Wallas problems

[Guest]

I've got a Wallas 1800 B (it says in the presumably Finnish manual) on my new boat. I've never seen a paraffin heater before so a voyage of discovery was had today. When I turned it on the fan worked, but no other noise so after a pair of legs sticking out of a cockpit locker for a while I had a cover off and took out a pump which seem far too silent, took it apart and sanded down the contacts. Success, after getting some fuel to it the pumping rate slowed down to about one every half second. So with the fan on full blast I pushed in the starter button for a while, some smoke came out of the vent and the unit seemed to heat up a little but nothing else. I've scoured the internet to try and find out what goes on inside but no success. So how do these things work and am I following the correct starting procedure. I don't speak Finnish but I reckon it says:

turn on "Burner"
Turn fan to 'full'
push in start button for 60 seconds
red 'heat' lamp comes on 3-4 minutes after starting
some heat after 5 mins, full after 30 mins
if red lamp doesn't come on after 5 mins push start again for 60 secs.

Also, will I be able to hear if the unit is lit ?

Thanks in advance

Paddy B

 

[Guest]

Dear Paddy,
I have a Wallas 1800 heater - sounds v. similar to yours - it burns paraffin, has a balanced flue and, on my boat works very well indeed. It has an SU type pump (similar to those used in Morris minors) which should pump a few times on startup and then pulse every 1-2 seconds. It pumps paraffin onto a membrane, which initially is electrically heated and which remains hot by burning the paraffin (I think it is a catalytic reaction rather than flames) and a fan blows air through a heat exchanger and through ducting into the cabin. Your startup procedure is correct - but on mine the instruction is to hold down the heater button for 30 seconds. It does take a while to heat up - and when it does the red indicator will glow and then you can reduce the fanspeed to reduce the heat output. You won't be able to hear if the unit is lit - but the red glow will tell you, also the vent will get warm quite soon and very gradually the air output will heat up, but if you have long runs of ducting it will take a while to heat up.

Warning - the heater should be turned it off by switching off the fuel pump - the fan will continue for about 15 minutes to cool the heating chamber - you must not turn the elctricity off during this time - I did by mistake and it nearly caught fire.
If you need any spares or advice try Paul Dawson of Kuranda Marine on 01663 734800 - he was v. helpful when I had some problems. I have a manual written in English, I could photcopy it for you if you wish - my email is wajw@ukc.ac.uk

Winston