ALDE 3020 HE problem -2015 Bailey AA745

[r4dent]

Just back from a break. On our first night away we had EHU so the heating was on Electric, no problem.
Yes I know this isn’t Wild Camping but the pitch had a private Hot Tub and it was Valentines and we did have bubbly in the fridge!

Second night we were in a Pub car park with no EHU and switched the heating to gas.
After a few seconds the power light went red and we got the warning message "Fan Restarts".
According to manual "Fan restarts: Incorrect fan speed. New start attempt is made. Repeated faults results in ‘Fan failure’. If Fan failure recurs after resetting, contact a dealer. If Fan restarts is displayed, no action is necessary."
So I did nothing. Sure enough the message went away and the power light back to green. However after a couple of mins the fault reoccurs, then goes away , then occurs, ad nauseum.
At this stage we didn’t get the "Fan Failure" message.

After consulting Dr Google I did a few checks.
1) I have Gas and it is switched on everywhere,
2) Boiler fuse OK (swapped it with another just in case -neither is blown);
3) Coolant level on “min” so I added a bit
4) Cleaned exterior exhaust outlet;
5) Hab. Battery level OK

So we abandoned the break and came home. I thought the drive would shake things up a bit and this often sorts things out!

This morning I’ve connected the EHU at home to see if anything has changed.
Heating is fine on EHU, but as soon as I put the gas on the problem happens after a few seconds.
I have had the “Fan Failure" message a couple of times but this is cleared by “Reset” on the control panel.
When I switch the gas on the fan varies between 2000 & 3,000 rpm. then goes to 0 when it fails and back to 2000 - 3000 for the restart.

We are out of ideas.

Any thoughts or suggestions? :help:

 

[maingate]

It seems that your Fan error problem is a known problem and if you check the 'error messages' section of the handbook, it is referred to.

 

[r4dent]

It is telling you that there is a problem with the flue fan, so it would seem sensible to start by assuming there is a problem with the flue fan. Why do you think otherwise?

It seems that your Fan error problem is a known problem and if you check the 'error messages' section of the handbook, it is referred to.

Thanks guys. I realise that the message refers to the Flue Fan, but the manual says the fault will clear itself. It does clear itself but then fails again after a minute or so. The monitor shows the fan spinning at 2000 -3000 rpm between fails so I don' think it is a jammed fan. I suspect either a sensor or PCB problem, I was hoping someone else had experienced it and could advice on the problem. I don't fancy replacing fan / PCB & sensor but it might come to that.

 

[maingate]

The Fan looks easy enough to get access to but the price of PCB units are expensive.

It says in the manual that in the case of repeated error messages to contact an Alde repair company.

Click on the exploded diagrams box.

Alde 3020 Compact HE Combi Boiler | Alde Code: 3020-905 | Alde 3020 Compact HE Combi Boiler | Leisureshopdirect[iframes]/6/. There is other helpful info on the Leisure Shop Direct website and they are often a little cheaper for spares.

 

[r4dent]

The first thing to do is to find out whether there really is a problem with the flue fan. If it seems OK, check that it isn't a flue fan sensor problem. Then look into the possibility that the more expensive bit is faulty.

Any suggestion how I check the fan is OK. I get a rpm reading before the fault occurs, but I don't know whether the fault causes the fan to stop and the speed to drop to zero, or the fan stopping causes the fault message. If I have to get a new sensor and a new fan and a new PCB I might be as well getting an new complete unit (with fitting = £1500) and having a lot of spare parts.