[jo5hm4n]

So ive just finished up setting up my first DIY Van Mount.   Started testing it today.  Was working fine with cold water no problem flow set at 50, calibration on 30 on the Digital Pure Freedom Flow Controller.

Plugged in the immersion heater for about2  hours as wanted to run hot water to see if the joints were tight enough or were leaking.  Left pump on for about an hour to get through the cold water as hot water was about a third way up the tank.  By the time the water just got warm as it was running out of tank i then noticed no water was coming out.  It was trickling out in spurts, as if an airlock or something, but pump was making a constant effort to pump water didnt hit Dead End on flow controller. 

Is there anything i have done wrong?  Do i need to up the calibration?  I'll have a go at it tomorrow when theres light and i can see what im doing.

Any advice appreciated from those who have used immersion heaters, adapting from water being cold to then hot on your system.

Cheers

[Smudger]

sounds like a calibration problem

personally I don't faff with cycling the water  through the pump back to tank - heat up overnight - drive down the road in the morning to agitate the water

Darran

[Dave Willis]

Strainer clean? You do have one don’t you? If you’ve drilled the tank for an immersion element it will be full of plastic swarf.

[jo5hm4n]

Strainer clean? You do have one don’t you? If you’ve drilled the tank for an immersion element it will be full of plastic swarf.

I made a rookie mistake.  After drilled the hole i moved the tank before i vacuumed it dry.  As its baffled i could only vac one side of the tank.  When i filled water today there was lots if plastic swarf from other end.

I do have a strainer was hoping it would all go into that.

Unless ive buggered it??

[jo5hm4n]

sounds like a calibration problem

personally I don't faff with cycling the water  through the pump back to tank - heat up overnight - drive down the road in the morning to agitate the water

Darran

I wont when i get started i was emptying the water on the road.  First day with diy and immersion.  Literally figuring it out as i go along.

[Dry Clean]

sounds like a calibration problem

personally I don't faff with cycling the water  through the pump back to tank - heat up overnight - drive down the road in the morning to agitate the water

Darran

Exactly , I had this one out with Nathan, heat in water is just stored energy therefore as long a you put x into the tank it doesn't matter how you do it, lenght of the immersion or cycling the water wont make it heat up any quicker.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I'm surprised you had any heat at all with just 2 hours of heater time!!

Anyhow, yes, you will need to lower the pressure cut off value when using hot water. 

[jo5hm4n]

I'm surprised you had any heat at all with just 2 hours of heater time!!

Anyhow, yes, you will need to lower the pressure cut off value when using hot water.

Tank was half full so 250L.  What do you mean by pressure cut off value?  Please explain.

Thanks

[dazmond]

I'm surprised you had any heat at all with just 2 hours of heater time!!

Anyhow, yes, you will need to lower the pressure cut off value when using hot water.

Tank was half full so 250L.  What do you mean by pressure cut off value?  Please explain.

Thanks

dead end detection/calibration......

[jo5hm4n]

I'm surprised you had any heat at all with just 2 hours of heater time!!

Anyhow, yes, you will need to lower the pressure cut off value when using hot water.

Tank was half full so 250L.  What do you mean by pressure cut off value?  Please explain.

Thanks

dead end detection/calibration......

So i need to lower the calibration number on the controller?  Ok will try that.

[P @ F]

By jove he's got it !
The higher the number on CAL the more pressure will go into system .
Just as a guide , when I used hot CAL was at 35 , when cold I was anything from 35 to 55 

[nathankaye]

Shame youve hit this snag, but once this issue is sorted, you will be pleased with the heated water.
Dont worry too much about the bits of plastic floating in the tank. Ive nit used a strainer in my prefilter before the pump for a while now as i misplaced the mesh. I have bits of plastic and bits of plastic from some of the balls in the tank which have broken apart.  Yet these float on the top or close to the top and my tank drains from the bottom corner, so unless your running on near empty, its unlikely that these bits will get sucked throug.
Haha i normally scoop these off from the top when i have a full tank.

[jo5hm4n]

By jove he's got it !
The higher the number on CAL the more pressure will go into system .
Just as a guide , when I used hot CAL was at 35 , when cold I was anything from 35 to 55

Thanks for explaining.  Makes sense now.  Will be working on the van tomorrow so will heat it up first and then play around with the cal and see what happen.

[jo5hm4n]

Shame youve hit this snag, but once this issue is sorted, you will be pleased with the heated water.
Dont worry too much about the bits of plastic floating in the tank. Ive nit used a strainer in my prefilter before the pump for a while now as i misplaced the mesh. I have bits of plastic and bits of plastic from some of the balls in the tank which have broken apart.  Yet these float on the top or close to the top and my tank drains from the bottom corner, so unless your running on near empty, its unlikely that these bits will get sucked throug.
Haha i normally scoop these off from the top when i have a full tank.

Good idea, il scoop them off the top when the tank is full i did notice that they were floating.  Yes hopefully be good when ive sorted it all out.  I haven't insulated my tank like yours, wanted to see how the tank copes with the heat and how much heat it will lose over the course of the day.  Will do some tests when i get chance and report back.

May even do a video for ya 

[P @ F]

Oooh YES 
Nath will just love that