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

[Gene Helfman]

Thanks, guys.  We hoped the water heater used engine heat, but I couldn't
find the plumbing involved so assumed it was independent.  Makes sense to
make use of engine heat (sort of like cooking a chicken under the hood of
your car on a road trip, or am I showing my age).  WRT the
alternator.voltage regulator issue, obviously it's something we have to
check when we get home (we're cruising in British Columbia right now, end
of a 5 week trip). PO put in a different, much bigger alternator, so it's
going to require some expertise.  We put a meter on it and got full (like
14.85 V) out of it for a half hour, then dropped down to 13 and change.

On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 5:06 PM Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.*
> >>
> >
>


-- 
Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
PERMANENT address:
    498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
    (360) 468-2136
    genehelfman at gmail.com

*Zero tolerance is great for building airplanes but not for running
countries.*