Another air heater install Q.

Elessar

Elessar

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I went to the boat of Saturday night, put the heating on then met some friends for dinner. On returning to the boat it was freezing.
Which is why at 11pm on a frosty night I fitted my new ,£120 Chinese heater.
It’s great in every way except for in unintelligible manual. I figured enough to get it running and watched YouTube the next day to figure out the controller better

Sunday was a stunningly beautiful day on the water and I had a toasty warm cabin to return to.

So - the question.

My installation takes the air that’s going to be heated from outside the boat
I’ve planned to fit a second heater as it struggles in very cold weather. On Saturday I didn’t heat the forward cabin, i supplemented it with an electric radiator and it was still running flat out - it was very cold outside

It would have far less work to do if I took the air from inside the cabin. (I’m not talking combustion air).

Should I change it? What do others do? What are the disadvantages of recirculated over fresh heated air?
 
Recirc vs fresh air is much like that button you never press in your car?
Fresh air will generally be drier and, err, fresher, except when driving past something smelly.

I don't think it would be hard to have both available.

But the outside air near the sea was probably 5degC? The cabin air maybe 15 or 20 deg C?
The air leaving the heater unit is close to 90degC?
So the extra heat in the heated air will only be 20% or so?
 
The advantage of using fresh air is that condensation inside the boat tends to be reduced. By recirculating heated air, there's a gradual buildup of moisture. You could also consider that changing the air in the boat regularly by taking in fresh air leads to a healthier atmosphere in the boat.
 
On my previous boat I altered the installation to recirculate for that reason but noticed no particular improvement, nor any increased condensation or “stuffiness “
On my current boat the heater is mounted & draws air inside the engine compartment which although well vented to outside becomes warmed from the heater and its exhaust after running for half hour or so, thus providing somewhat pre-warmed blown air.
 
Great replies. Thank you all.
On this basis I will not alter the existing heater as it’s quite a bit of work for little heat gain and possible increased humidity.
The second heater is going under the galley sole and so that one will recirculate. As that’s the easiest way to install it.
Best of both worlds or laziness I don’t know!!
I’ll fit the second heater next weekend so expect a heatwave.
 
Couple of folks i know have gone down the 2 heater route .
One has also run an extra outlet into the shower room and pleased his wife no end.
Very pleased with the results.
 
Very happy with mine, which I am running on kerosene. Mine is set up for full recirc, with vents into fwd, main and aft cabins. We tend to have at least one window open sa small amount, plus the door is hardly a tight fit, so this proivdes fresh air. Condensation hasn't yet been a problem. I can take the cabin from 5oC to 25oC in less than 30 minutes.

If you want advice on a specific model controller (there are a few variants), try the Facebook group.
 
oldgit said:
Couple of folks i know have gone down the 2 heater route .
One has also run an extra outlet into the shower room and pleased his wife no end.
Very pleased with the results.
Click to expand...
Good to know. Getting a duct to the forward heads and shower is simple so I’ll definitely do that. Impossible to the aft ones sadly but I’ll live with that.
 
superheat6k said:
Very happy with mine, which I am running on kerosene. Mine is set up for full recirc, with vents into fwd, main and aft cabins. We tend to have at least one window open sa small amount, plus the door is hardly a tight fit, so this proivdes fresh air. Condensation hasn't yet been a problem. I can take the cabin from 5oC to 25oC in less than 30 minutes.

If you want advice on a specific model controller (there are a few variants), try the Facebook group.
Click to expand...
I have to rely on YouTube as I refuse to join Facebook, though there are a few good bits of info there. And another good report about these heaters is good. I will buy another to have 2 identical controllers I think.
 
I bought a 3rd heater as a spare and to have a go with the latest controller. Very similar in operation to the 2nd generation but the remote control has an LCD display which relays all sorts of info.

My current configuration has both heaters linked to one remote so I can operate both heaters as one, I'm going to have a play with the new controller to see if the new remote brings any real benefits.

Don't know if you're aware of the afterburner controller? Lots of benefits but a long waiting list if you want to buy a complete unit: (clicky link) Home
 
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