How to work propex heater?

[triumphboy]

Hi all

I've just today bought an Autosleeper high top and here is my first dumb question (first of many I would imagine!) - how does the Propex heater work?

There's no instruction manual on it with the van. I did read the Autosleeper instruction manual in the wiki but it left me non the wiser...

I'm presuming you turn the gas on, push the switch to the left and select 1-7 on the temperature dial? When I do this, both lights come on (red and green) and the system starts to blow air (not warm though) for about 10 seconds and then switches itself off.

This is what it looks like:



and this is what it looks like with the switch pushed to the right (I'm guessing that's just blown cold air??)



Also, does it matter what type of gas you use? I read somewhere the red bottles work better in cold conditions?

Thanks for any help!

[Cruz]

Propane gas works better in colder conditions.

My control is slightly different but yes

I turn it on to the flame side (heat) and the green power light comes on, then after a minute or so the red flame light comes on and it warms up

Once it hits the desired temperature you have set the dial to the flame light goes out but the heater still blows cooler air as it does it's cooldown cycle and eventually the unit turns off completely. Once the temperature drops below the set temp the heater fires up again

the other side is just recycling air

[72BUG]

Sounds like your propex is not igniting the gas and going into shut down mode. When you turn it on after a few seconds you should hear a rapid clicking sound. This is the igniter sparking to light the gas. If you're not hearing the clicking then the igniter may be on the Fritz. If you are hearing the clicking but the unit is still not firing then it may be a gas flow problem.

Are you sure you have the correct gas regulator for the gas you are using?

Propane and butane run the propex at different pressures so it's not just a question of changing the bottle, you have to change the regulator aswell.

Butane regulators are usually blue and propane red.

[jamesc76]

My brand new propex came with instructions that you turn the thermometer down to minimum, then swith it on, then slowly turn it up till it starts to kick in, then turn it up to desired level.

If your new to the van are you sure all gas tas for the propex are on????? If they are you might have to try it a good few times to get actual gas to the heater ( they can air lock)

[triumphboy]

Thank you all...

I'm not hearing a rapid clicking sound...

Do I need to make sure any other switches are turned on in the van for it to work? Yes I'm new to the van, bought it today I don't know where any other gas taps are, all I've done it turn the one on the bottle....

This is what's happening:

Both the red and green lights come on together with the fan straight away when flicking the switch, however the fan goes off after a few seconds....then both lights just stay on and nothing else happens.....

If I then turn the temperature dial down (say from 7 to 3), the green light goes off (red stays on)...Then turning the dial back up again, the fan kicks in and the green light back on again, but again only for a few seconds before turning off leaving the two lights on...

I think the gas bottle is quite low, could that be it?

[zed]

How about the gas taps in the cupboard under the sink?

[kevtherev]

yes there bare three of them there..

all else fails you can call propex and ask for a hand

[1664]

Couple of Propex instructions here

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/pages/downlo ... ompact.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/pages/downlo ... ex1800.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The second one lists the fault codes the control panel should display if there's a problem

[triumphboy]

Thanks for all the advice.

Reading the fault finding table I suspect it's low current in the leisure battery, I'm giving it a good charge and see if that fixes it!

[1664]

Reading the fault finding table I suspect it's low current in the leisure battery, I'm giving it a good charge and see if that fixes it!

Check all the connections / voltage at the unit if it doesn't. Bad connections cost volts

[Nicola&Tony]

For low battery problems, have you tried starting the heater whilst you've got the engine running?

If it's a gas flow problem, try lighting the burners on your hob for a few seconds before starting the heater. It seems to help draw the gas through when our propex hasn't been used for a while (especially if the gas level in the bottle is getting low).

Tony

[Plasticman]

Have a look nearer to the actual propex unit , there should be a rectangular box with a light or 2 on it , switch your heater on as you have been doing and observe the lighting on the box and if the red is showing on that then its usually a low voltage problem as this is a failsafe and cuts the gas to the heater.
mm

[triumphboy]

Thanks again for the tips.

The heater does work with the engine running. I think the leisure battery has had it, I gave it a full charge and it's still weak.

Any tips for buying the most suitable battery?

[Nicola&Tony]

Alpha Batteries. Measure your battery box and pick from these:
http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/buy-on ... cat_5.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tony

[triumphboy]

Thanks again, I managed to get an 80ah leisure battery (to replace the dead 44ah) that JUST fit for £62.99 including delivery

The Propex works fine now too!

How much power does it use? Is it something I shouldn't be running for long on a leisure battery?

I did wonder something else too...Is the light that comes on when the slider opens powered by the leisure or starter battery?