Hot water

[Capella]

Hi,

We have an issue with the hot water. The motor heats up to 160 quite quickly when motoring and thus provides hot water. However, is the motor is at idle on an anchorage it steadfastly refuses to heat above 120 and as a consequence we don't get hot water. Has anyone had similar experience and if so a solution?

Senior management refuses to go sailing again until this matter is resolved so I guess for me it has become a critical matter

Thanks in anticipation

[Footloose]

It sound to me like you need a new thermostat.  Yours is either opening prematurely or is stuck open.  The engine will get warm much faster when under load than when it is idling.

[Craig Illman]

2000 Watt Genset or a hydronic Diesel heater that has a loop for domestic hot water. Your diesel engine is too efficient to effectively heat your hot water while idling. 

[patrice]

What is the hot water for ??
For a shower ? ok might need engine.
For dishes, we heat water on the oven, way quicker.

[TonyP]

Or leave management at home and take your mates

But on Moonshadow I raise the revs a bit, say 1500-1800 as the motor runs smoother and there is less vibration in the hull.

cheers
Tony
(We are back on ours for 7 days on Thursday. Sydney harbour for 3 then back up to Pittwater)

[Stu Jackson]

"Morning Shower"  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2129.0.html

[Capella]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Capella has 700 kWh spread over 7 batteries and 300 kWh solar panels which churn out quite a lot of charging power . So i am thinking of installing a 2000w modified sine wave inverter which should be enough to drive the hot water element.

[Stu Jackson]

Hi, that's one solution.  If you do that, I recommend that you run your engine while doing so.

Why? 'Cuz the drain on your house bank of 1500 watts is BIG, so try to make it up with your alternator as soon as you can.  It's an electrical issue, not an engine hot water issue, as you fully understand.

The worst case is that The Admiral will complain about the engine noise while she's showering.  

Or, heat the hot water first by running the engine for the 15 minutes it will take to heat the hot water electrically, before the actual shower.  

Just think the sequence through for whatever works for you.

[waterdog]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Capella has 700 kWh spread over 7 batteries and 300 kWh solar panels which churn out quite a lot of charging power . So i am thinking of installing a 2000w modified sine wave inverter which should be enough to drive the hot water element.

That is a lot of energy. Enough to drive an electric car 2000 miles.   Do you mean 700Ah?  And 300W for solar?

If you suck 1000 W with the heater for say a half hour to heat the water thats 500 Wh of energy.  Allowing for inefficiencies, your panels would take at least 4 hours to put the energy back. If you run refrigeration, you are almost certainly going to end up running the engine to avoid a big energy deficit.  

I think you're back to the thermostat, or spend the money on a 2kW honda and skip the inverter...

[Capella]

Yes you are right 700 ah and 300 w. Things we do for those in charge. One advantage of Sydney is that we usually get a lot of sunshine. Think the idea of a generator is perhaps the best way to go. Checked the thermostat and it is fine it seems like my motor will not get to operating temp at idle even if i run it at 2000 rpm