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

[Dick Walker]

We put a ballmar 90 amp alternator with the associated charge control unit on WindWalker Many years ago and a very happy with it.  

If we are on the hook we run the engine twice a day for 30 minutes or so. It is important to note that the optimum charging RPM Is about 1800.

 
Cheers



Dick Walker
740 Olive Ave.
Coronado ,CA 92118
619.435.8986



> On Sep 15, 2018, at 17:38, Gene Helfman <genehelfman at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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.*