Timberline -- Hydronic Heating System

[kdewit]

Got my Timberline system fired up today! Took about 3 cycles to ignite but once it got going it heated up quickly and has been running for a couple hours now. Great company to work with too. Once I got over my intimidation of a hydronic install, it actually went pretty easily. Heres to hoping for many years of trouble free heat and hot water! Hardest art was figuring out where I could mount the furnace and run the plumbing since I'll have a water tank in the DS underside bay next to the fuel tank. Also keeping the area behind the fuel open for future 40 gallon tank. Say what you will about Owl (cost) but the way these side steps mount is awesome in that they allow for a S&B under mount water tanks installs. The small gap between the mount and the van was enough to run the fuel line (in .25" split loom) and the fuel pump power (need to cut connector off and reconnect)

Very nice work. I am on that path.
I neglected to create a penetration for the glycol tank relief valve hose. I am thinking that is important to route out the van floor. I could combine it with my sink grey water jug, or find another spot to drill the floor. No mention of it in the 'instructions'. Can't just leave it 'un-plumbed', right?

 

[Built.Vans]

Very nice work. I am on that path.
I neglected to create a penetration for the glycol tank relief valve hose. I am thinking that is important to route out the van floor. I could combine it with my sink grey water jug, or find another spot to drill the floor. No mention of it in the 'instructions'. Can't just leave it 'un-plumbed', right?

Thanks! I mean, it is a safety blow off valve and if it ever did overheat and blow off, it would just blow off coolant inside the van. I would suggest routing a hose out the floor.

 

[Built.Vans]

Been trying all weekend and longest the system has run for before turning itself off has been almost 2 hours. Hopefully Elwell has some suggestions but if anyone else has some suggestions im all ears.

 

[GeorgeRa]

Been trying all weekend and longest the system has run for before turning itself off has been almost 2 hours. Hopefully Elwell has some suggestions but if anyone else has some suggestions im all ears.

Check for air bubble in fuel inflow and possble air leaks.

Been trying all weekend and longest the system has run for before turning itself off has been almost 2 hours. Hopefully Elwell has some suggestions but if anyone else has some suggestions im all ears.

 

[Built.Vans]

Check for air bubble in fuel inflow and possble air leaks.

pretty sure its not the fuel system. wondering if it in the controller.

 

[Spicy Mushoon]

Maybe a voltage sag issue. Are your batteries fully charged when it happens?

 

[Built.Vans]

Maybe a voltage sag issue. Are your batteries fully charged when it happens?

yeah, they were at 95% this morning. Hoping that working with Elwell we get it figured out this week. Was really hoping it would just work haha.

 

[Philip53]

@Built.Vans, I installed the Timberline system on my '21 build several years ago. I have been very satisfied, but I do think the controller/timer has had a mind of its own a time or two. I have always attributed it to me not properly 'programming' it for water heating or air heating. I can't conclusively say it is causing the issues, but wanted to chime in.

 

[Built.Vans]

@Built.Vans, I installed the Timberline system on my '21 build several years ago. I have been very satisfied, but I do think the controller/timer has had a mind of its own a time or two. I have always attributed it to me not properly 'programming' it for water heating or air heating. I can't conclusively say it is causing the issues, but wanted to chime in.

Cool thanks man. Yeah not really looking for help diagnosing the system. But was hoping to hear from some people that have installed the system. I'll be working with Elwell. First step is sending them the component version numbers, hoping that info helps inform a way forward.

Ran it today for almost 2 hours and then it shut off. When it happens the thermostat resets back to off. However, I did notice that I was on reserve fuel so maybe that was the issue? Though I figured I'd get a error code if it stopped because lack of fuel.

 

[Philip53]

Please post what you find out from Elwell, Kody perhaps is your contact?

 

[RVBarry]

However, I did notice that I was on reserve fuel so maybe that was the issue?

Sprinter aux fuel pickups will only draw air once the fuel tank level is below 1/4 or so.

 

[Built.Vans]

I did not hear from Elwell today but some progress was made. Soooo. Could have been a fuel issue? When I installed the system and first commissioned it the van was probably close to 1/4 tank, maybe less. In an effort to just run the system I had it on while driving around. So I am wondering if by driving around it would suck air as the fuel was sloshing around. Filled up this morning and ran it for a few hours (it took a few attempts for it to ignite and I was getting a Code 13 failure to ignite) which is the longest it has stayed on continually. However I wasn't running the air handlers, just testing the water heater function. Ill run it with their handlers tomorrow. Its weird that when it would restart the other days my lights flashed and Maxxfan beeped like my electrical system "reset".

 

[GeorgeRa]

Can you see the fuel line, is it clear from air? Starting my Eberspacher requires high amperage primarily for the glow plug, your Russian furnace could be the same.

 

[Built.Vans]

Can you see the fuel line, is it clear from air? Starting my Eberspacher requires high amperage primarily for the glow plug, your Russian furnace could be the same.

Got it wrapped in split loom. im sure its good now. It ran fir a few hours. They're made in Latvia now haha.

 

[GeorgeRa]

Congratulation. As far as I know distributor is in Latvia, perhaps assembly as well. All main components are coming from Advers in Samara. Hopefully there will not be any problems with parts. https://www.aclsretail.com/index.ph...,restrictions and deceive potential customers.

 

[Built.Vans]

Congratulation. As far as I know distributor is in Latvia, perhaps assembly as well. All main components are coming from Advers in Samara. Hopefully there will not be any problems with parts. https://www.aclsretail.com/index.php/contact-us-2/13-site/51-current-stock-availability#:~:text=Autoterm heaters as a brand,restrictions and deceive potential customers.

This is the same system in all Revels so not really worried about parts. That’s one of the reasons I went with it.

 

[Al Torre]

After reading this thread and others re. hydronic heating, I called Kody earlier this week about a Timberline system. With the holiday, we spoke only briefly about the 1.0 system and resigned to talk further next week. I'm confident the reviews from others here make it a good choice for me.
One alternative that I pursued was a system from esparparts.com:
https://www.esparparts.com/products/new-espar-eberspaecher-aqua-heater-kit-diesel
I'm not enamored with the two radiant heaters (or price for that matter), but I like the the new display and the Espar heater.
Just curious if anyone saw this unit before they purchased the Timberline. Or maybe it just came out.

 

[GeorgeRa]

After reading this thread and others re. hydronic heating, I called Kody earlier this week about a Timberline system. With the holiday, we spoke only briefly about the 1.0 system and resigned to talk further next week. I'm confident the reviews from others here make it a good choice for me.
One alternative that I pursued was a system from esparparts.com:
https://www.esparparts.com/products/new-espar-eberspaecher-aqua-heater-kit-diesel
I'm not enamored with the two radiant heaters (or price for that matter), but I like the the new display and the Espar heater.
Just curious if anyone saw this unit before they purchased the Timberline. Or maybe it just came out.

I built my system in 2013, only Rixen, Espar (Eberspacher) and Webasto were my options then. Rixen was about $5K so I decided to make my own:

Airtronics D2 for space heating, today there is an updated model. Very quiet.

Isotemp marine water heater for heating water. It can by heated electrically or via hot coolant. There are less expensive marine water heaters from for example West Marine

Hydronic D5 to heat the Isotemp

Coolant reservoir/overflow 6l, my own design but it can be purchased from Rixen or perhaps from Espar

EasyStart timer to control D2 and D5.

Total price was much less than $5K. Search this thread for more info https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/21773/

 

[Built.Vans]

After reading this thread and others re. hydronic heating, I called Kody earlier this week about a Timberline system. With the holiday, we spoke only briefly about the 1.0 system and resigned to talk further next week. I'm confident the reviews from others here make it a good choice for me.
One alternative that I pursued was a system from esparparts.com:
https://www.esparparts.com/products/new-espar-eberspaecher-aqua-heater-kit-diesel
I'm not enamored with the two radiant heaters (or price for that matter), but I like the the new display and the Espar heater.
Just curious if anyone saw this unit before they purchased the Timberline. Or maybe it just came out.

If you want hot air and water I think these hydronic kits are the way to go. Dont think you can go wrong with the Rixen’s, Timberline, or an Espar kit, heatso also has an espar based hydronic kit. I wouldn’t add the Isotemp as a water tank isn’t really necessary with these kits since they provide constant hot water (to a point). I serviced an older Rixen system earlier this summer and just installed the Timberline in my own van. I like the Timberline controller more than the Rixen. I do not have a long review of the Timberline but since it is in all Revels it has a pretty good track record.

 

[GeorgeRa]

If you want hot air and water I think these hydronic kits are the way to go. Dont think you can go wrong with the Rixen’s, Timberline, or an Espar kit, heatso also has an espar based hydronic kit. I wouldn’t add the Isotemp as a water tank isn’t really necessary with these kits since they provide constant hot water (to a point). I serviced an older Rixen system earlier this summer and just installed the Timberline in my own van. I like the Timberline controller more than the Rixen. I do not have a long review of the Timberline but since it is in all Revels it has a pretty good track record.

Constant or instant to a point, indeed. Isotemp provides hot water in seconds because Isotemp and most of marine water heaters are insulated and keep hot water for a day. With running hydronic furnace, it can provide constant hot water just like a hot plate. Hydronic system with a hot plate heat exchangers need hot coolant to provide hot water, so before getting hot water 2-3 gallons of coolant needs to be heated. Coolant reservoirs are not insulated, it takes about 10 min to heat this volume of coolant, so kind of instant if measured in minutes. The only disadvantage of a marine water heater is that it requires more space than a flat plate heat exchanger.