Eber Help

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 18:06

Just bought an Eber DC2 from the bay of flea's.

Bought as tested and working, from a van dealer.

Before I fit in my van I wanted to test it out in the garage.

So I've plugged everything in, connected the thick black and red wires directly to a battery charger.

When I turn it on I got a green light on the round switch thing and a click from the eber itself then...............nothing

What am I doing wrong?
How can I test that the fuel pump is working? I can't hear it doing anything.

Should the fan spin when the unit is turned on?

It is an ex BT eber so still has the 60 minute timer fitted.

Any ideas before I go and lock it out

cheers

Gaz

Post by **Krisis** » 03 Sep 2008, 18:17

Windysurferuk
You need to have a good voltage connected, mine does not kick until I stuff 14.8v up it for it to fire up, it then drops to 12.5v - 13v on running.
TTFN Kris

Post by **jamesc76** » 03 Sep 2008, 18:24

i used to have one, had to turn the knob to fully on before it would do owt, plus try connecting it to a battery not a charger!

Post by **Mocki** » 03 Sep 2008, 18:25

you need to be sure there is more than 11.vdc at the heater underload.
use a battery between the charger and the heater, to buffer the voltage drop..... these heaters draw upwards of 8amps on load.

also the pump only pulses, all you will hear from it will be "clicks" after the heater has self checked.

to test the pump connect it to 12v it will click once, disconnect it it will click again, do it several times in rapid sucsession and it will pump if it is in working order.

the fan will spin after a short delay of the heater being switched on but you will need to leave it disconnected if you have connected it to low voltage to reset, the timer allows 1 hour on, 1 hour off before allowing it to be restarted

there is loads of ebber stuff in the wiki and the downloads section

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 19:00

Thanks for the quick replies.

I've just put a battery between the charger and the wiring.
I've also put the pump on its side as opposed to sticking out of the top of a bottle.

I've also tested the pump directly with 12v and it does click as you say Mocki so looks like the pump is ok.

Any way the up shot is that it will now fire up (switch turned to number 4)

Fan spins slowly and I even get a waft of smoke from the exhaust but it will only stay on for 30 seconds or so.

What am I missing?

cheers
Gaz

Post by **Rozzo** » 03 Sep 2008, 19:07

probs still hardly enough voltage,, has to be well up or they wont light.
think they take a while to get fuel through too.

Post by **Mocki** » 03 Sep 2008, 19:07

it need to bleed up , so may take 4 or 5 goes to fire properly, also, are you sure you are getting enough voltage???

silly point here, but you do have the pump the right way round , dont you, squirting towards the heater......... (Seen two inserted the wrong way recently)

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 19:21

I've just connected 12v to the pump until fuel came out and then plugged it back on the eber.

This time the fan spun up to a higher speed.

I think the problem is fuel or lack off. I'm not hearing or feeling the pump click when it's connected to the eber.
Also if I check for voltage where the pump plugs in and there is'nt any and I'm guessing there should be?

cheers

Gaz

Post by **Mocki** » 03 Sep 2008, 19:44

the voltage at the pump connection will be a pulse of 12v every 1.1 seconds, so will show as about 4v with a digital meter BUT the pumpwont be told to start if the voltage is low at the heater........this voltage thing is the key.........

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 20:04

Just heard the pump clicking.

Click about 10 times then stopped.

How often does it click in normal use? Is it all the time every 1.1 seconds or
just every now and again?

Fans blowing away but still no hot air.
Getting there slowly.

The leisure battery is an old one so may just need a good charge
Going to give it another go then is still no heat I'll let the battery charge over night.
Thanks again for the help. I think your spot on again with the voltage thing I think Mocki.

How reliable are these when there connected to your van battery?
If this one is having trouble whilst connected to a leisure battery and a charger I don't hold out much hope for it working in my van

cheers

Gaz

Post by **ringo** » 03 Sep 2008, 20:07

As stated before - whats the voltage on the input of the eber?

Turn the knob on, then monitor the voltage at the fuse of the eber (or a connector closer to the eber).

What does it drop too?

Ringo

E D I T: Sorry Gaz - we posted at the same time

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 20:33

before I try to start the heater the voltage at the fuse is 14.07 v. When I turn it on the fan spins at what I think is full speed and the voltage drops to 13v

The Eber fan just spins at full speed, no pump clicking,smoke from exhaust, fan spins for 5 min or so then turns off.

Post by **ringo** » 03 Sep 2008, 20:58

windysurferuk wrote:before I try to start the heater the voltage at the fuse is 14.07 v. When I turn it on the fan spins at what I think is full speed and the voltage drops to 13v

The Eber fan just spins at full speed, no pump clicking,smoke from exhaust, fan spins for 5 min or so then turns off.

Does the pump click at all?

Where did you measure the voltage?

If it has the huge inline fuse - take this out and clean it with emery paper. If there are spade connectors anywhere in the system - take them apart and clean them.

I've had it before where the pump has clicked once and then the fan just ran for 5 minutes. This was a dirty fuse.

BTW, when you get this sorted (if you dont send it back) if you make some good preparations (good quality thick wire with good connections) then the eber will perform.

Low voltage is the main evil of ebers and we all suffer from it.

Also, eber recommend that you get the unit serviced once a year - we all forget that when they stop working.

As a old hand on here once told me - heating is expensive

Ringo

Post by **windysurfer** » 03 Sep 2008, 21:44

Not sure what to do next.
I'm getting 13v just after the fuse. I've cleaned up all the connectors but all thats happening is the fan is spinning at full speed no matter what number I set the dial to.

Do I take it back as not working or pay to get somebody to have a look at it?

Post by **ASC** » 03 Sep 2008, 21:48

I don't wish to hijack the thread but I've got a relevant-ish question and posting it here will save on electrons.

Or something...

Anyway, I've been thinking of getting an eber or similar to stave off the hypothermia for the winter season in Scotland.

The issue is that I'm going to have a 70l LPG tank fitted under the R&R bed where most people seem to fit their heaters.

What are peoples' thoughts? Can I put the heater next to the LPG tank? I have visions of people being able to see the mushroom cloud from London...

Ta.