[C320-list] Basic hot water heater and charging question

[Troy Dunn]

Gene

The water heater is heated by the engine when motoring, and by shore power
when at the dock.   The heater is AC power only.   I think those heaters
draw about 1500 Watts...so that's about 125 amps if using a DC source...not
really feasible on our boats.

Troy Dunn
Wonky Dog
Hull #514

On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 7:52 PM Gene Helfman <genehelfman at gmail.com> wrote:

> Very basic: from where does the hot water heater draw electricity?  Is it
> off the battery bank?  The alternator? The battery when the alternator
> isn't charging?
>
>  I ask because we are having alternator problems when motoring.  Or maybe
> voltage regulator problems.  We get full charging for 30-35 minutes
> regardless of battery state, then it shuts off, meaning we are then drawing
> from the house 4Ds. When we shut the engine off (an hour or more later), we
> have lots of hot water. We're concerned that once the alternator shuts off,
> the water heater is still drawing power until the WH thermostat shuts it
> down.
>
> If so, is there an easy way to turn the hot water heater off.  It isn't an
> obvious toggle on the instrument panel.
>
> thanks,
> gene
> Satori, #398, 1997
> --
> Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
> Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
> PERMANENT address:
>     498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=498+Shoreland+Dr.,+Lopez&entry=gmail&source=g>
> Is., WA 98261
>     (360) 468-2136
>     genehelfman at gmail.com
>
> *Zero tolerance is great for building airplanes but not for running
> countries.*
>