Immersion element on all the time?

[V1701]

This is an interesting discussion, I've lived full time on boats for 10 years now, 8 of those without an immersion/calorifier but current one has what looks like a well insulated 50 or so litre tank that I rarely use on the immersion just because I'm not in the habit of using it. Boil a kettle to do dishes or WHY and always use marina ablutions but might treat myself to hot water now...
Merry christmas all

 

[Travelling Westerly]

We live on board in uk and ours is on 24/7. I tried a timer but the monthly usagewas the same so reverted to 24/7. We do have a new Surecal 30l calorifier with huge insulation mind, 1750w immersion with thermostat and themostatic mixing valve

I've just fitted a 50L Surecal so almost same set up as yours. I was impressed with the insulation on it compared to the rubbish it replaced. The bottom of the old tank was not even insulated.
Think I'll take a meter reading tomorrow morning and run the heater for a day to compare the extra electric used.

 

[PaulRainbow]

We live on board in uk and ours is on 24/7. I tried a timer but the monthly usagewas the same so reverted to 24/7. We do have a new Surecal 30l calorifier with huge insulation mind, 1750w immersion with thermostat and themostatic mixing valve

Have you changed the immersion element Robin, these usually have a 1kw element ?

 

[Robin]

Have you changed the immersion element Robin, these usually have a 1kw element ?

Paul, you might be right but the old one was 1750 and the guys who fitted it said it was the same, Have not blown marina trips with it but did once with the old one when the admirable one turned on kettle, toaster and fan heater on 2kw setting all together, After being suitably admonished she thinks first now.. We are currently running fan heater in mornings and evenings just on 1kw setting and stay snug enough and only turn on the Eberspaecher if really cold, like this morning, to boost the temp initially that the little jobby can then maintain. Trying to avoid using lots of diesel as filling up under lockdown in winter is a real hassle, especially as we are also literally locked in. our last 2 months leccy bills have been under £100.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Paul, you might be right but the old one was 1750 and the guys who fitted it said it was the same, Have not blown marina trips with it but did once with the old one when the admirable one turned on kettle, toaster and fan heater on 2kw setting all together, After being suitably admonished she thinks first now.. We are currently running fan heater in mornings and evenings just on 1kw setting and stay snug enough and only turn on the Eberspaecher if really cold, like this morning, to boost the temp initially that the little jobby can then maintain. Trying to avoid using lots of diesel as filling up under lockdown in winter is a real hassle, especially as we are also literally locked in. our last 2 months leccy bills have been under £100.

Ah, if you didn't change it, it's 1kw. I think that's a good thing though, i get more than enough hot water from mine (30l, same as yours) and it leaves more of the 16a shore power supply for other things. I can comfortably rung a 2kw fan heater while the water is heating, as you've noticed though, adding a the 2kw kettle is too much. I agree ref the Eber, why run a £1500 diesel heater when you can use a £25 fan heater, plus, no lugging cans of diesel around. I found it cost the same to heat my boat whether i use electric or diesel.

 

[Robin]

Ah, if you didn't change it, it's 1kw. I think that's a good thing though, i get more than enough hot water from mine (30l, same as yours) and it leaves more of the 16a shore power supply for other things. I can comfortably rung a 2kw fan heater while the water is heating, as you've noticed though, adding a the 2kw kettle is too much. I agree ref the Eber, why run a £1500 diesel heater when you can use a £25 fan heater, plus, no lugging cans of diesel around. I found it cost the same to heat my boat whether i use electric or diesel.

You are probably right, they list a range up to 2kw all same price, but ours was fitted by local yard from stock they had ordered for another customer so could have been any of the options, works just fine though and set to it's highest temp 30L capacity and mixing valve gizmo gives more than adequate supply.

 

[LadyInBed]

got me wondering if its normal practice to leave the immersion heater on all the time?

It depends if the electricity is metered or inclusive ??

 

[johnalison]

We used to spent much of our time moored up in harbours with metered electricity, where feeding the meter with coins or cards was a regular chore. We left the immersion heater on all the time. Our tank is well insulated and I‘m sure that we didn’t pay over the odds for waste. The kettle and hot showers accounted for most of our use.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I only switch our immersion on when required even through out electricity is included. One of the main reasons is that the marna supply has a 10 Amp overload so sometimes trips if the immersion is heating and I use another mains power appliance like a electric kettle of toaster.

 

[Momac]

On the boat if on shore power the immersion is the first thing that goes on when we arrive and often the last thing to be switched off when we leave . Since the calorifier tank is small it doesn't take much water to be used before the cold water drawn in cools the remaining hot water . A plentiful supply of hot water is a requirement of the chief officer.

Once the water is hot the thermostat will cut the power to the immersion and it will cut back in only when necessary.
We prefer to use the shower on the boat rather than shore facilities - especially now due to Covid.

I don't find the full time use of the immersion particularly extravagant . Maybe £1 to £1,50 per day even with some use of the kettle for tea making thrown in.

Our biggest use of electricity by far is over winter months when use of the dehumidifier and occasional frost protection heating is required.
I have been intending to add some extra insulation around the calorifier but not really expecting it will make much difference .