Hot Water Tank

[robertager1962]

I am planning on changing my hot water tank and have decided to dispense with the engine calorifier as we live aboard and to be honest, the amount of time the engine runs is neglible. I have a 2kw inverter and a 500 watt immersion heater, but our current tank capacity is pretty pathetic.
It seems all boat tanks are supplied with a calorifier. Before I start looking to have one fabricated, can anyone suggest where I could get a non engine heated tank please. ( I may have missed something obvious.)
I have looked at instantaneous heaters but they are all 3kw and above ( too big for our inverter)

 

[Stemar]

Rather than getting a custom tank made, would it be more economical to fit a calorifier of the size you need, and just not connect the engine circuit?

 

[Refueler]

I too looked at the small self-contained tank / heaters ... 10 .. 20ltr sizes .. but as you say - all 3KW or more. With any other item in use on board at most marinas - you'd be over the 16A draw. (I noted that you want to use your inverter setup).

I've been searching for 1KW setups ... they are out there but needs a good search ...

Another possibility - is with solar heating ... even here in Baltics - we are seeing houses and camping using roof mounted solar water systems .. they don't 'boil' water - but they get it to a good hot shower temp.

 

[robertager1962]

Rather than getting a custom tank made, would it be more economical to fit a calorifier of the size you need, and just not connect the engine circuit?

I think the heating coil takes up an awful lot of room, which is why the capacity of the current tank is pretty small. I just wondered if there were any tanks out there that were simply insulated tanks with the necessary fittings required. Also the tank is horizontal, which from a domestic point of view, makes boat tanks an oddity.

 

[Refueler]

The Colorifier I have that was removed from my boat is like many .. a solid affair that internals cannot be removed without use of gas axe or grinder. ..

As a temp stopgap ... people laughed when they saw - but when I let some water out for them to test - they soon understood its not so bad ..... Solar heated Camping Shower Bags .... I don't use now - but may find them and start using again until I find better solution. I agree not an answer to OP request ...

 

[vyv_cox]

Calorifiers come either horizontal or vertical, your choice. Mine is 25 litres, horizontal, with an 850 watt heating element. Came fully insulated and works well either electrically (mains) or engine heated.

 

[Offshore57]

got mine from ASAP Supplies
Search | ASAP Supplies

 

[Plum]

I am planning on changing my hot water tank and have decided to dispense with the engine calorifier as we live aboard and to be honest, the amount of time the engine runs is neglible. I have a 2kw inverter and a 500 watt immersion heater, but our current tank capacity is pretty pathetic.
It seems all boat tanks are supplied with a calorifier. Before I start looking to have one fabricated, can anyone suggest where I could get a non engine heated tank please. ( I may have missed something obvious.)
I have looked at instantaneous heaters but they are all 3kw and above ( too big for our inverter)

What volume are you looking for? You can get a 30litre domestic one. This one comes with a 1500W heating element, maybe, if the element is a standard flange, you could swap for a 500W one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TESY-Bi-Li...&hvtargid=pla-1256452897915&gad_source=1&th=1

 

[James_Calvert]

Does the tank need fitting horizontally?

 

[JOHNPEET]

I think the heating coil takes up an awful lot of room, which is why the capacity of the current tank is pretty small. I just wondered if there were any tanks out there that were simply insulated tanks with the necessary fittings required. Also the tank is horizontal, which from a domestic point of view, makes boat tanks an oddity.

Do you mean that the heating coil takes a lot of volume up within the tank and so reduces the volume of the tank? If so, I don’t think this is the case . The heating coil is likely to be formed from 15mm tube or similar. 1m of 15mm copper tube only has a volume of about 0.176 litres (using external dims) I doubt the heating coil is more than a couple of metres if that.
Just go for the largest volume tank that you can fit into the space with a heating coil. Connect it up so that the engine will heat it on the odd occasion that you run it and use the electrical heater for the rest of the time.

 

[Boater Sam]

Do you mean that the heating coil takes a lot of volume up within the tank and so reduces the volume of the tank? If so, I don’t think this is the case . The heating coil is likely to be formed from 15mm tube or similar. 1m of 15mm copper tube only has a volume of about 0.176 litres (using external dims) I doubt the heating coil is more than a couple of metres if that.
Just go for the largest volume tank that you can fit into the space with a heating coil. Connect it up so that the engine will heat it on the odd occasion that you run it and use the electrical heater for the rest of the time.

I had the same thought, the coil volume is minimal in relation to the cylinder volume. Seems daft to restrict the choice of heating simply to get a marginal increase in volume.
But then I thought the original message was quite strange.