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Hydronic Heater Core up to Flybridge

chollyjohn

chollyjohn

Regular Contributor
"OK. Has anyone ever installe

"OK. Has anyone ever installed or heard of an installation for a heater coil piped from engine up to the flybridge. So far I have been told it cant be done; But, then a mechanic said you can use a hot water heater with heat exchanger. The engine heats the hot water tank water. And the tank water is used to flow up to the coil and back down similar to a "gravity" hot water boiler system. I assume you would need a check valve on the supply side? The engine temp at 160 is the minimum temp for the heating coil ratings.

You would not pipe from the engine direct due to the head pressure and an auxillary pump from the closed system may effect the engine cooling.
Anyone wish to comment on this. Meanwhile my toes are cold on the fly."
 
"Cholly:

I don't think

"Cholly:

I don't think the vertical distance would challenge the FWC pump, rather the PIA it would be to actually purge the system. The HWH route gives much more 'independence' in the way you can operate the system.

I'd bet you could eliminate the circulation pump on the flybridge side and just let physics run...that said, yoou would have better control having that pump in.

i thinking the biggest challenge is running the tubing for the remote heating loop in an acceptable manner with minimal effort.

If you have a 12V courtesy outlet up on the bridge, you caould always consider those heated socks, or otther garments, as the need becomes clear."
 
"According to mechanic; the FW

"According to mechanic; the FWC would prolly handle it; agreeing with you. however, it may impeed the flow of the heat exchanger causing slightly higher temps cooling or overheating. I dont plan to use a circ pump on the flybridge side; instead let it work on convection current and gravity like a home boiler system.
Your point about running the hoses up to the flybridge is a good one. The route would be simple but not a direct route. The side panels of my salon follow clear to the flybridge sides and down to the engine compartment; hence probably would need help of a circ pump for that reason only. I know it sounds a bit complicated but I like a challenge and a chance to be inventive. If this dont work then I may try the hot sock route as you say. Maybe socks lined with hot sauce or Ben Gay. I attached a drawing for you to see what I was thinking about.
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flybridge heater schematic-sm
 
"Only thing I'd add is to

"Only thing I'd add is to check out the available tube and pipe options out there now, for the interconnects, in lieu of hoses - much less friction which will be desirable w/o the circ pump."
 
"I got an email back from Heat

"I got an email back from Heatercraft which tech services says that a circ pump would be necessary (agreeing with my mechanic) due to the water rise up to the bridge. So this design is coming along and I certainly appreciate your comments Mako about the piping vs. hoses. I'm looking into that. Note the expansion (overflow) tank is necessary since system is closed using non-toxic antifreeze (someone asked me about this which is important)
Another thing I am researching is the BTUH output the hot water heater will have. Based on similar home boiler designs, if the circ pump is too fast, heated water recovery will not keep up with the heater core demand. The bridge heater is designed/rated and based to run on a minimum of 160 degree water. My engines run at 157-160 so whatever heat loss I have from engine to the bridge heater is my disadvantage. Better if you had an olde 454 block runjning at 180 temps. Nevertheless, I am confident to work out the design. Your comments are welcome guys!"
 
"You can always insulate the i

"You can always insulate the install to minimize unintended heat loss. It will help in the summer, too, when you don't need the heat.

If you keep the bridge closed, there will be some recirculation so there will be some cushion in the BTUH calculation. I'd bet a small pump, to supplement the thermodynamics, is all that is necessary.

I'm w/ Hays in that reading that TIF file is harder than making sense of the 1040 instruction book.

FWIW, the entire plumbing system on mine is the PB type of tubing, hot and cold. don't know what it is rated for, temp-wise, but it is really easy to re-work, when necessary. fittings aren't as cheap as they used to be but will hook up to anything else readily."
 
"Like any type of Boating Supp

"Like any type of Boating Supplies...what is cheap these days? Meanwhile, Hays got his readable copy and you will get yours. Like yoru idea of insulating the lines.
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