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Having Trouble Getting the Heat to Go On Using Propane

michaelroyymichaelroyy Member Posts: 46
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
I have a 2015 320S. I turned on the propane. Checked it by lighting the stove. I moved the 2nd column button on 3010 thermostat to the "flame" position (see attached picture) and the heat dial to #4. No heat was forthcoming. I left the other columns, #1 and #3 on zero. What might I be doing wrong? PS. I might need to put MuttonChops on retainer!


2015 Boondock
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Comments

  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,060
    @michaelroyy


    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • michaelroyymichaelroyy Member Posts: 46
    Thank you Sharon. If I am reading this correctly, I also need to move the switch to "I" to turn on the circulation pump? 
    2015 Boondock
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  • Grumpy_GGrumpy_G Member Posts: 677
    I'm not Sharon but yes, "I" for heat and hot water, "J" for hot water only. Think of it as a mode selector. The other switches control the heat source.
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,472
    Here is an older thread about how to set the panel up which might help.  Check the light "G".  If there has been some sort of "gas failure" error, you might need to reset the Alde by "resetting the 12V power to the trailer".  Just turn everything off and turn off the battery disconnect switch (if you have one).
    If nothing is happening, and you cannot hear or feel anything going, you might have blown a fuse on the Alde itself.

    Here is the Fuses For Newbies file, which shows where the Alde fuses are on the Alde itself. 


    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,060
    @michaelroyy - correct.  “I” is the setting for the Alde to heat and circulate, so you can heat the cabin and water if you want.  “J” as @Grumpy_G said, stops the circulation pump, concentrates the heat for hot water - good for summer when you don’t heat the cabin.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • michaelroyymichaelroyy Member Posts: 46
    Thank you all. 
    2015 Boondock
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  • GregChrisGregChris Member Posts: 203
    WOW! the newer Alde 3020 is a lot easier to use.
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  • ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,643
    Even with a 3010, it's possible to swap out the analog panel for the newer digital panel. This was a popular mod back when I joined the forum (just before the digital panels became standard issue).
    Personally, I kinda' like the old sliders. YMMV!
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • StepheninDenStepheninDen Member Posts: 51
    I’ve got a 2014 T@B CS-S and wouldn’t trade my sliders for a screen no way, no how! 

    @michaelroyy - You may want to replace the 2 little Alde fuses you’ll find under the cover of the actual unit under the bench with 5A (5 amp). On the older T@Bs, the 3A ones are prone to blowing when you fire it up (Someone on this forum confirmed with Alde that the 5A fuses are safe). FYI, to further avoid blowing a fuse, always turn your Alde off when connecting to shore power, and always turn the temp down when you start it then adjust up to the desired temp.
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  • MerryCMerryC Member Posts: 2
    Wow, this is really useful information about the fuses and how to avoid blowing fuses. 

    I have a 2016 and for the first time I am using propane instead of shore power for the Alde heating system. I have a few questions:
    1. Do I need to crack open a window when using propane? 
    2. Also, when the electricity went off and I really could use the propane feature of the Alde, I found that the fuses were blown but didn't know how to find anything. I read that I needed to have a certain amount of battery in order to run the heater, and a battery of a certain size. Can someone refresh my memory about this?

    Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge. I'll have to screen shot and also write down with paper and pen some of these tips for future use.
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,472
    edited February 25
    @MerryC The Alde manual, waaaay down at the end of the manual under "Fault Messages" says that if the battery drops to 10.5V, the heater will stop.  When the battery reaches 11.0 volts, the Alde will work again.  If any of the batteries in the trailer reach this voltage level, it is time to stop everything and charge the battery when that is a reasonable thing to do.  

    The Fuses you need are "slow blow" fuses for the Alde.  There are some huge threads about the Alde Fuses, and what StepheninDen said was one option....but the "better" option would be the "slow blow" versions.  I replaced my 2017 Alde fuses with the slow blow fuses.  The link below are the ones I bought 6 years ago (time flies!).  I replaced both of my "fast blow" fuses with these slow blow fuses, and I have not replaced any since.  

    Here is the long thread from 2016 or so where this issue was discussed.  Many owners were still learning the ins and outs of all the "games Alde plays".  The discussion goes back and forth with the various "solutions".  And, discussions on why the fuses blow, including all the "tricks" used to prevent the "fast blow" fuses from blowing.  Since adding the "slow blow" fuses I don't think about this much any more, but: I usually always turn the Alde off whenever I'm not actually using it, and I rarely, if ever, plug in to shore power.

    In the newer Alde 3020 from around 2019 or so, Alde changed the control panel so there is only 1 fuse on the positive 12V line to the panel.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • MerryCMerryC Member Posts: 2
    Thank you so much for your help and your answer! I had been using shore power for the heater and actually it has a funky smell whereas the propane to heat, though it takes longer, seems to not have any smell whatsoever. I will investigate the slow blow fuses and thank you so much, again, for your reply
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  • HoriganHorigan Member Posts: 837
    MerryC said:


    1. Do I need to crack open a window when using propane? 
    No.  The Alde vents propane exhaust outside, just above the access panel.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
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