Propex HS2000E

Developing my solution

In my thinking about various location in the camper for my Propex, I've been taking measurements to help decide where to put my very long Propex, which at nearly 60cm long, is a big boy.

My thanks to @Dubs for the wheel well measurments. I've narrowed it down and my thoughts are firming up on either the walkway between seats (thanks @MR SAM HODSON for letting look at at you configuration at TE) and under the van, final measurents to be taken when it next goes on the Menshed lift.

The wheel well (@Zed and @paradox 's pictures earlier this year proved really helpful) is just a bit too short with pipe radius etc taken into account and in the bench seat is the easiest installation, but takes most space.

I'm figuring out gas pipe, exhaust pipe and thermostat routings and I have a question about the later, where or where not to site the thermostat? I think it was @scrooge95 who at TE mentioned an issue about locating the thermostat that I can't remember. So any pointers would help avoid a mistake.
Ta

Links from other threads with info I've used in my thinking.
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?th...er-‘23-who’s-coming.99757/page-5#post-1991076
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/propex-hs2000.98443/page-2
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/wheel-well-measurement.100548/#post-2013292

 

Has to be said my Eber is very compact in comparison, perhaps the simple reason is that it's not all in a box? The brain and the pump for example are separate. It was all in a box when I got it and had previously been installed under a rock n roll bed. The box was pretty big as you can see from the battery next to it. I have no actual clue, but can you dismantle a propex and install in pieces?

 

Ah - probably not!

 

My van is a westy Berlin and I have mine in the sink / hob cabinet in the bottom shelf. I then have gas in the cupboard next to it and utilized the isolator taps in that cupboard for the gas installation / connection. I made a front panel for the heater and a shelf above to maximize cupboard storage space. I also did not want to cut into my door so just lift that off when in use.
The air intake vent joins to that of the fridge so I just put a vent in the back of cupboard that adjoins this space.
I have put thermostat on the panel that is above fridge ( not the heated vent next fo fridge ) and opposite the sliding door - works well

this photo was pre install so with the pipe work facing down and through floor takes about the space of a shoe box

 

Our thermostat sits where the rear ashtray would have Chris, in the panel above the fridge.
It's body height, but not too high and when we forget to turn it off at night it kicks in happily when the temp drops to uncomfortable.

I don't know if you recall, but in the Chip thread I mention that the prewired plug from Propex was quite large. Too large for me to be comfortable drilling such a big hole in the bus to connect with the unit under the bus. Easily remedied though with a pair of side cutters and a new multi connector plug.

For reference...
From 10 to 13
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/chip.33075/page-10

But heres stat position if you don't want to trawl through that. There are some pics of the underseat plumbing and the gas cabinet you may find useful. Your Westy should have the deflector under the bed?

 

@DamonW thanks for that. I have considered that area as it makes a lot of sense, but currently would prefer to keep the cupboard as is with the water tank above it.

@theBusmonkey , I'm hoping to route my thermostat to the same place. The wire looks just about long enough...crossed fingers.

@Zed the chainsaw masochistic..... Joking apart, I did end up taking my cupboards apart to really look at the possibility of using your set up, but it would involve too much hacking about for my liking and would be a very tight fit, albeit possible.

 

I can see yours is way to big for where I put my Eber. I think it's so big I'd be looking where I could hang it underneath the bus. Either that or say what the heck, under the rock and roll bed. I did fit one under the drivers seat once for someone but it was difficult and not 100% perfect even though it was a smaller model than the one you have. Is yours electric too?

 

I also looked at the spare wheel cupboard ( assuming you have a Berlin ) - not the wheel well but the cupboard behind the seat and on its side would fit in but then I would of needed a place for the wheel so ended up putting it as shown as also did not want to loose space under rock and roll bed.

 

Exactly. And it was loss of valuable internal space that drove us to fit ours outside. Simply that.

 

@Zed, yes electric as well as gas. It is big, but I took a punt on eBay and had it refurbed at Propex, so it's is a cheap option so far.

@DamonW, the wheel cupboard is a naff place for the spare wheel, but where else would I put it. I'm not keen on other options, so for the moment it stays.

@theBusmonkey, the walkway and the underside are my two favourite options...currently

I don't want the heater to be the lowest point on the van if outside, but that option would be great as I could repurpose the two vents into the general cabin. I just need to check measurements etc in the next week. Otherwise I think a low cupboard between the seats like @MR SAM HODSON has might be the right answer.

 

I think the issue with underslung heaters is getting the balance between getting the steel bodied heater and its electrics wet, when like last night I had to wade a flood under a railway line in the bus, and draining the water out when it gets there. I believe Whale badge engineered the Propex into an external steel box and then didnt fit drain holes so the heater drowned...
I am also considering options because I was given an old little used Propex 1600 without a controller and then bought a complete Propex 2000 gas powered setup for a tenner at a boat jumble this summer ..removed from a T5 where a Chinese diesel heater went in.

 

I also appreciated the experience of being on a Camping and Caravanning campsite when all the motor homes switched on their 2kw electric heaters and blew the three phase feed to the campsite for the next 12 hours at 0100 on a freezing morning .. we were freezing in the bus already so we were strangely happier the next morning knowing we werent the only miserable people..

I want to fit a heater but Shirley doesnt want me to ..

 

I wonder why she doesn't want a heater? In my mind, a heater is a scenario with no loosers. If it is there you still have the choice to use it or not to use it.

 

Probably because she knows him soooo well - and no offence Mike - it won't just be fitted , it'll be 'tweaked' to within an inch of its life to be super powerful, super hot and have more sensors than a self parking car ....



Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

The argument is she doesnt need to go camping anywhere cold where there isnt hookup power so a mains powered fan heater will do..
I have a heated windscreen so I dont need instant heat for that.

I almost certainly wouldnt do anything with a heater internals except maybe making the installation dual control or wireless remote controlled so it could be controlled from the dash while driving, and from one of the cupboards at the back at night time.

 

Hi Chris. If it’s not an external unit then think carefully if you do plan to fit it underneath. Mines meant to fit there and the box is sealed as you would expect. I’ve not forded any deep water but that would be an issue for the combustion air inlet and exhaust in any case wouldn’t it but mine at sill hight so hopefully would be ok unless you do something really stupid!

 

Looks like it’s intended for a through floor install. The underslung ones have the inlet and exhaust vents on the sides or at least mine does

 

Thanks Chris and as you rightly say, it meant to go inside, but I did speak to the engineers and they confirmed that the Whale heaters were initially just normal heaters in a box. As Mike said above, their initial mistake was to miss out drain holes. I'm happy I can make a box and following measuring the space, the lowest point would be my shocks/bump stop and the additional outer box and exhaust and inlet pipes would be close.

However, I'm veering towards an inside fit as it is also a mains powered unit and so water is a bigger concern than just blowing the controls on a gas only unit.

 

Thanks and yes we did rummage around under your seat .

I really like your idea of an isolation switch, good idea.