AS Fairford heater Problem

HELP! 
I've got an AS Fairford (21 reg) with a whale heating system, there is a new 100 amp gel battery.
When the heater is on it is continuously using between 5 & 7 amps and the heating is only lasting 7 or 8 hours (off grid) . Is this normal or should the amps be lower once the heater has warmed up?
This is my 4th motorhome and the previous ones all had trauma heating systems and lasted for at least 3 days off grid.
TIA. Keith.
P. S. Any opinions on diesel heaters, do they use less amperage, are they better than the whale system?

5 to 7 amps seems excessive. According to Whale 2.5 amps on gas is max.

"Battery Supply
Nominal voltage: 12V d.c.
Operating range: 10.0V d.c. min. to 15V d.c. max.
Maximum current d.c. gas operation: 2.5 Amps (0.01Amps on standby)
Maximum current d.c. electric operation: 2.2 Amps (0.01Amps on standby)"

I got fed up with the noise and poor performance of the Whale system in our Kingham compared with the Truma in our previous van. After a frosty night noisy cold night it came out and in went a Truma 6E, what a difference!! We tried to get the Truma instead of the whale and even had a meeting at the factory but they refused saying it performed better in the cold chamber. After our first outing in the new van I removed the hot air outlet from the whale heater and checked the temperature then checked the 3 outlets in the van. A good 20 degrees heat loss with an outside temperature of 12 degrees, I improved it a bit by lagging all the ducting but still little heat at the front of the van. I also thought the whale was taking a lot out of the battery but never checked it, also had several lock outs. Had a diesel heater in a previous van and did consider the Truma D Combi due to the lack of LPG stations but they take a lot of amps to ignite the diesel  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

My Fairford has Whale heating. Whilst it gives reasonable heat, it’s all at the back of the van. The front vent heat is pitiful. Having had Truma before, the Whale heater just doesn’t compare. I find the water heater faster though. 

Last month I had an autoterm 4kw diesel heater installed, and there is no comparison. The heat is amazing!

Hi all, the vehicle went back to B.C. Motorhomes and they couldn't find any faults. They stated that the lithium LiPo battery will only charge to 80% due to the smart alternator, but will charge to 100% on a mains charge, they suggested having an upgrade to the system (DC to DC  charger fitted) which allows a greater charge to the battery from the alternator.  Had this fitted at Autosleepers in the Cotswold [I live in Scotland] So far, touch wood, this seems to have fixed the problem. The QUESTION is, Why doesn't autosleeper fit these at the production stage? It's like fitting the sink without the waste plumbing, yes it's usable but not ideal or really fit for purpose.  Thanks for your help everyone, happy motoring.

Cashy1360 wrote:Hi all, the vehicle went back to B.C. Motorhomes and they couldn't find any faults. They stated that the lithium LiPo battery will only charge to 80% due to the smart alternator, but will charge to 100% on a mains charge, they suggested having an upgrade to the system (DC to DC  charger fitted) which allows a greater charge to the battery from the alternator.  Had this fitted at Autosleepers in the Cotswold [I live in Scotland] So far, touch wood, this seems to have fixed the problem. The QUESTION is, Why doesn't autosleeper fit these at the production stage? It's like fitting the sink without the waste plumbing, yes it's usable but not ideal or really fit for purpose.  Thanks for your help everyone, happy motoring.

B2Bs (or DC-to-DC) are well worth the money. I had 2x 30a Victron B2Bs installed when I added lithium. Overkills perhaps, but the battery charges so quickly

Cashy1360 wrote:They stated that the lithium LiPo battery will only charge to 80% due to the smart alternator

I have the idea that AS fit B2B on vans with smart alternators i.e. the auto Fiats. (I'm not certain though)

Are you certain that your van has a smart alternator?

Hi cashy 1362, I think we were there when you were and had the same b2b fitted as the leisure (lithium) wasn't charging, since fitting it has been fine and I agree, should we be charged another £300 for something that should have been fitted to a very expensive van in the first place.

Clearly not fit for purpose.

Pete

Hi AS Don, the dealer stated it was a smart alternator, it's a Fiat  on a 21 plate, and things are better since the  box was fitted.

breakaleg wrote:
Clearly not fit for purpose.

B2B has always been superior to SCR but you could get by, and save money, with a SCR in the era of regular alternators.

If AS are still fitting SCR to vans with smart alternators then they are indeed not fit for purpose. I'm disappointed in AS.

AS Don, I'm not up on these. What is a B2B and a SCR? I was told I had a DC to DC fitted, whatever it is it works.

Cashy1360 wrote:AS Don, I'm not up on these. What is a B2B and a SCR? I was told I had a DC to DC fitted, whatever it is it works.

B2B is the common name for a DC to DC charger (i.e. Battery to Battery)
SCR is Split Charge Relay

So it seems AS have supplied your van with SCR and you have upgraded that SCR to a B2B. I think AS should be supplying new vans with B2B.