Mastering Your Climate with Alde & Truma

The Alde 3030 Heater: Quiet, Comfortable Heat

Your TAB isn't heated by a noisy, traditional RV furnace. It has an Alde system, which works like silent, radiant heating in a high-end home. It circulates a warm liquid through pipes and small radiators hidden in the walls, providing a gentle, even heat without the dry, blowing air you might be used to.

• It's Quiet: You'll barely hear it running.
• It's Comfortable: The heat is even and feels natural, not stuffy.
• It's a Water Heater, Too: The same system heats the water for your sinks and shower.
• Two Fuel Sources: It can run on propane, or on electricity when you're plugged in at a campsite.

The Truma Saphir Air Conditioner: A Hidden Powerhouse

Unlike most RVs with a loud AC unit on the roof, your Saphir is tucked away under a bench. This keeps your TAB's roof clear for solar panels and gives it that classic teardrop look.

• All-in-One Climate Control: It cools, provides a bit of heat on chilly days, and acts as a dehumidifier.
• It's Smart: It works together with the Alde heater. You just set one temperature on the wall panel, and the system automatically decides whether to run the heat or the AC to keep you comfortable.

This little screen is the brain for your entire climate system. Here's a quick tour of what you're looking at on the main screen.

What You See on the Screen:

• Top Status Bar: This shows you what's currently active. The most common icons are a plug (you're connected to shore power), a sun (Day Mode is running), and a moon (Night Mode is running).
• Indoor Temperature (75° in photo): This is the main number. It shows the temperature inside your TAB. Tap it to set the temperature you want.
• Energy Icon (Flame & Bolt): This shows what you're using for power. A flame means propane, and a lightning bolt means electricity. Tap it to change your power source.
• Hot Water Icon (Droplet & Thermometer): This shows if your water heater is on, off, or in "Boost" mode for a quick heat-up. Tap it to change the setting.
• On/Off & Menu Buttons: The big button on the left turns the whole system on and off. The "MENU" button takes you to more advanced settings.

Your Alde system is flexible. It can run on propane from your tanks or electricity from a campground hookup. To choose, tap the "Energy" icon on the main screen.

Using Electricity (When Plugged In):

• 1 kW Setting: Use this setting when plugged into a regular 15-amp outlet at home. It's a lower power draw that won't trip the breaker.
• 2 kW Setting: Use this for more powerful heating when you're at a campground with a 30-amp hookup.

Using Propane:

Just toggle the "Gas" setting on. This is what you'll use when you're camping without hookups (boondocking).

Priority Setting: Using Both at Once

This is a clever feature for saving propane at a campground. You can tell the system to use electricity as its main fuel, but to use propane as a backup for a quick boost.

How it works: Set "Electricity" as the priority and also turn "Gas" on. The system will run on the campground's power. But if it gets really cold and the electric heater can't keep up, the propane burner will automatically kick in to help heat the camper faster.

When you need serious heat, you'll use the main Alde furnace.

1. Make sure the system is on using the main On/Off button.
2. From the home screen, tap the Indoor Temperature icon.
3. Use the + and - buttons to set your desired temperature.
4. Tap the Energy icon to choose your power source (Electricity or Gas).

The system will now do its job, quietly keeping your TAB at the perfect temperature.

Your air conditioner is controlled right from the Alde panel. There's no separate remote to worry about.

How to Get to the AC Menu:

1. Press the MENU button.
2. Find and select the AC settings menu.

To Cool the Camper:

1. In the AC menu, make sure the system is ON and choose Cool mode.
2. Set the temperature you want.
3. Choose a fan speed (Low, Medium, or High).

To Get a Little Heat (from the AC):

On a cool but not cold day, you can use the AC's heat function (often called a "heat pump") to take the chill off without using propane.

1. In the AC menu, choose Heat mode.
2. Set your desired temperature.

Note: This won't work well if it's colder than about 40°F (4°C) outside. For real cold, use the main Alde furnace.

To Use as a Fan Only:

If you just want to circulate air without heating or cooling, use Fan Mode.

1. In the AC menu, choose Fan mode.
2. Set your desired fan speed.

To control your hot water, just tap the 'Hot Water' icon on the main screen.

Your Options:

• Off: Turns the water heater off.
• On (Normal): This is the standard setting for everyday use.
• Boost: This is for when you need hot water fast, like before a shower. It super-heats the water for 30 minutes. For the fastest hot water, turn on Boost with both Gas and 2kW Electric power active at the same time.

This is the smartest feature of your climate system. In "Auto" mode, the heater and air conditioner work together like a home thermostat.

How It Works:

You set one temperature, and the system decides what to do. If it gets too warm, the AC kicks on. If it gets too cold, the heater turns on. You don't have to touch a thing.

How to Turn It On:

1. Press the MENU button.
2. Go to the 'AC' settings menu.
3. Choose the AUTO setting.

This is the easiest way to stay comfortable, especially on days where the temperature changes a lot.

You can program your system to change settings automatically for day and night. This is great for saving energy and staying comfortable without having to adjust things manually.

How to Set a Schedule:

1. Press the MENU button.
2. Go to Settings.

3. Choose either Day mode or Night mode.
4. Here, you can set a start and end time for the schedule.

Day Mode Settings:

You can tell the system to automatically set a specific temperature and turn on the hot water during the day.

Night Mode Settings:

For nighttime, you can program it to:

• Lower the temperature for comfortable sleeping.
• Run the AC in a quieter mode.
• Turn the control panel screen off so it's not bright.

If you have a separate thermometer and feel the Alde panel's reading is a few degrees off, you can easily adjust it.

How to Calibrate the Sensor:

1. Press the MENU button.
2. Go to SETTINGS.
3. Choose Temp sensor calibration.
4. You can now adjust the reading up or down. For example, if your thermometer says 70°F but the panel says 72°F, you would adjust it by -2°F.

What is it?

Inside your hot water tank, there's supposed to be a small pocket of air at the top. Think of it as a shock absorber for your water system.

Why Do I Need It?

Water expands when it gets hot. This air pocket compresses to absorb the pressure. Without it, the pressure can force water out of the safety valve on the outside of your camper.

How to "Remake" the Air Cushion:

Over time, this air gets absorbed into the water. If you see water dripping from your Alde system outside, it's probably time to remake the cushion. The control panel will also display a reminder after 10 days of continual use, which is a good prompt to perform this simple maintenance. It's easy:

1. Turn off your water pump.
2. Open any hot water faucet inside your TAB to release the pressure.
3. Find the yellow drain lever on your Alde unit and flip it up. Water will start to drain out.
4. Let it drain for just a few seconds. This lets air back into the top of the tank.
5. Flip the yellow lever back down.
6. Close the faucet and turn your water pump back on. You're done!

What is the Yellow Flapper?

This is the community nickname for the yellow lever on your Alde unit. Its official name is the Safety/Drain Valve. Using it to drain your hot water tank is the most important step in getting your camper ready for storage or winter.

When to Drain the Tank:

You MUST drain the tank any time temperatures could drop below freezing. Frozen water will destroy the tank. It's also a good idea to drain it between trips to keep the water fresh.

Where to Find It:

• TAB 360: Under the bed on the rear driver's side.
• TAB 320 S: Under the rear bench on the driver's side.

How to Drain the Tank:

1. Turn off the water pump and disconnect from city water.
2. Open the hot and cold faucets in your sink and shower.
3. Lift the yellow lever straight up. You'll hear water draining out under the camper.
4. Leave the lever up and the faucets open while in storage.

What is Glycol?

The Alde system uses a special pink fluid, called glycol, to move heat around your camper. You just need to check the level occasionally.

Where to Find It:

On the TAB 360, the glycol reservoir is located in the storage area underneath the television. It is closest to the wall, next to the shallow storage area with the lid that lifts up.

How to Check the Level:

1. Make sure the heating system is cold.
2. Locate the plastic reservoir tank. It has MIN and MAX lines on it.
3. The pink fluid should be about half an inch above the MIN line when the system is cold.
4. If it's low, it needs to be topped up by a service center.

Alde Heater

• Every 2 Years: Have the pink glycol fluid replaced by a service center. It has additives that wear out over time.
• After 10 Days of Continual Use: Re-create the hot water "air cushion" (see Section 10). The control panel will also remind you.
• Annually: Have your propane system checked for leaks.

Truma Saphir AC

• A Few Times a Year: Check and clean/replace the air filters. Dirty filters are the #1 cause of poor performance.
• Annually: Make sure the small drain tubes under the camper are clear of mud or debris.

Why am I not getting hot water?

Check these things in order:

1. Is the Alde system turned on (green light on the power button)?
2. On the main screen, is the Hot Water icon set to "On" or "Boost"?
3. Is an energy source selected (Gas or Electric)? If using electric, are you plugged into shore power?
4. If you just de-winterized, it can take 15-20 minutes for the tank to heat up from cold.
5. If the water is only lukewarm, the mixing valve may need to be adjusted (see next section).

Why is my TAB not cooling?

Check these things in order:

1. Are you plugged into shore power? The AC needs electricity to run.
2. In the AC menu, is the mode set to "Cool"?
3. Is the temperature you set lower than the current inside temperature?
4. Check the air filters on the Saphir unit. If they are clogged with dust or pet hair, it will severely limit performance.
5. Are either your day or night mode settings overriding your temperature setting?

For more tips, learn more about keeping your TAB cool.

Why does it take so long to warm up?

The Alde system provides a gentle, radiant heat, which feels very comfortable but can take longer to warm up a very cold camper compared to a traditional forced-air furnace. For the fastest possible heating, select both Gas and 2kW Electric at the same time.

Can I use the Alde after it has been winterized?

Yes, but ONLY the furnace part. The heating function uses a closed loop of pink glycol fluid and is not affected by winterizing. However, you MUST NOT turn on the hot water function until the entire water system has been de-winterized and the hot water tank is full of water. Running the hot water heater with an empty tank will damage it.

What is it?

Your Alde system can make water incredibly hot—hot enough to cause burns. The mixing valve is a crucial safety device that automatically adds a little cold water to the hot water leaving the tank, so the temperature at your faucet is always safe.

When and How to Adjust It:

The mixing valve is typically set during installation and should not require regular adjustment. However, if you find your hot water is consistently lukewarm and not hot enough, the valve may need a slight adjustment. This nuCamp Tech Talk video shows you how to do it safely.

If something goes wrong, your control panel will tell you. Here are the most common errors:

• Gas Failure:
  • What it means: The heater tried to light on propane but couldn't.
  • What to do: First, make sure your propane tank isn't empty and the valve is open. If you just changed tanks, try it a couple more times to let the air out of the lines. If it keeps happening, watch this helpful video or call for service. Watch nuCamp Tech Talk
• Overheat Glycol:
  • What it means: The heating fluid got too hot. This usually happens if there's an air bubble in the lines.
  • What to do: Let the system cool down completely. Then, reset it by turning the main 12V power to your camper off and on again. If the error comes back, watch this video or call for service. Watch nuCamp Tech Talk
• Low Battery Voltage:
  • What it means: Your camper's battery is too low to safely run the heater.
  • What to do: The system will shut down to protect itself. Charge your batteries by plugging into shore power or using solar. The system will reset itself once the battery has enough power.

When you need professional help, here are your best options:

1. nuCamp Service Center: The main factory service center is located in Sugarcreek, OH.
2. Truma Website: Use the official Service Center Locator on Truma's website to find a certified partner near you.
3. Call Truma Directly: Their customer service number is (855) 558-7862.
4. Your nuCamp Dealer: Your dealer is often a great resource and may be certified for service.