Wallas Heater

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit

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My Wallas heater was not getting warm today when I switched it on the pump and fan appear to be working but no heat. I do have old paraffin in the tank but I didn’t think paraffin goes off? Has anyone got any troubleshooting tips or suggestions of what the problem might be?
 
The igniter should take ~5 amps for ~2minutes after switch on. Can you tell if that's happening?
Try lifting and holding the fuel tank up to the heater level to make sure that the pump is primed, as suggested in instruction manual.
 
macd said:
It's been a while since I had a Wallas, but from memory both earlybird and Kelpie's suggestions are worth following. The fuel pump should also make a succession of clicking noises when firing up.

Kelpie: was the pick-up your problem when you had the fault in this thread?: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?376966-Wallas-paraffin-heater-has-stopped-clicking
Click to expand...

I think it was the start of the problem, but unfortunately when I shipped the unit to Kuranda it got damaged in transit and was written off, so that wa the end of that.
 
It may be the glow plug that's faulty.
As recommended above, check the current draw on first switching on. On my 30D it takes nearer 10A than 5, but whatever, it should certainly be a significant draw if the glow plug is working, before settling down to a steady 1.5A-ish once lit.

If you need a new glow plug it's off a Toyota IIRC, about £11 from motor factors. Rather than the £40 from Kuranda.
Search previous threads on this forum for details, I posted the part number a whie ago
 
The OP doesn't say which model of Wallas he has, but since he mentions paraffin, it seems likely that he doesn't have the diesel fuelled version, although I imagine the diesel version will run on paraffin, but definitely not vice-versa.
The paraffin version is considerably different AFAIK. It has a heater coil not a glowplug.
 
earlybird said:
The OP doesn't say which model of Wallas he has, but since he mentions paraffin, it seems likely that he doesn't have the diesel fuelled version, although I imagine the diesel version will run on paraffin, but definitely not vice-versa.
The paraffin version is considerably different AFAIK. It has a heater coil not a glowplug.
Click to expand...

It's a Wallas 1600, there is a large solid block which I assume houses a coil and over which a fan blows air. Having read the various replies in this and other threads it might be that some of the fuel has solidified so I'm going to warm the pipes and get it primed before searching for further solutions. I'm not sure if it's going to be worth having it fixed if it's anything more complicated. It has a circuit board inside with lots of capacitors and resistors...very worrying!
 
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paella said:
Having read the various replies in this and other threads it might be that some of the fuel has solidified.
Click to expand...

Ah, that rings a distant bell. I seem to remember my handbook suggesting doing something with some sort of alcohol to fix that. (Before anyone suggests it, not drinking a large single malt, although that might take you mind off the chill for a while.)
 
macd said:
Ah, that rings a distant bell. I seem to remember my handbook suggesting doing something with some sort of alcohol to fix that. (Before anyone suggests it, not drinking a large single malt, although that might take you mind off the chill for a while.)
Click to expand...

Heated the fuel pipes and managed to prime it and all is now good. It appears the paraffin can solidify. No need for the alcohol!
 
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