Webasto dripping fuel

[RichardEntrekin]

The LEDs are a good idea, as is Denton’s execution by using a terminal board for connecting the Beckett wiring to the Webasto/AH circuits.

Before the Beckett conversion, I actually used a data logger hooked to my laptop to try to understand why it was so flaky and intermittent. The data logger allowed my to look at microsecond differences in the sequence of shutdown events as they happened. My point being the LED will not give you diagnostics on shutdown sequence .

HOWEVER, Beckett sells a diagnostic unit that attaches to the controller that not only displays fault sequence but also allows you to change all the timing parameters. It is less than a 100 bucks, quite the deal.

[luvrbus]

Webastos don't care much for the 20% bio fuel either ,since using the Cummins fuel additive recommends  my Aqua Hot is one happy camper starts ,burns cleaner and EGT are 24 degrees higher

[Geoff]

I was having control box issues with my DBW 2012, and found the Sphero box worked fine.

[luvrbus]

I have the Aqua Hot ll same as a Webasto,I bought a control from Lloyd (new) for a spare for $250.00 

[David Anderson]

I was having control box issues with my DBW 2012, and found the Sphero box worked fine.

Thanks for the feedback.  I was wondering about that product.  That would be an easy plug and play replacement (SG 1553 12 volt).
The best price I've found is 324.99 plus S/H

Any price better out there?
Clifford,  who is Lloyd?

Looks like it is made in Ukraine.  May not be made much longer if Putin has his way. 

David

[Jim Blackwood]

I've got a cheap $15 ebay thermostat hooked to mine. Works pretty good...

Jim

[TomC]

I don't know why you guys put up with all the maintenance issues with Webasto and Aquahot? My 2-10gal elec water heaters I installed in 1994 were replaced in Jan 2020 with 2 more electric. Maintenance issues in 26 years-zero. Propane furnace replaced once in that time (my fault let it run for 2 weeks. New furnace has cut off). Total cost for two water heaters AND the furnace-less than $1,000. But you do what you want. Good Luck, TomC

[David Anderson]

I don't know why you guys put up with all the maintenance issues with Webasto and Aquahot? My 2-10gal elec water heaters I installed in 1994 were replaced in Jan 2020 with 2 more electric. Maintenance issues in 26 years-zero. Propane furnace replaced once in that time (my fault let it run for 2 weeks. New furnace has cut off). Total cost for two water heaters AND the furnace-less than $1,000. But you do what you want. Good Luck, TomC

Yes, that has been said on this forum many times.

Too heavily invested in the Webasto to give it up 

In its defense it is the most balanced and comfortable heat in the coach because all the hydronic lines are copper under the floor warming it, and the radiant heaters are against the wall discharging heat up the the walls and windows.  I can't get that balance with forced air.  I do love the scavenged heat from the engine while driving down the road. 

Since we could not use it at Taos, I used 500KW for 7 nights running electric heat and we still had to wear sweaters in the coach, and as I posted above it got down to -8 degrees.  I'm not sure my in bay hydronic heater would have kept it above 32 even if it had been working.  I've never camped in that kind of weather, but I had a great time skiing

If the RV park knew that they may start making me buy an extra site like they do for charging an electric vehicle. 

Yes, I agree it is too complicated of a system, however.

[David Anderson]

Got it done.
I really liked how the Beckett system looked, but I got lazy and ordered the Heatso control.  It is plug and play, so it is done.  The only anomaly I found is that when I turn on the engine heat option which scavenges heat from the Detroit to heat the coach the burner unit fan motor comes on for about 10 seconds and goes off. 

It doesn't do that with the oem control.  Not sure what to make of that. 

Otherwise, I'm satisfied.  On to the next project.

I also found a nifty wiring diagram from webasto that is helpful.  I can probe each one of those terminals with my meter and see what voltages are going through the wires to the box.  Helps to troubleshoot problems.
 
I can set my meter at 20v dc and place the red probe on C6 and the black to bus frame ground and see the actual voltage going through the flame sensor during a burn cycle. It should be in the 12 volt range.  Mine fluctuating from 12 volts to almost 9 volts making the heater cut out.  It was defective.  New sensor stays in the 12 volt range. 

Another change I made, but I did this several years ago was to not let the control box relay carry the current of the circulator pump motor (A1 and A2)  I only let that circuit power a 30 amp relay coil to engage the pump ciruit.  I wired a separate circuit for the pump.  It was a bit too much load for that tiny internal relay. 

David

[sledhead]

glad you got it working again

and glad mine is gone ,

 if only they could have made it easer to find the problem it sure would have helped the unit I had

[oldmansax]

I don't know why you guys put up with all the maintenance issues with Webasto and Aquahot?

1.  No maintenance issues for me if proper preventive maintenance is performed. Then again, I was in HVAC for a living so nothing in the system is a mystery.

2.  When we go the the beach, all 17 of my grand kids + 2 adults can rinse off in my shower and still have hot water for me.

3.  I can live in my bus all winter without having to unhook and leave to get propane or diesel.

4.  The heat is very quiet and uniform throughout the coach.

5.  That's why they make chocolate and vanilla!   

TOM

[chessie4905]

many places deliver propane. And all that annual maintenance is not needed with propane. Yes they need a little.

[oldmansax]

many places deliver propane. And all that annual maintenance is not needed with propane. Yes they need a little.

We're probably not going to agree here but I did maintenance on my propane heaters because I didn't like the smell of fried dust bunnies and other miscellaneous things that get in them. I have had 11 propane heaters over the years and had to replace 5 of them. And they were a pain to replace in my particular coaches. That is not exactly "maintenance free".

You are right about delivery. Lots of choices; however, I spent over $1000 heating may last propane coach for the winter. That was 3 years ago when propane was a lot cheaper than it is now. I have spent a little over $300 heating my coach this year with same usage. Plus I don't spend time looking for the best price and arguing with some yahoo over filling the coach tank.

TomC asked why anyone would choose a Webasto over the system he uses. I gave my reasons. I don't know why anyone would want to run a generator to heat water but, I don't really care. If they are happy with theirs, that's all that counts.

This is similar to the 2 stroke VS 4 stroke discussion.  I LIKE my 2 stroke. That why I got one! LOL!  In all my  years of driving trucks and buses, I have only had 3 or 4 instances of people telling me how good my truck sounded when it was powered by a 4 stroke; and that was when I was driving a '50s Acar with 220 or a 250 Cummins  ...... no turbo with straight pipe. That did sound good. At the same time, I have lost track of how many comments I have gotten over how good my 2 strokes sound. I recently was in a shop with a pit just to look things over (preventive maintenance). When I was ready to leave, the old shop owner called the young mechanics over. I fired up the DD and he said, "Now, THAT'S how a engine is supposed to SOUND!" LOL!

Everyone has what they like and can afford. And that's why they make chocolate and vanilla! 

TOM