I suppose the āHeaterā on your 12vdc panel is for the propane heater, probably for the fan, if it has one.
Your hot water tank is a Isotemp similar to the one I have, but looks older. I wonder what is under the large round cap at the end of the tank, in between the fresh water connections? On my tank this is where the 110VAC wires are connected from the 110VAC breaker panel. They used a Bluesea 7208 15 amp breaker. Mine has a plastic cover on the tank that goes over the 110VAC wires. See photos.
It also looks like there is a label on the end of the tank? Perhaps has Isotemp model number, and you can Google it to find out more details on your specific tank model.
As I said before, perhaps the PO only had the boat on a mooring and didnāt bother to install the 110VAC breaker and run the wire to the tank that heād not be able to use. Or maybe this older Isotemp model was only designed to run off the engine coolant.
The cabin heater is catalytic propane heater that needs DC power to initially heat the catalyst. It takes about 5 minutes before starting the heater.
Below are instructions for using the cabin heater.
George Berntsen
Wave Dancer NS30U
Black Rock Harbor, CT
Propane Heater Instructions
LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Open valve on propane tank in propane tank cockpit locker.
Turn on Propane Control switch in cabin. Red light goes on.
Turn wall thermostat to āoffā or lowest position.
Turn on power supply at DC Power Panel.
Wait 5 minutes
Move power switch to āresetā position and back to āonā position
Turn wall thermostat to āonā position and desired temperature
Heater will start and automatically shut off when room temperature is reached.
Note: If the propane hasnāt been used in several days, light the propane stove first to fill the propane lines.
SHUTDOWN INSTRUCTIONS
Turn wall thermostat to āoffā position.
Turn off power supply at DC Power Panel.
Turn off Propane Control switch. Red light goes out.
Shut valve on propane tank in propane tank cockpit locker.
Hi Dan,
I will be on Soave this weekend and will snap and post some pictures of my HW system to give you ideas on install options.
A thought on the extension cord as a power source. Although it seems that powering the electric element in your HW tank is a kludge, maybe it is intentional.
When the tank is empty ( i.e. boat is winterized), you need to 100% sure that you do not energize the HW elementā¦ it will self-destruct if itās not in water. Itās very easy (especially if you hire folks to service the boat) for someone to inadvertently turn one the breaker before the HW tank is recommissioned in the spring. Maybe the PO was using the extension cord as a failsafe to make sure it is impossible to inadvertently energize the element without water in the tank ?
Iām thinking of adding some sort of safety on Soave that I can use to disable the circuit when the tank is winterized.
Thanks Rob, Iāve decided to hire a professional to look at this issue. Itās not only the electrical part, the fresh water isnāt connected to the tank at all. I suppose the previous owner may have set it up to run the water around never entering the tank because the tank was dysfunctional? In any case I feel itās better for someone that knows what they are doing to look at it.
Dan
Mike, where did you get your Isotemp hot water heater & what made you decide on this particular one? I am begging to think it best to replace my original one, couldnāt get it to do much of anything yesterday when I hooked it back up for the 1st time with fresh water. I believe the original owner hardwired the AC through the port AC plugs, so whenever someone flipped on the port side plugs the water heater eliminate was activated.
What an idiot!
Ran the engine for a while and hot a little luke warm water, very little.
FWIW, in my experience with engine-driven water heating, you need to run the engine for an hour or so before you can get a full tank of really hot water. Itās fine if youāre motoring somewhere.
As for size, you might want to take both your intended usage and available space into account. Iāve never heard a complaint about a boat having too much hot water.
Six gallons, for example, might be good for one person to take a generous shower and do dishes. More people might find it disappointing.
If you have a significant other, you might want 10-15 gal., if you have a family, maybe more.
It also depends on whether you consider boating to be camping, glamping, or equivalent to life ashore. My mother, who was not familiar with boats, once drained a 15 gallon hot water tank taking a shower the first day out when I took her on a charter trip.
Sorry, Bob, but it takes me under 20 minutes of running to make hot water for a navy shower (about 3 gallons). That hot water will also last well over 24 hours if not used. In the Navy, when at sea, if you took more then a Navy shower, you would wind up standing watch at the evaporators making fresh water. Best thing I ever did was to get rid of the demand propane heater my boat came with.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Bob, my boat currently has what I think is the original water heater, a Isotemp 4 gallon tank. The Greenwich Bay Marina Service Yard said they would need to relocate the spot it is currently at to accommodate a larger tank, I expect to be solo most of the time anyway.
However, I am wondering if the next larger tank (6 gallon) can be refitted into the same location with a little site modification? After a brief search there seems to be many different models available made by several different manufacturers.
Thanks again,
Dan Dudley, Flashcat 30
FYI, my Isotemp tank is 30 L (8 US gal), and it is installed in lazarette on a platform between engine and rudder post. When choosing the tank capacity, you need to be mindful of the tankās dimensions and the size of the cockpit locker opening. Mine was installed by PO, I believe they had to removed the wood pieces around the cockpit locker opening to get it in.
I take āAir Forceā showers. This requires a standard at-home 40 US gallon tank (32 CAD gallons). I enjoy these showers while trying not to drain the tank (so that Sandra still has SOME hot water ā¦ ). I have never been asked to stand watch around evaporators but, in truth, I have received parking tickets.
Ernie: Actually, I removed one of the 40 gallon gas water heaters in my house and installed an on demand gas unit. The first one was a Bosch which was troublesome. The current one is a Rennai, a much better unit.
Iām quite disturbed to hear that you have incurred parking tickets. Were they for the boat??
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I purchased my Isotemp from Defender.com. It is a Slim 25 liter/6 gal model. It is 12 inches in diameter and 31 inches long. It will fit perfectly behind my engine. I used a 12 in Sona tube cut to those dimensions to make sure it could pass through the storage hatches. Still waiting on the boat yard to make a shelf to place the tank on. Will try to post some photos of the plumbing setup this weekend.
