Grinder
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2011
- Messages
- 8
I'm attempting to connect my 3208T to a new water heater that has a coil for this. Has anyone had a problem with this and where would you tap off the engine?
I did a search on boatdiesel and the attached pic is what I found. I don't know that engine so I can't say if it is right. The supply port should be on the thermostat housing. Don't know where the return is plumbed.
David
Ski, what about running the coolant through a heat exchanger mounted on the engine? That is my setup and I did it that way to avoid the problem you describe.Unless you really need the feature of heating hot water with the main engine, I'd avoid doing it. It presents a risk to the engine AND the hot water can be too hot for safety. On small boats where genset use is rare or purposely minimized, ok it can make sense there, but precautions must be taken.
I have seen two engines ruined when coolant was changed for maintenance. An air bubble formed in the water heater loop, then when it got to the engine it air loaded the circulating pump. No flow meant hot coolant did not make it to alarm sensor. By the time operator noticed an issue, engine got hot enough to crack head, manifold and scuff cylinders.
On my personal boat, I do tap off the coolant to run a cabin heater. But the benefits of that massive amount of heat in the cabin tilts the risk/benefit equation. Hot water can be had with a ten minute gennie run, not worth putting my sacred single engine at risk for that.
Just installed an Isotemp SPA 40 water heater. The installation instructions did not call for a check valve in the cold water line. Is it OK without a check valve?
Ski, what about running the coolant through a heat exchanger mounted on the engine? That is my setup and I did it that way to avoid the problem you describe.
Now if I can only figure out how to connect a diverter valve that will send the coolant directly back to the engine when the hot water heater gets to temp!
Thanks for the photos, very helpful. Now if I can only figure out how to connect a diverter valve that will send the coolant directly back to the engine when the hot water heater gets to temp!
Most HWH I have seen already have this valve installed on theHWH its self...