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

[Troy Dunn]

Gene

Sorry, should have added the following.  Assuming you are correctly
surmising that the alternator output is dropping after 30 minutes, Either
your voltage regulator or your alternator is malfunctioning.   If you have
the stock alternator it is internally regulated.   You can get a
replacement alternator pretty cheap, assuming you are happy with your
current DC power set up.

Cheers

Troy

On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 7:59 PM Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.*
>>
>