TankBlanket Facts : Plain & Simple

TankBlanket:  Winterisation that Works

 

TankBlanket Facts: Plain & Simple

The Campervan Motorhome & Caravan Tank Heater Pad

 

Our aim here is to clearly present the facts about TankBlanket and an alternative product known generally as a Frostat, De-Frost Element or In-Tank probe.


Frostat or De-Frost element



 

 



TankBlanket 121 & 90

It is important to winterise your campervan, motorhome, caravan, horsebox or indeed any support vehicle that has a freshwater system if you wish to use it throughout the autumn, winter and spring.

To winterise you have to:

ü  Protect the fresh and waste water tanks.

ü  Protect external pipes.

ü  Keep the internal temperature above 6 °C.

The fresh and waste water tanks, exposed to typical UK winter conditions, can be protected with just TankBlanket or a number of Frostats (dependent upon the size of the tank). In addition you may wish to protect the fresh and waste water Tank with an insulating wrap, but in the case of TankBlanket, this is about making the heater pad more efficient, rather than additional frost protection.

For more detailed information on winterising your leisure vehicle please follow this link:

http://tankblanket.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/motorhome-caravan-winterisation-tips.html

 

Further winterisation tips are available here:

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/winterisation-tips/ 

We have structured this Blog around six criteria: capacity, power consumption, testing, cost and operation.

1.0 Capacity Facts

• A Frostat or De Frost element protects up to 45 Litres.
• A TankBlanket 90 protects up to 90 litres.
• A TankBlanket 121 protects up to 121 Litres.

 

 ü  You need two Frostat for each TankBlanket 90.

ü  You need three Frostat for each TankBlanket 121.

 

For further information on the TankBlanket specification please follow this link:

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/technical-information/

2.0 Power Consumption Facts

• A Frostat is rated at 2.5A
• A TankBlanket 90 is rated at 4.0A
• A TankBlanket 121 is rated at 5.0A

 

ü  To protect a 90 Litre tank Frostat will draw 5.0A

ü  To protect a 90 Litre tank TankBlanket draws 4.0A

 
For more information concerning power rating please follow this link:

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/why/faq/22-why-do-tankblankets-draw-so-many-amps/

 
3.0 TankBlanket Testing

TankBlanket has been tested in both the USA and UK, to -24 °C and -15 °C respectively.

In both instances TankBlanket performed extremely well. Follow this link to see our pictorial blog from a cold chamber test:

http://tankblanket.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/motorhome-caravan-winterisation.html

 

Please follow this link to read a press article involving TankBlanket in the February 2014 issue of Caravan Industry and Park Operator:

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/news-bulletins/caravan-industry-park-operator-2014/

 

ü  TankBlanket winterisation is proven to work!

ü  TankBlankets fitted 20yrs ago are still operating today!!

4.0 Cost Detail

Comparing current purchase costs:

ü  Frostat is £1.73 per Litre

ü  TankBlanket 121 is only £1.12 per Litre

For simplicity the above excludes postage & packing, packing charges (De-Frost element/Frostat only) and the electrical circuit components which are similar for both products.

If you include fitting cost TankBlanket becomes even more attractive.

 

5.0 Installation

Both products can be installed at a Dealer or by yourself.

TankBlanket is less complicated to install due to being, just a simple ‘peel & stick’ of a single component rather than the complication of drilling several holes, assembling a number of components and sealing against water ingress.

The adhesive that attaches TankBlanket to the bottom of the tank becomes more aggressive with age and although it is designed for ten years service a number of TankBlankets have been in operation for over twenty years!

ü  Frostat requires holes to be drilled in the tank

ü  TankBlanket is simply ‘peel & stick’

6.0 Operation

Both TankBlanket and Frostat are activated by the temperature of the water in the tank.

ü  Frostat is switched on at 5 °C

ü  Frostat is switched off at 10 °C

ü  TankBlanket is switched on at 7 °C

ü  TankBlanket is switched off at 18 °C

Frostat will cycle on and off at a higher frequency than TankBlanket.

Testing in America has shown that it is better to protect tanks that are almost full as it takes longer for a larger mass of water to lose temperature.

For more information on an In-Tank probe or Frostat please visit:

 http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/in-tank-probes/

 

That’s it - plain & simple!

Although, if you do have further questions or queries, then please don’t hesitate to contact us!

 

TankBlanket: Winterisation that Works!

Why not join our community on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to learn more about TankBlanket in operation or even contact us via our support page?

 

Have you found this blog informative, interesting?

If so please leave a comment at the bottom of this blog. Thanks in advance. 

Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
 

If so, please visit our website and leave feedback on our ‘Ideas’ tag,

located on the left hand side of our home page. 

To find out more about The TankBlanket System please visit:
 

  end.

 

Quick Start Guide 3 - Installation of PipeBlanket

TankBlanket:  Winterisation that Works

 

 Quick Start Guide for The TankBlanket System

The Campervan, Motorhome & Caravan Tank Heater Pad

 

 

 

We aim, with our series of Quick Start Guides, to present a series of Blogs that act as a simplified introduction to the installation and use of The TankBlanket System. Links to more detailed information are embedded within each Blog.

 

For simplicity and clarity we will deal with one element of the system at a time, although, please contact us if you require any additional explanation of a particular aspect or if a subject has not been covered.

 

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/support/

 

QSG3 – Installation of a single PipeBlanket

Below we present four simple steps to install a PipeBlanket heater pad. They are preparation, positioning, electrical circuit and commissioning.

The salient points are presented in bullet form; for detailed installation guidelines please visit:

 http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/installation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

 

The detailed guidelines on installation along with electrical circuits are available to download from:
 

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/downloads/

 

 

1.0 Preparation

PipeBlankets do not have built-in thermostatic sensors to control "ON/Off" activation like TankBlanket. They must be controlled by the user via a LED switch in the habitation area. 

Pipes contain a smaller volume of liquid and as a result, temperature changes occur at a faster rate than within a fresh or waste water tank. This effectively means that they would cycle "on/off" too frequently and the energy saving  expected through the use of a thermostat would not be realized. 

Our testing programme has proven that it is better to just throw continuous heat at pipes.

 

Your campervan, motorhome or caravan pipe heater pad: 

• Can only be installed on rigid/hard plastic pipes.
• Must not be fitted to any form of metal or conductive surface.
• Must be fitted to a surface that has been cleaned using an alcohol based cleaning agent.
• Must be fitted when the ambient temperature is greater than 10 °C.
• Must be fitted to the bottom of the pipe (not spiralled).
• Must be fitted directly to the pipe and not across any metal holding straps.
• Must be completely attached to the surface of the pipe.
• Is flexible and can be wrapped (not spiralled) around the pipe. Although the heater element must be positioned on the bottom of the pipe. 

For detailed installation guidelines please visit:

  http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/installation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

For a detailed specification please visit:

 

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/product-specifications/pipeblanket/

 

 

2.0 Positioning 

For best results the PipeBlanket heater pad must be positioned: 

• So the PipeBlanket is wrapped around (not spiralled) the pipe with the heater element running along the bottom of the Pipe.
• Every 300mm of pipe being protected with no more than 12mm between PipeBlankets.
• So that the gap between the PipeBlanket and the Tank inlet/outlet is no more than 50 to 80 mm.

For detailed installation guidelines please visit:

 

 http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/installation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

 

 

3.0 Electrical Circuit

The PipeBlanket heater pad must be:

• Powered by a 12 Vdc supply from the Leisure battery.
• Protected by a 15 amp fuse.
• Protected by a 15A rated LED Switch.
• Powered through a single stand alone own circuit.

 

For detailed installation guidelines please visit:

  http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/installation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

 

For the electrical circuit diagram please visit:

 http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/electrical-diagrams/pipeblanket/

 

 

4.0 Commissioning

To commission the PipeBlanket heater pad:

• Make sure your pipe(s) contain water.
• Turn the switch on. The LED light will light up showing there is power.
• The bottom of the Pipe heater pad should feel warm.

Your PipeBlanket is installed correctly.
 

 

Finally please review the PipeBlanket Operation and Maintenance instructions:

 http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/operation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

For detailed installation guidelines please visit:

  http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/information/installation-guidelines/pipeblanket/

The detailed guidelines on installation along with electrical circuits are available to download from: 

 

http://www.tankblanket.co.uk/downloads/

 

TankBlanket is The Tank Heater for Winterisation that Works!

 

Why not join our community on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to learn more about TankBlanket in operation or even contact us via our support page?

 

Have you found this blog informative, interesting?

If so please leave a comment. Thanks in advance. 

Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
 

If so, please visit our website and leave feedback on our ‘Ideas’ tag,

located on the left hand side of our home page. 

To find out more about The TankBlanket System please visit:
 

   end.