Eber heater ... fuel tank?

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fireball

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Having received a D1LC from Stuart (thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) I now need to get it installed into the boat (self installation).
It has been suggested that we could run the heater from a separate fuel tank so we don't T off the existing engine fuel line and potentially cause problems.
The heater takes max 0.27L/hr (on boost) and medium heat is 0.18L/hr so doesn't exactly consume a lot.

edit: forgot to mention - boat is a 30'er fin keel.
 
My D1L is T'd off up-stream of the primary filter (between fuel tank and primary filter) and I must admit that I have not experienced any problems with that arrangement although I do have another filter (inline) between the T and the "tick tick"

Engine is a DV24 so it is not sucking a great volume of fuel even on full throttle.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
Although I ticked 'off the main tank' - thinking about it a secondary tank would at least allow you to use red for heating should the derogation go. I believe that would still be acceptable use and although its not a lot of diesel and probably hassle getting red just for the heating, its something to consider...

Rick
 
I've seen installations that take directly from the fuel tank, but a third or half way up, so that you can't run the fuel too far down.

Fuel consumption is low enough that IMHO, the hassle of hunting around for 5 or 10 litres of red would cost you more than you'd save, in aggravation if not in money.
 
My eber has a separate line from fuel tank - prob installed when built as difficult route now. If doing it myself would have used the spare out fitting on the water separator - I think most have them - so that acts as a bit of a reservoir. Most diesel pumps oversupply as they all have a tank return AFAIK.
 
FWIW. On another forum there are several posters who advocate running the Eber on white diesel because it is better quality and makes the units more reliable. This was confirmed by an Eber rep at the boat show apparently.
The marine fuel in France is apparently better and can be used with impunity.
 
Messy enogh business as it is filling one tank.

Don't bother and use the main tank.

Donald
 
[ QUOTE ]
Messy enogh business as it is filling one tank.

[/ QUOTE ]I thought that was what SWMOs were for (amongst other things) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
T it of the existing filter utilising the existing tank

I intstalled a new pick up from the main tank because I expected to use the heater more in conjunction with the engine than you will.

Easy, clean, one (existing) filler, pre filtered feed, one fuel tank to worry about.

Install the eber pump close to the feed as it pushes full better than pulling it and the engine room is a great place for that little 'ticker'.

Close to a no brainer..........
 
Thanks for the views so far chaps ...

Been down the the boat (nice being able to get there at lunchtime! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and found a sensible installation point for the unit - a disused cupboard in the heads (so long as I can sort out the cabin air in and out).

It isn't too far to the main tank, but there are no spare ports on the top (I used the 1 spare to put in a fuel gauge sender.) so I'd have to drill a new one or T into the existing line ... or put a small tank in if it seemed beneficial.
 
Just going to install one of Stuart's Ebers as well. Should I have a separarte combustion intake from outside the boat? Do I risk depleting oxygen levels if I draw all the air from inside the boat?
 
Definitely doing a separate combustion intake - we're thinking about it just being in the aft locker though as that is close to the install.. rather than outside the boat ... if you're putting it anywhere near the engine bay then I guess source from there (our other option)
 
[ QUOTE ]
It isn't too far to the main tank, but there are no spare ports on the top (I used the 1 spare to put in a fuel gauge sender.) so I'd have to drill a new one or T into the existing line ... or put a small tank in if it seemed beneficial.

[/ QUOTE ] don't you have a take off available from your existing primary filter? usually a plug screwed in as standard......
 
Mine doesn't do diesel.
Or water.

She's scared she gets easily confused. I'm scared she's scared.

Donald
 
Primary filter is the wrong way ... its under the companionway step - further from the heater location than the tank! - But worth a check! Cheers!
 
I was warned not to tee off your engine filter in case an air leak develops in the heating fuel line. If that happens you could drag the air bubble into the engine fuel system and possibly suffer an engine failure.

I put a separate pipe in the fuel tank, raised off the bottom so that the heater cannot run you out of fuel.

Pops
 
I just draw the combustion air from the port locker where the heater is.

Do not worry about balanced flues, they only existed on very early heaters.

My input air is ducted from the aft port cabin, our cabin. From the heater I have a Y junction to feed the saloon and our cabin, the vent is at locker floor level so comes in shoulder height in the galley, it is directional so is generally pointing toward the main saloon.

In our cabin we have a directional opening / closing vent. This comes in between the steps in the corner furthest from the bunk. Fully open we can turn our cabin into an oven, which can be nice waking up in winter. I have the rheostat just under the door in our cabin, so I can reach out from under the duvet and turn the heater on in the morning. I did this initially for convenience, not having to extend wiring etc. But now I would not have a heater I can not adjust from my bunk, it really is wonderful!

If you do not put a closing vent in the bedroom, on the coldest nights a 1DLC will struggle to heat the big saloon of a HT. Initially we used to 'put a sock in it' literally, before I found a new vent on Ebay. We now just open the vent in the cabin a bit 20 minutes before going to bed. There is no need to close the vent in the saloon, the cabin is small enough that it is happy to share.

I have not worked out how to heat the guest cabin yet, my fuel tank is where your outboard well is, so stops me crossing within the rear cockpit locker. So far it has never been an issue, no guests in the ice. But we could if need be make up the saloon bed I guess.

Last spring I added insulation to the ducting in the locker, it was late spring so I did not use it much, but it did make a massive amount of difference to the heat that arrives in the cabins. I bought the insulation from a forumite, I am not sure if he has any left. But do insulate.

For a fuel tank, I am a bit naughty. I have a 20l fuel can in the port locker, which has a nozzle exactly the right dimensions to hold the fuel pump, so I just drop the pipe into the can and the pump sits neatly in the entrance. This was a temporary to check it worked when I fitted it 4 years ago, but it a) works b) is simple, no cutting in to main tank c) no messing with fuel pipe extending d) Stops us storing spare fuel indefinitely e)KISS f) lazy!!!!

If I made any mistakes it was taking the exhaust straight out the side of the boat, though being a centre cockpit I am not sure what other choice I had. To put the heater aft would have meant it was in the sleeping compartment and also meant very very long ducting and cable runs. Having the exhaust out the side can give worries if rafted. I am very concerned that we might damage the gel coat or singe rubbing strakes of a boat alongside. This means a bit of thinking in winter, make sure the exhaust is against the wall or you are the furthest boat out. It is a small thing, but there all the same. I don't think we have much choice due to the design of the boat.

My next post will be a link to a thread I started after communicating with Eberspächer over some common questions, it is in my favourites so I need to go to my options to find it. Acshully, here it is>>>

I wrote to Eberspächer and asked some questions!

Hope this gives you some ideas.

J
 
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