Thermal Care Vactherm RV

Questions and Answers

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Eric HarrellAug 15, 2025
What to do if my Thermal Care Temperature Controller does not start?
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  Maria CookAug 15, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller fails to start after connection, tank filling, and pressing the On button, the possible causes include blown main fuses (replace them), a defective motor (contact factory), a tripped reset (reset it), or a tripped control circuit breaker (reset it).
S
sean37Aug 18, 2025
Why my Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller is not heating?
- J
  Jared WilliamsAug 18, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller is not heating, it could be due to a defective contactor (replace it), a defective thermostat (replace it), a defective heating element (replace it), or a defective safety fuse (replace it).
M
Mr. William BaldwinAug 21, 2025
How to fix a Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller that is not cooling?
- C
  Chad PittsAug 22, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller is not cooling, the issue might stem from a defective solenoid valve at the “Cooling Water In” (replace the solenoid valve), a clogged cooling heat exchanger (clean the coil), or a defective thermostat (replace the thermostat).
S
Steven ZunigaAug 25, 2025
What to do if Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller motor buzzes and overload trips?
- J
  Jose CohenAug 26, 2025
  If the motor of your Thermal Care Temperature Controller buzzes after pressing the On button and the overload trips, it could be due to voltage on only two of the phases (check the incoming power supply and replace any blown fuses) or a defective motor (contact factory).
S
Samuel PierceAug 28, 2025
Why is water coming out of the overflow pipe on my Thermal Care Temperature Controller?
- K
  Katherine GlassAug 28, 2025
  If water is coming out of the overflow pipe of your Thermal Care Temperature Controller, this may happen because the tank is overfilled (drain some water), there is dirt in the fill solenoid valve (take apart the valve, clean it out, and replace it if required), or the level sensing probe is dirty or defective (clean the probe and replace it if required).
Y
ykhanSep 1, 2025
Why is my Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller cooling all the time?
- A
  Allison GilbertSep 1, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller is cooling all the time, it may be caused by dirt in the cooling solenoid valve (take apart the valve, clean it out, replace if required) or a defective thermostat (replace thermostat).
H
harrisshaneSep 4, 2025
What causes no water circulation in a Thermal Care Temperature Controller when the pump is rotating?
- D
  dcarrilloSep 4, 2025
  If there is no water circulation in your Thermal Care Temperature Controller even though the pump is rotating, the pump might be rotating in the wrong direction (change two of the incoming power leads) or the process water lines might be clogged (clean lines).
T
Tammy WilliamsonSep 7, 2025
What to do if Thermal Care Temperature Controller does not fill the tank, but level lamp is on?
- G
  Glen CantrellSep 7, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller does not fill the tank, but the level lamp is on, it could be due to the water supply not being connected (connect the supply) or a defective fill solenoid valve (replace if required).
E
Eric WoodSep 12, 2025
Why Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller does not fill the tank and level lamp is not on?
- K
  kelly93Sep 12, 2025
  If your Thermal Care Temperature Controller does not fill the tank and the level lamp is not on, it might be because the level sensing probe is dirty or defective (clean the probe, replace if required) or due to a defective microprocessor (contact factory).

This document is an operation, installation, and maintenance manual for the Thermal Care Vactherm RV Temperature Controller.

Function Description

The Vactherm RV Temperature Controller is a packaged unit designed for circulating and controlling the temperature of a cooling fluid. It typically includes a fluid pump, an electric immersion heater, and a temperature control valve, all housed within a cabinet. The unit's primary purpose is to maintain a precise temperature for industrial processes, ensuring optimal performance and preventing equipment damage due to temperature fluctuations. It can be used with water or glycol solutions as the heat transfer fluid.

Important Technical Specifications

Voltage Imbalance: Must not exceed 2% for three-phase systems to prevent motor overheating and failure.
Cooling Source Temperature: Typically between 40°F (4.4°C) and 85°F (29.4°C).
Cooling Source Supply Pressure: Generally between 25 psi and 50 psi. Units with a 300°F (149°C) operating range option require an inlet cooling source pressure of 75 psi.
Maximum Total Pressure: If the total pressure (cooling source inlet pressure plus pump pressure) exceeds 150 psi, the pressure relief valve will open.
Sound Pressure: The equipment can exceed 70 dBA sound pressure at 1 meter distance and 1 meter elevation when operating.
Storage Temperature: Should not exceed 145°F (63°C) in a sheltered indoor area.
Water Chemistry Requirements: Specific limitations for alkalinity (70-300 ppm), aluminum (less than 0.2 ppm), ammonium (less than 2 ppm), chlorides (less than 300 ppm), electrical conductivity (10-500 µS/cm), free (aggressive) carbon dioxide (less than 5 ppm), free chlorine (less than 1 PPM), HCO3/SO42- (greater than 1.0), hydrogen sulfide (less than 0.05 ppm), iron (less than 0.2 ppm), manganese (less than 0.1 ppm), nitrate (less than 100 ppm), pH (7.5-9.0), sulfate (less than 70 ppm), and total hardness (4.0-8.5 dHk).
Glycol Solutions: Recommended glycol percentages vary with chilled water temperature: 5% for 45°F (7.2°C), 10% for 40°F (4.4°C), 15% for 35°F (1.7°C), 20% for 30°F (-1.1°C), 25% for 25°F (-3.9°C), and 30% for 20°F (-6.7°C). Industrial grade glycol specifically designed for heat transfer systems must be used.
Pump Performance (60 Hz): A graph illustrates pump pressure (psi) versus flow (gpm), showing a decreasing pressure with increasing flow, from approximately 85 psi at 0 gpm to 15 psi at 24 gpm.
Cooling Capacity: A graph shows cooling capacity (Btu/Hr x 1,000) versus ΔT Between Set Point and Cooling Water In (°F), indicating a linear increase in cooling capacity as the temperature difference increases, from approximately 8,000 Btu/Hr at 10°F ΔT to 50,000 Btu/Hr at 85°F ΔT.
Heating Element Details: Diagrams illustrate various heating element configurations for different power ratings (6KW, 9KW, 12KW, 15KW, 18KW, 21KW, 24KW, 27KW, 30KW, 33KW, 36KW), showing how individual heating elements are connected in series and parallel.
Control Board Details: The manual includes a diagram of the control board (AT89C51RD processor) with various connections (J5, J6, J7, J8, P1, P101, P102) and dip switch settings for controller functions like water/oil operation, heating stages, alarm outputs, and ventilation.
Wiring Diagrams: High voltage and low voltage wiring diagrams are provided, detailing connections for power, motors, sensors, and control components.

Usage Features

Digital LED Displays: The control panel features digital LED displays for showing various temperatures, status, and alarm conditions.
Start/Stop Functionality: Dedicated buttons for starting and stopping the unit. An automatic fill sequence is initiated if the water level is low during startup.
Temperature Adjust: A button to view and change the set point temperature, with Increase and Decrease buttons for adjustments.
Date & Time Functions: Allows displaying and adjusting pump running hours, clock time, and day of the week.
Automatic Start/Stop Timer: An optional feature to program daily start and stop times for the unit, with the ability to include or exclude specific days of the week.
Deviation Alarm: Allows setting a temperature deviation limit. If the tank temperature exceeds this limit, an alarm horn activates, and a light illuminates. Includes a 45-minute delay after initial startup.
Tank Temperature Display: A dedicated button to show the current tank temperature.
Password Entry: A security feature to prevent unauthorized personnel from making changes to temperature or timer functions.
Status Indicators: LED icons for pump status (green for on, yellow for overload), heating status (green for Heater 1 or Heater 2 on), cooling status (green for cooling valve open), low level alarm (yellow for low oil level), deviation alarm (green when active), and automatic timer status (green when active).
Mold Draining Program: An automatic cool-down sequence to 105°F (40°C) before draining the mold, signaled by an alarm horn. A vacuum adjusting valve facilitates water removal from hoses and the mold.

Maintenance Features

Preventive Maintenance Schedule: Suggested periodic maintenance includes:
- Once a Week: Check To Process temperature against Set Point (investigate if more than 5°F deviation), check pump discharge pressure (investigate deviations), and check pump for seal leaks.
- Once a Month: Repeat weekly checks, plus: check electrical connections for looseness or frayed wires, check incoming voltage (within 10% of design voltage), check amp draws for pump and heaters, check and clean heat exchanger inlet strainer, and check/replace oil as necessary.
- Once a Year: Repeat monthly checks, plus: carefully inspect and clean the heat exchanger for scale build-up.
Troubleshooting Guide: A table listing common problems, possible causes, and remedies, such as replacing blown fuses, contacting the factory, resetting tripped breakers, checking power supply, cleaning lines, replacing defective components (motor, contactor, thermostat, heating element, solenoid valve, microprocessor), and cleaning/replacing probes.
Water Chemistry Guidelines: Detailed requirements for fill water chemistry to prevent corrosion, scale, fouling, and biological contamination, emphasizing the need for chemical treatment and preventive maintenance.
Glycol Usage Precautions: Warnings against using automotive grade glycol due to potential gelling, fouling, and material reactions, and a warning about ethylene glycol's flammability at higher temperatures.
Safety Guidelines: Extensive safety precautions are highlighted throughout the manual, including warnings for hazardous voltages, hot oil/water/coolant under pressure, sharp edges, hot surfaces, flammable/explosive materials, and mandatory actions like wearing eye protection, protective gloves, ear protection, disconnecting power before maintenance, and proper grounding.