Engine cooling, hot water heater and cabin heater.

[Cowichan]

Travelling today my wife and I noticed a bit of a hot smell, and I realized that the cabin heater was still on, even with the fan turned off. On page 22 of the Cutwater 30 manual it shows the series connection between the motor cooling, water heating and cabin heater. It also mentions to refer to the Volvo manual for further information. The Volvo manual I have has no reference to this. Further, I wonder if the hot water can continue to be heated by the motor when the cabin heater is off- but of course they are in series and so then both must work together, at least as I see it. Is there something I’m missing? Has anybody added a valve so these items can be in parallel, keeping the hot water hot and eliminating the cabin heat in the summer? Thank you for any responses. I don’t want to turn off the hot water but I was getting too warm in the cabin! Lots of great cruising weather in the PNW lately!

 

[Shano]

Good question. We have not noticed any heat coming from the BUS Heater unless the fan was on. I am not sure how these heaters work exactly but I think we would have noticed any heat coming from the vent with the fan off. I am guessing that these heaters may have a valve with allows the hot water to circulate when the fan switch is turned on -- but I'm not sure. Fluid Motion or Port Boathouse will be able to help.

 

[Martin610]

The Heatercraft heater is like the heater core in a car, a small radiator. Coolant circulates through it. The fan circulates air over it and blows the heated air into the cabin.

It does run in series with the hot water heater. On the Volvo engines there are valves on the engine that you can turn off (close them) to stop the coolant flow. Probably works the same on other engines too.

-martin