Espar user forum or technical support forum ?

[Trawler_traveler]

We decided to replace our Espar heater (with a blown blower) with a new model Airtronics Espar heater. We bought the new heater through Esparparts.com.

We're having some trouble getting timely support from Esparparts regarding missing connectors and are wondering if there is/are any Espar user or technical support forums ?

We have the pinouts for the wiring so thats not a problem, we'd just prefer to stick with the same kind of connectors if we make our own connection harness, just to ease any future repair or maintenance.

I suspect the 8 and 6 pin connector blocks are some kind of industry standard but I need to find out what it is.

Thanks,



-Sven

 

[gsholz]

They look like standard Deutsch crimp connectors. Lots of info online

 

[Trawler_traveler]

They look like standard Deutsch crimp connectors. Lots of info online

I took a look at https://deutschconnectorstore.com/ and those do not look like the same connectors. The ones that Espar uses are quite simple and very square, no rounded corners.

Thanks for the suggestion.



-Sven

 

[ksanders]

I’ve installed a few Espar furnaces, mostly the hydronic ones though.

What I did is come off of that first connector in the upper part of your photo, and go to a terminal strip.

From there you can wire in anything you need.

 

[Trawler_traveler]

Hi Kevin,

I’ve installed a few Espar furnaces, mostly the hydronic ones though. ...

I'm basically taking your advice since Espar is being unresponsive now that I've bought the replacement furnace. I do have two questions for you based on your experience.

First, did any on the heaters you installed have a separate self-regulating feed-pump (in addition to the metering pump) ? If so, did you wire them in parallel ? There are no pinouts that I see for a separate feed-pump when a gravity-tank is not used.

Second, the power coming to the furnace is supplied by heavy cables going through a 40 Amp fuse. The power going into the new Airtronics goes through a 5 Amp fuse and what looks like 12 ga. wires. Do you know if the Airtronic uses a spark igniter rather than a glow-plug or why the power requirement is just 1/8th of what it was in the old heater ?

Thanks,



-Sven

 

[Giggitoni]

I have an Espar D-7 in my boat. A few years ago I was having some trouble and found a repairman that was willing to help over the internet. I don't know if he is still around. You can search for him. His name is Brian Silk and runs out of Vancouver, BC. Good Luck!

 

[C lectric]

The connectors may be Molex units. Both Deutsch and Molex, among others, make many different connectors all using their own design, bodies, pins and sockets.

ALthough I have nothing to do with the Espar furnae I would seriously consider K Sanders suggestion of a good quality terminal strip for the connections and ring terminals.

I have used the above connectors and several other mfgrs and although excellent they can be a major PIA without the proper crimpers and the pins and sockets. The crimpers and removal tools to correct the inevitable booboo, are not cheap although I have seen what look like decent units for a lot less money than when I started. I now have several specialty crimpers worth north of a couple thousand dollars. They are very good ones but even the cheaper ones are likely going to cost you several hundred.

Then if you ever need to do a repair on the move if you don't have that crimper and a stock of the pins and sockets you are still out of luck. At least with a decent terminal strip and the crimp ring terminals field repair can be done easily depending upon access.

Weather resistance can be assured by a dry location, heat shrink crimps and use of a paste such as NoALox or an electrical dielectric [ silicone grease].

 

[koliver]

I have an Espar D-7 in my boat. A few years ago I was having some trouble and found a repairman that was willing to help over the internet. I don't know if he is still around. You can search for him. His name is Brian Silk and runs out of Vancouver, BC. Good Luck!

https://roton.ca/contact/