know the general WHERE for the bypass valve (T@B 400 Boondock) under the bed on the drivers side.
Would anyone have a photo to show exactly which valve it is?  I *THINK* I can find it, but paranoia has me trying to verify first...

Sharon_is_SAM

You have the Nautilus.  There is no separate Alde bypass valve.  That only applies to the pre-Nautilus models.  Just follow the Nautilus guide for winterization or this:

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/14611/procedure-to-winterize-via-air-compressor-t-b-400-with-nautilus

bergger

As @Sharon_is_SAM said just follow the instructions and you'll be fine.  The Alde bypass lever on the Nautilus is not marked as a bypass valve as they  just want you to follow the simple labeling on the panel to complete the task you desire.  However the red lever is the lever that will bypass the Alde, ie the hot water tank.  Here is a link to the Nautilus manual that does a good job telling you what each lever does. 

https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/py/2wdph8ajpgb7.pdf

When you look at the manual you can see if you follow the "Winterization" instructions the Alde will be bypassed. The manual shows you how to first blow out the lines then fill them with antifreeze.  I skip the blow out and just use -100 prestone antifreeze where I live as the standard antifreeze is not good enough with the temps we have. 

Jay_and_Kat

Sharon_is_SAM said:

You have the Nautilus.  There is no separate Alde bypass valve.  That only applies to the pre-Nautilus models.  Just follow the Nautilus guide for winterization or this:

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/14611/procedure-to-winterize-via-air-compressor-t-b-400-with-nautilus

Hmm, now I'm somewhat confused, as the nuCamp manual for for the T@B400 does say there's a bypass valve, I'm presuming for the hot water tank.

Unless, what I'm thinking of that I saw, is the SHUT-OFF valve for the hot water...
Time to crawl around the T@B, I guess.

Sharon_is_SAM

Good catch Jay_and_Kat!  I emailed nuCamp regarding this manual error.

bergger

The red lever in the Nautilus compartment will bypass the Alde, hot water tank.  It is the bypass valve just not labeled as such.  Vertical and water will enter the Alde, horizontal and water will bypass the Alde but will flow to the hot water taps.  That is why when you winterize with antifreeze you turn it horizontal prior to pumping in the antifreeze as indicated in the winterization instructions.  Nautilus does not label it as a bypass as they simply label the all the valves under different categories such as winterize, dry camping ect. I'm not sure what manual you are looking at but it may reference the older 400, prior to 2021, that did not have the Nautilus and did have a red lever labeled as the bypass. 

Jay_and_Kat

One last question then on winterizing, about how many gallons of antifreeze will I need?  I'm thinking, based on the guide @Sharon_is_SAM linked to, about 4.5-5 gallons?