Ctek M200 - will it help start and run the Mikuni heater?

[Ru88ell]

This might sound like a dumb question to some, but here goes...

I've read that it's best to have the engine running when firing up the Mikuni diesel heating system. The heater works fine when this is the case. However, I'd like to just fire up the heater in the morning without leaving the sleeping bag and going outside to start the engine. If I had a Ctek M200 running between the shorepower and batteries do you think that would put enough juice into the batteries?

Current set up is Beta 20, 60amp alternator, two 100plus ish batteries, rotary battery switch, camping style 16amp rcd power supply from shoreside.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sailorman]

My MY 30 starts readily with just the 330 Ah batteries. with the charger running that will obviously ease / help the battery .
how large are your domestic batteries

 

[Ru88ell]

My MY 30 starts readily with just the 330 Ah batteries. with the charger running that will obviously ease / help the battery .
how large are your domestic batteries

Thanks SM. It's an MY16 heater, and I'm not sure what the batteries are. I think 2 x 120ah.

 

[sailorman]

if in hbr i will fire-up the charger when turning the heater on. the charger isn't permanently on

 

[macd]

I've read that it's best to have the engine running when firing up the Mikuni diesel heating system.

Perhaps, then, you should also fire up the engine before firing up the engine...?
Seriously, how much does the heater draw on start-up?
Running an engine from dead cold for just a few moments doesn't do it any favours.

 

[pvb]

I've read that it's best to have the engine running when firing up the Mikuni diesel heating system. The heater works fine when this is the case.

This is only required if either (a) your batteries are low, or (b) your wiring to the heater is too thin, leading to excessive volt drop during the high current start phase.

 

[sailorman]

Perhaps, then, you should also fire up the engine before firing up the engine...?
Seriously, how much does the heater draw on start-up?
Running an engine from dead cold for just a few moments doesn't do it any favours.

mine is approx 18 amps for mebe a minute

 

[macd]

mine is approx 18 amps for mebe a minute

Thanks. Firing up the lump to save 0.3Ah doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, unless the batteries need charging, anyway.

 

[V1701]

Yes, I had an Eberspacher on a previous boat, living aboard & never started the engine just to start the heater. My batteries were hooked up to a ctek charger...

 

[Ru88ell]

Mikuni say I need 20amps to fire up the heater, which I should get from 2 x 120Ah batteries in good condition. I think I'll get a Ctek M300 and be done with it.

 

[sailorman]

Mikuni say I need 20amps to fire up the heater, which I should get from 2 x 120Ah batteries in good condition. I think I'll get a Ctek M300 and be done with it.

if you dont have an o/b charger that is a good choice

 

[macd]

Mikuni say I need 20amps to fire up the heater, which I should get from 2 x 120Ah batteries in good condition. I think I'll get a Ctek M300 and be done with it.

You should get 20A from such batteries even if they're almost knackered. If they're in good nick they should be capable of giving many hundreds. Do you perhaps not understand the difference between A and Ah?

 

[pvb]

Mikuni say I need 20amps to fire up the heater, which I should get from 2 x 120Ah batteries in good condition. I think I'll get a Ctek M300 and be done with it.

If your batteries are in good condition, you need to check the wiring and connections to the heater. Excessive volt drop in the wiring will cause the heater to turn itself off rather than start.

 

[Vara]

If you need a charger or engine running to start the Mikuni, you've got battery or wiring problems, 18A for less than a minute and then 3/4A running shouldn't overtax the batteries.

 

[Ru88ell]

Cheers all. I've ordered the M300 and will fit this when I'm next down. If I still have the same issue once the batteries are properly conditioned I'll check out the wiring.