Eberspacher Query

[smileypete]

Just a quick addition.

 

People often say "Oh it's the installation that's critical" without ever actually saying what has be done what way.

 

I had my installation checked twice. No problems found.

 

In 3 years it ate more than twice its own value in spares.

 

3 water pumps - 100 quid each.

 

Two air motors, nearly 200 quid each.

 

Plus a whole host of other bits and pieces.

 

Normal brushed motors (which these are) have a life expectancy of 700 hours for a normal motor or 3000 hours for absolutely top quality, low power, long life ones. These are just bog standard motors.

 

700 hours. That's one month if you leave it on permanently. Though I doubt one of these heaters could last that long before something else broke.

 

Would you tolerate that in your central heating pump at home?

 

Well it's a product that's made in low volumes, for tight space constraints, normally used only occasionally, and probably marketed in a misleading way.

 

So..something has to give...

 

What might help is to design the install so the heater gets up to full operating temp in a few minutes, then runs at full power for as long as poss before switching off.

 

In other words, NO slow warm up, idling, or 'short cycling'.

 

Edit: By the way, what antifreeze/inhibitor was used in the system?

 

And some light reading on brush life

 

cheers,

Pete.

Edited February 3, 2011 by smileypete