Eberspacher from a car?

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causeway

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The VW Sharan, the Ford Galaxy and the Seat Alhambra had what i think was a Hydronic D5WZ, anyone ever tried to retrofit one to the boat? 5kw output max, could you plumb with rads?
 
I'd second that call for some info. There are a number of fitting manuals available on the internet, but none seem to give sufficiently simple explanation (for me) of what controls are needed to make one work. I have one (unused) which fell off the bottom of a Transit van... I mean, it's still clean on the outside!

Other threads have suggested that they work best with a radiator system rather than purely a matrix blower system and that for a thirty foot boat there may be a problem with cycling as the load is too low for a 5kW burner.

Rob.
 
rob2 said:
Other threads have suggested that they work best with a radiator system rather than purely a matrix blower system and that for a thirty foot boat there may be a problem with cycling as the load is too low for a 5kW burner.

Rob.
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I've heard that but it is not my experience. I have a D5W which has three fan matrix outlets (nominally 6KW) and a 30L calorifier and I've had no problems of cycling consequent of low load. In fact until this winter I had run the system with two fan matrices and have had no problems.
 
Robih said:
I've heard that but it is not my experience. I have a D5W which has three fan matrix outlets (nominally 6KW) and a 30L calorifier and I've had no problems of cycling consequent of low load. In fact until this winter I had run the system with two fan matrices and have had no problems.
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+1 ... we have a venereable D5W -ex BT Ford Transit. It runs a fat Fan matrix and a calorifier, and does not appear to have any great problems. Not as fancy as current computerised versions - or anywhere near as costly!
Just make sure your main 12V supply is at least 6mm2 and suitably fused, and any spade terminals involved are clean and moisture proof!

Graeme
 
The D5W is robust and simple, the newer ones seem a bit less simple, I think some require input information from the vehicles management system and its harder to get the correct manual which suits that particular heaters ECU to that particular car model. getting the right plug can itself be an issue as they are often bespoke to the heater and vehicle rather than universal.
 
Robih said:
I've heard that but it is not my experience. I have a D5W which has three fan matrix outlets (nominally 6KW) and a 30L calorifier and I've had no problems of cycling consequent of low load. In fact until this winter I had run the system with two fan matrices and have had no problems.
Click to expand...

6 to 7kw load on a 5kw boiler, hardly surprising it doesn't cycle, in fact probably the ideal load for it when you turn one off.
 
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causeway said:
The VW Sharan, the Ford Galaxy and the Seat Alhambra had what i think was a Hydronic D5WZ, anyone ever tried to retrofit one to the boat? 5kw output max, could you plumb with rads?
Click to expand...

Check if it is a parking heater or an auxiliary heater, if an auxiliary it will need a water pump as they used the vehicle one whereas a parking heater or pre heater has its own. Also be careful of the ECU if original factory fit as they accept ambient and interior temperature info from the vehicle ECU, retro fit and aftermarket ones like older Transit vans should be OK on that front as they are not linked to any vehicle electrics apart from (sometimes) the blower fan and obviously power supply. Another issue is some OEM pre heater specs will only allow one hour or so running at a time. Pick the right one and load it with at least 4.5kw, more if possible and it will do the job.

From a good sized sample of installs, rads, correctly chosen far outperform matrix, but the matrix prformance may be acceptable to you and space is always an issue on small yachts, I love wet systems but they do have the disadvantage of comparitevly slow warm up, but, considering the advantages like hot water, lower noise levels if you don't use blower matrix and ease of install its a small price to pay. A lot ndepends on how you use the boat and your expectations.
 
My experience has been that the heater unit itself, in my case a D4SW, has been the least of my problems. It came with a switch box containing the relay for the matrix motor and input fuses. It was only necessary to connect up electrically and off it went. I bought fuel hose, exhaust hose and skin fitting on Ebay, a few plumbing fittings locally, hoses from the chandler. I am using a 5 litre translucent water container as a fuel tank, seems to be chemically resistant to the fuel. The problem I have had is that the micro matrix has been disappointing, described on another thread.
 
David,

Yes, I see your point, but I've been told that a 2kw fan matrix in reality extracts much less than 2kw hence my use of the word "nominally". I don't know what the reality is but when one judges the heat output by "feel" of the heat output it doesn't seem like a 2kw electric fan heater.
 
Robih said:
David,

Yes, I see your point, but I've been told that a 2kw fan matrix in reality extracts much less than 2kw hence my use of the word "nominally". I don't know what the reality is but when one judges the heat output by "feel" of the heat output it doesn't seem like a 2kw electric fan heater.
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Indeed and that is something I have said on this forum more than once, 2kw is 2kw, but, that is measured at a higher fluid temperature than a small diesel boiler runs at generally so expect something rated at 2kw to work at about 1.5, the thing that really keeps a boiler working is the calorifier as the heat transference of liquid to liquid with a thin copper barrier is far greater than that of liquid to air through the same copper barrier. Your three matrix + calorifier are therefore about right for a 5kw boiler, especially if properly balanced. A 2kw radiator will always perform better than a similar ratyed matrix due to the large contact area of both fluid and air, best of all I have found is very slow fan assisted radiators but only suited to large boats, its a difficult battle competing for space with everthing else on big boats let alone small ones.
 
Thanks for the replies overyone, food for thought. I'll maybe check in with the local scrappers and see what i can come up with. There is an eber on the boat i'm buying but currently its not operational, if i cant get it working then i'll maybe go down this route.
 
causeway said:
The VW Sharan, the Ford Galaxy and the Seat Alhambra had what i think was a Hydronic D5WZ, anyone ever tried to retrofit one to the boat? 5kw output max, could you plumb with rads?
Click to expand...
The best one is from a rover 75, it has a switching wire on it so you can control it externally
Stu
 
I fitted a vehicle diesel heater, it worked well whilst the engine was running but if the battery voltage dropped it cut out.
Heaters supplied for boats tolerate a lower voltage I believe.
 
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