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Maine
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Location: Maine
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 Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 12:33 pm Post subject: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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Last week I had a local VW shop install a Propex 2000 heater. When looking over the job when I got home I noticed he did not cut the second hole for the fresh air intake. Not sure what he was thinking and I plan to talk to him about on Monday but am interested to hear thoughts on what potential problems it will cause if any.
Last edited by Maine on Sun Aug 30, 2020 11:53 am; edited 2 times in total |
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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Not familiar with your unit, but the burner in my espar has an external intake and exhaust. The heater blower also has an intake and exhaust on the interior. Which are you asking about? I’m thinking for safety the burner intake should be external in case there is some sort of failure with the burner.
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Maine
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Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| Not familiar with your unit, but the burner in my espar has an external intake and exhaust. The heater blower also has an intake and exhaust on the interior. Which are you asking about? |
The external combustion intake |
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dobryan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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| Maine wrote: |
| MarkWard wrote: |
| Not familiar with your unit, but the burner in my espar has an external intake and exhaust. The heater blower also has an intake and exhaust on the interior. Which are you asking about? |
The external combustion intake |
Yep. I do not know of any installs that leave off the combustion intake.
You can contact Van Cafe as they are now the distributor in North America and they should be able to give you info on whether the install is OK that way.
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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I think for safety you should have that. Say over time something failed, maybe gas vapors might enter the van. It’s also probably quieter.
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slomoracing
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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| If there isn’t a second hole drilled to the outside for the combustion air intake, how is the unit installed at all. Typically they have two tubes sticking out of the unit, one for combustion intake and combustion exhaust. |
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Maine
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Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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| I believe all the intake air comes from the front of the unit. |
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VicVan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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What does the manual say? I believe it should be clearly stated in there that the combustion intake should be taken outside. Show this to your installer.
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dobryan
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outcaststudios
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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ayyyuup.
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Maine
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Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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The heater sits under the truck fridge if I took a photo all it would show is two vents. The vent on the left is where the hot air blow into the van. The vent on the right is for room air intake. You cannot see the actual heater. If I took a a picture under the van by the propane tank you would see a silver hose that extends back to the rear wheel this is the hot air exhaust. There should be another hose the travels the opposite way towards the drivers side door. This would be the outside combustion air intake but it is not there. If I took a picture of the front of the Propex 2000 heater out of the box there would be two round openings. Facing the unit the opening on the left is where the hot air blows out into the van. There is a hose that connects it to the vent. The opening on the right has no hose and it draws inside air to circulate the heat and in my case since the outside air hose is missing the right opening provides both combustion air and circulation air. I apologize for the lack of photos I tried but could not upload for some reason but if I did there would be very little so see. Inside the van the heater is hidden under the fridge and outside underneath there is a silver hose as described above. If you Google Propex 2000 install you will see pictures that show much better than any photos I could provide because everything is hidden.
Last edited by Maine on Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:43 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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dobryan
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dgbeatty
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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An intake cabin air fitting has pluses and minuses. Talk to your shop before casting stones. Yes the European Espars are beautiful units and fully compliant with all European standards. Yes they are more complex, require more skill to install correctly and are well over twice the cost for the heater part alone, add another 50% for the ducting and covers plus a hefty sum for installation.
If they were available new as were delivered with the Atlantics I would be standing in line to buy one.
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dobryan
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dgbeatty
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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Thanks Dave! I need new eyes.
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izzydog
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2020 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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Not sure how the intake/exhaust hoses are set up on a Propex, but here's a picture of my Eberspacher install. The intake/exhaust hoses are side by side on the bottom of the heater. Eberspacher wants you to install the bottom side down and there are threaded studs on the intake/exhaust manifold for that purpose.
If your Propex is configured like this, I don't see how it could have been installed without blocking the intake port. Maybe your intake port is 90 degrees from the exhaust to allow more options for the intake location.
If your intake is taking in air under the fridge, you run the risk of dust bunnies and such clogging the intake which means you'll have to remove the heater to check it. A clogged intake is a potentially dangerous overheat scenario.
I would run it outside just for that reason alone - that you can check the intake when needed.
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dobryan
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Maine
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Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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There are three photos two from the install instructions from RMW and one of my van showing the single exhaust hose (silver) no intake hose as shown in the install photos, second picture on the right tof the propane tank(black).
As currently installed all the air coming into the heater is coming from the port on the right (facing the heater). I'm assuming the intake port on the back of the heater is sitting flush to the floor and is completely obstructed. |
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Scubavw
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Location: Montose, CO
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Propex 2000 Install and Fresh Air Intake Missing |
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I found that with my heater that the hoses have to both be on and at the correct length or the heater will not work.
Carl the distributor of the Propex heater help me when I had the five flashing error code. One of the intake or vent hoses was to short and when I replace it with a longer one it has worked with no problems.
Hope this helps. |
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