Tank Blankets

Hello

Shortly after our first trip in our new Symbol Plus I noticed that the heated blankets on our fresh and waste tanks were both coming unstuck and hanging down. I taped both up with gorilla tape and reported the issue to the dealer.  Autosleeper agreed to a replacement which our dealer recently completed. 
Were now on our first trip after the repair and lo and behold I see that both blankets are once again hanging down, almost touching the road. I've once again secured the blankets with tape.
I'm not very impressed by the repair and I'm also wondering if the blankets have been reconnected correctly.  Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating? Were up in the north of Scotland and its falling to about 4 degrees at night. I've tried feeling the blanket but it doesn't feel particularly warm. What temperature do the blankets come on at?

Many thanks 
Des

Hi Des

Gorilla tape is good, but not that good. I'd suggest Sikaflex or something similar.

I'd also suggest you seriously wonder whether you will ever use the blankets??? We never have, and I know lots of others haven't either.

One of those "must have" gadgets that sound essential . . . until you stop and think about how you use the van. Unless you go to the Arctic you may not need them at all. 

Just some thoughts.

Dave

Spray adhesive, one of mine was hanging down soon after I picked up the van, it’s still stuck 9 months later. Make sure tank and blanket are clean, spray on both parts then wait a minute or 2 before pressing together.
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PLOUGHLIN wrote:

DesG wrote:Hello

Shortly after our first trip in our new Symbol Plus I noticed that the heated blankets on our fresh and waste tanks were both coming unstuck and hanging down. I taped both up with gorilla tape and reported the issue to the dealer.  Autosleeper agreed to a replacement which our dealer recently completed. 
Were now on our first trip after the repair and lo and behold I see that both blankets are once again hanging down, almost touching the road. I've once again secured the blankets with tape.
I'm not very impressed by the repair and I'm also wondering if the blankets have been reconnected correctly.  Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating? Were up in the north of Scotland and its falling to about 4 degrees at night. I've tried feeling the blanket but it doesn't feel particularly warm. What temperature do the blankets come on at?

Many thanks 
Des

AFAIK they are not automatic, you need to switch them on then they are on until you switch them off or your battery dies. EHU hooked up use only.

From the manual....

WATER TANK HEATERS
If specified, electrically heated,
thermostatically controlled, water tank heater
blankets are fitted to enable operation of your
vehicle in cold conditions.
Operation
• Make sure that the tank heaters are
only selected when there is liquid in
the tanks.
• Press the defrost button on the control
panel when you know the ambient
temperature will approach freezing. The
LED will indicate that there is power to
the circuit.
• If there is no liquid in the waste tank, the
heater for it must be turned off using the
isolation switch, ensuring that the LED is
NOT lit. For exact location of the switch
refer to the Location of Key Facilities
chart.
• When the temperature in the tank drops
to approximately 7°C the thermostat will
turn the heating element ‘ON’.
• When the contents of the tank rise to
18°C the thermostat will turn the system
OFF


So although not fully automatic, they are thermostatically controlled, so you won't feel any heat on the pads if temp is above 18 in the tank.

DesG wrote:

I noticed that the heated blankets on our fresh and waste tanks were both coming unstuck and hanging down.

  Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating?

DesG, what you're probably seeing hanging off is the insulation on the outside of the tank.

The electrically heated blankets are laid flat inside the tanks, not outside. Imagine a miniature electric blanket for your bed, it's that type of arrangement.

To test they are working, disconnect your van from EHU so you are on battery only, then switch the display of your control panel so you can see the current amps being drawn.  Then switch the heated tanks on.  You'll see instantly if they are working or not 

Also, don't run the heated tanks without any water in them, you'll be fine for testing purposes but not for prolonged use.

I doubt you'd ever feel any heat on the outside of the tank as the heaters only go up to a few degrees, it's only to stop freezing after all, not to produce hot water 

RogerThat wrote:

DesG wrote:

I noticed that the heated blankets on our fresh and waste tanks were both coming unstuck and hanging down.

  Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating?

DesG, what you're probably seeing hanging off is the insulation on the outside of the tank.

The electrically heated blankets are laid flat inside the tanks, not outside. Imagine a miniature electric blanket for your bed, it's that type of arrangement.

To test they are working, disconnect your van from EHU so you are on battery only, then switch the display of your control panel so you can see the current amps being drawn.  Then switch the heated tanks on.  You'll see instantly if they are working or not 

Also, don't run the heated tanks without any water in them, you'll be fine for testing purposes but not for prolonged use.

I doubt you'd ever feel any heat on the outside of the tank as the heaters only go up to a few degrees, it's only to stop freezing after all, not to produce hot water 

Well I've never heard that before. Seen them stuck on underside .....

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No way?!

These tank blankets are on the outside?!

I'd have sworn I read they were inside the tank (hence needing water in the tank).

Well, I must apologise DesG, I'd have put money on that too!

DesG wrote:Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating?

On my Warwick the fresh water heater is 67W and the waste tank is 75W that's a combined 10.5A (@13.5V) which you should notice on the control panel.

RogerThat wrote:
These tank blankets are on the outside?!

Mine are stuck the underside of the tanks. (2017 Warwick)

AutoSleepy_Don wrote:

RogerThat wrote:
These tank blankets are on the outside?!

Mine are stuck the underside of the tanks. (2017 Warwick)

Same as mine, on the outside underneath, you can see the wires. I agree with you and Paul. I had a look today while deciding where to fit a hatch. Also I have the rocker switch in the charger area under the rear seat.
----------
Richard

AutoSleepy_Don wrote:

DesG wrote:Does anyone know how I can check if the blankets are operating?

On my Warwick the fresh water heater is 67W and the waste tank is 75W that's a combined 12A which you should notice on the control panel.

leave them on when away from ehu for a couple of hours and you'll have taken a nice chunk out of your leisure battery, and will test those which arent up to it....
repeat for a few days without replenishing it and you'll be struggling.

I noticed one of mine was starting to hang down after 30 months and whilst I was under the van, re-securing it, the electrical connection/wiring was easy to see.

Mine was also hanging off.  I used sikaflex and there's no way it's coming off now :)

To be honest, I also don't use them either though.

A forum member once said:
'I decided to use one of the relatively new polymer glues which is applied via a skeleton gun (cheap) these Adhesives are reported to stick anything to virtually anything even when wet and are solvent free'.
However, if my blankets came unstuck I would prefer sikaflex. Worked well for my Solar Panel. Also like many others I've never had the need to use the blankets.

MelB wrote:A forum member once said:
'I decided to use one of the relatively new polymer glues which is applied via a skeleton gun (cheap) these Adhesives are reported to stick anything to virtually anything even when wet and are solvent free'.
However, if my blankets came unstuck I would prefer sikaflex. Worked well for my Solar Panel. Also like many others I've never had the need to use the blankets.

That might have been me MelB and CT1 is the polymer adhesive, (don't get it on your fingers though) Acetone is required to clean surplus off.

Cheers 
          Windy

ps Still stuck after 2 1/2 years

I had a similar problem with my brandnew Kingham.  After 2 months of usage the tank blanket was hanging down.  Just used tape to fix it temporarely.  My Kingham is back at Auto-Sleepers for problems with the touch panel now.  Hopefully not only the touchpanel has been repaired.  Will know in a week or so.
But I notice a lot of people seem to have problems with the tank blankets coming loose.  It is irrevelant if you use them or not : THEY SHOULD STICK.

It is such a common problem with brand new vans (often within a couple of months) that you would have thought that A/S may have twigged that something is not quite right here with the way they stick them on.
Or maybe not.........

does the valuable first hand experience of faults reported here get fed back to AS to perform simple root cause analysis/eradication?
i suspect not.
Swift were very brave in placing staff members within the Swift Talk environment, collecting customer info and giving direct advice.
something AS could consider?

No formal contact between this forum and AS. There may well be employees as members and back when forum was founded there were at least two that were known to us but they haven't visited for years but could be doing so anonymously. The formal method is for problems to be flagged up to the owners club (you would have to be a member to do this) who have direct access to the necessary personnel. At least two ASOC committee members are members of this forum.

Whatever the method for flagging up problems is, it certainly isn’t working and there are currently some serious quality control issues at A/S.  I’m not just talking about tank blankets here, some pretty serious issues on new vans reported recently have simply been dismissed.
If I was anywhere near the top of the management structure within A/S, one of the first places I would be gathering valuable information from is somewhere like this place.
I guess that’s assuming that quality comes above profit (and bonuses) at the top.

I can fully agree with Dbvwt concering serious quality control issues at A/S.  On my new Kingham I have a list of some 20 quality issues.  Some minor issues but also some very serious ones like a water leak around the top rear window and a big water leak from a bad connection inside although a pressure test was performed (so they say).  The last one caused water flowing underfloor through the cabin.

Sorry for the delay in responding, just got back from a tour of the Scottish coast - fantastic scenery and weather.

Many thanks for lots of very helpful advice about refixing the blankets and verifying that they are operating correctly. I'm now waiting for a frosty night so that I can go out and check the current flowing out of the leisure battery when I turn the blankets on.

Hello there members, we live in the frozen north and have used our tank blankets quite often when we know temperatures are dipping close to, or below freezing. And yes, they've come loose, and yes, they've been back to the dealer for repair, and yes, they've come loose again. It's in a particularly awkward place to get to, and the shape and positioning of the tank makes it near impossible to strap it up.

There's too much salt, grit and muck on the roads up here to place your faith in glue and tape...but my husband has implemented the following diy solution which seems to be working:
Supporting the tank, loosen and lower the bracket lying across and underneath the blanket. Insert a 6mm thick piece of treated marine ply cut to fit the accessible three sides and raise and re-tighten the bracket.