ALDE TRANSFER FLUID PROJECT - Part 1
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- My Nucamp Tab Trailer has an Alde Hydronic heating system in it. The fluid in that heating loop needs to be replaced every two years. Replacing it properly is difficult. To that end, Alde has switched from Century Transfer Fluid, to a new Transfer Fluid made by Rho Water. The new fluid lasts 5 years. Should I swap mine to save on future maintenance?
Stay tuned to see how this engineer deals with this dilemma.
Music by Bensound.com
NOTE:
THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT RHOMAR/ALDE/TRAUMA WAS PROVIDING AT THE TIME I MADE THIS VIDEO WAS FALSE. THEY HAVE SINCE RETRACTED THAT STATEMENT, AND NOW ARE RECOMMENDING A TWO YEAR REPLACEMENT, JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL.
Thanks for a good explanation of the differences between the two transfer fluids. Looking forward to part 2 of this video.
Hi Mark. I really appreciate your videos and your pragmatic approach. In this part 1, you say that the Rho Water (aka Rhomar) product needs to be changed only every 5 years. Based on what I read in the NuCamp T@B Forum, it looks like Alde/NuCamp have clarified that Rhomar fluid still needs to be changed every 2 years. Have you heard the same? Now that it's been a year or so since you made the videos, are you still planning to stick with Century transfer fluid?
At the time I made that video, the rhomar folks and Nucamo were touting a five year replacement for the new fluid.
In the time since,, this has been shown to be total bunk, and since the new fluid is not preforming any better than the old fluid, they are now backing off the claims of a five year cycle. The new fluid needs to be changed at the same interval as the original, but at near three times the cost.
I will definately be staying with the original fluid.
Hello again. I have found the Century Transfer Fluid on Amazon, but there are four options. They are all 50/50 glycol/water, but they are called 2 Set 50% Glycol / 50% Water ( -20 Below ), 3 Set…., 4 Set……, and then “no set”. I assume they are all identical and this is just some confusing amazon ordering issue. The photo is identical to the one shown in your video. Do you have any insight as to which is the proper one (they all may be the same product for all i know). Thanks so much, George
Instead of making a drain out of soldered copper pipe and a tee, could you use pex and sharkbite connectors to make the drain?
The issue is finding fittings with the same inside diameter as the black EPDM hose inside diameter. A fitting with a smaller inside diameter will restrict the flow of heat transfer fluid in the loop. Remember that the loop is not pressurized, and the fluid flows around the loop very slowly by a low power vane type pump. I chose the fittings I did because they are exactly the same inside diameter as the hose, and won't restrict.
Just FYI, note that PVC pipe and fittings can NOT be used, as that material is not compatible with the prophylene glycol heat transfer fluid. It will soften it and melt it over time.
I don't know if PEX plastic is compatible either.
What a pain in the butt. I have to figure out which I have in my new 23 320
Can you give me a link to buy a hose cutting tool on Amazon? I really like the hose cutter, but don't know which one to get that will work to cut my ALDE rubber hose. thank you!
This will do..
www.amazon.com/Zantle-Ratchet-type-Cutting-Plumbing-Plumbers/dp/B07T2YG963/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?crid=HBQFONT9W2ZS&keywords=hose+cutter&qid=1685823739&sprefix=hose+cutter%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-19
This is the similar kind of liquid that you find in the automobile cooling system, isn't it?
It is not the same as you find in automotive.
The stuff in automobiles is toxic.
The century chemical transfer fluid is food safe.
It has to be non toxic because the Alde also uses this fluid to heat the hot water for your kitchen sink.
If there were ever a leak, it would be bad to have your hot water at your sink tap become contaminated and toxic.
I want to change my glycol and change the automatic air purge valve. if I drain the fluid from the extension bowl through the drain under the trailer, then I disconnect the hose that runs from the bowl and send air from that hose to empty the rest of the fluid from the system, does that will air pass through the pump, or stop at the pump? I have had my fluid in the system for 6 years and it doesn't seem to have any corrosion like in your video.
The circulation pump is a "vane' type. Vane type pumps can pass small pea sized bubbles, but if a larger pocket of air gets to it, it will just spin in that air, and pumping will stop. Vane type pumps cannot "self prime". That means tat once the pump starts spinning in air, it cannot by itself, start pumping again. You have to manually clear the air, and prime it yourself.
Note that I want to blow air with an air pump into the system through the alde pump, but the Alde system pump will not be running. That's why I wanted to know if the air will pass through the Alde pump.
@manonboyer3718
Note that the Alde system is not a sealed system, and is not designed to hold pressure. Make sure that whatever air pump you use does not pressurize the system or it could damage components.
Also know that there is a one way check valve in the alde heat loop. Ensure that you apply air in the correct direction. Forcing air pressure in the wrong direction can damage it.
you dit not tell a thing about the work, but you know alot about it.
This video is the first of four videos in a set I have posted.
There was too much information to put into just one video.
The actual work is contained in the other three.
Here is a link to the four wideo set.
czcams.com/play/PLkvn7Q21IZaIv7Q9A9Q6tdEvfBM8Dp6dL.html