Thermostat for tube heater

[richardabeattie]

Following up the previous post - I have just discovered that my old 60W tube heater had broken down in the middle of this cold spell and had to rush out and buy a new one which turns out to be 180W.

Questions:

1. Given that the engine (Yanmar 20 raw water) had antifreeze in it what's the chances that I have got away with it? There was certainly ice in the bilges. How will I recognise a cracked block?
2. I used to run the heater on a time clock but that put me at the mercy of the boatyard remembering to keep the meter topped up - any delay and the clock would be on the wrong time so for the time being I am running the heater continuously. Where can I get a thermostatic switch - Maplins only seem to offer a build it yourself switch kit and that's not really for me.

Grateful for any advice.

 

[Harpsden]

Q1 - don't know.

Q2 - Thermostat £14.95+VAT


Harpsden

 

[pheran]

I bought a plug-in thermostat switch from Screwfix (I think) Has a dial so you can set switch-on temp and it then switches off when temp goes above that. Bought about 2 years ago so don't know if they still do them.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Given that the engine (Yanmar 20 raw water) had antifreeze in it what's the chances that I have got away with it? There was certainly ice in the bilges. How will I recognise a cracked block?


[/ QUOTE ] If it really had antifreeze in it at a reasonable concentration it'll be OK**. You dont keep a heater under your car engine do you?

Difficulty is of course getting antifreeze in unless you rig up some recirculation system and keep running until the thermostat has opened. Helps of course if you drain down fully then fill with antifreeze.

You'll recognize a cracked block when all the cooling water comes pouring out into the bilges.

** a 25% solution would have just been adequate for the lowest temps we have had in the south recently.

 

[richardabeattie]

Harpsden - Many thanks for the link to TLC.

VicS Thanks for the reassurance - I took out the engine thermostat before I ran the antifreeze in.

 

[BAtoo]

Just bought 200w heater with thermostat from B&Q for £12, nice compact unit and seems to work well - keeps the chill off my cabin anyway!!

 

[gjgm]

you find these thermostat plugs on ebay sometimes, though maybe not in winter. Used by bird keepers and plant growers to protect their loved ones!