"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
How many here have a hot water heater that works with the
engine's coolant system as a heat source?

I do, but I don't drink the hot water. Would washing dishes
and showering with it be a problem? If there were a leak,
wouldn't you soon discover it when your engine water gets
low?

Scotty,
It's like having a non-smoking section in a one room house.
If something were to leak into the hot water, it's in your fresh water
system.

"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
How many here have a hot water heater that works with
the
engine's coolant system as a heat source?

I do, but I don't drink the hot water. Would washing
dishes
and showering with it be a problem? If there were a
leak,
wouldn't you soon discover it when your engine water
gets
low?

Scotty,
It's like having a non-smoking section in a one room
house.
If something were to leak into the hot water, it's in your
fresh water
system.


yes, I realize that BUT would it be harmful if you didn't
drink it. I don't drink the water from my water tank. I
bring water from home, in jugs.

SBV

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..

"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
How many here have a hot water heater that works with
the
engine's coolant system as a heat source?

I do, but I don't drink the hot water. Would washing
dishes
and showering with it be a problem? If there were a
leak,
wouldn't you soon discover it when your engine water
gets
low?

Scotty,
It's like having a non-smoking section in a one room
house.
If something were to leak into the hot water, it's in your
fresh water
system.


yes, I realize that BUT would it be harmful if you didn't
drink it. I don't drink the water from my water tank. I
bring water from home, in jugs.

SBV

I hear our water is radon contaminated.
The Reading Prong, doncha know.
Scout

"Scout" wrote in message
...
yes, I realize that BUT would it be harmful if you
didn't
drink it. I don't drink the water from my water tank. I
bring water from home, in jugs.

SBV

I hear our water is radon contaminated.
The Reading Prong, doncha know.


We have good, clean water down here.


--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..

"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
How many here have a hot water heater that works with
the
engine's coolant system as a heat source?

I do, but I don't drink the hot water. Would washing
dishes
and showering with it be a problem? If there were a
leak,
wouldn't you soon discover it when your engine water
gets
low?

Scotty,
It's like having a non-smoking section in a one room
house.
If something were to leak into the hot water, it's in your
fresh water
system.


yes, I realize that BUT would it be harmful if you didn't
drink it. I don't drink the water from my water tank. I
bring water from home, in jugs.

SBV


I don't trust those built in water tanks either. I bring those 5 gallon
igloo jugs.

I've sailed on many boat with these systems and it is hard to complain
about hot water. Perhaps the second loop could be used to cycle water
through a solar hot water coil--the penalty would only be the
electricity to
circulate it.

Without an engine driven hot water system, you are stuck with AC coils
at the dock, or a huge electric penalty when underway.

The WhisperGen stirling engine offers hot water as a by product. I
don't
think that uses coolant.

As someone else mentioned. It would be wise not to drink hot water
using such a system. Heat up any drinking water separately. I don't
think diluted coolant will kill you if you only shower in it or wash
dishes
with it.

To avoid corrosion an isolation transformer is the best option. Be
sure not to
tie the grounds on both sides together. Incoming circuit ground goes
to
the transformer case, the other goes to your vessel ground, such that
no
DC current can pass from shore power to the vessel. With such a system
you can crank up all AC appliances and forget about corrosion.

Scout wrote:
How many here have a hot water heater that works with the engine's coolant system as a heat source?

It is a very thin line separating that toxic material from your drinking water supply. The closed engine coolant loop may reach 15 psi when hot, and could easily outmatch the force in the fresh water system, especially if you run dry or turn off your on-demand pump for any reason. A pin hole or a crack in the hw heat exchanger could have deadly results.

In my work as a boiler tech, we were never permitted to use toxic anti-freeze in boilers that produced domestic hot water (summer-winter boiler packages). I've replaced tens of those coils due to leakage!

Scout wrote:
How many here have a hot water heater that works with the engine's coolant system as a heat source?


Prob'ly everyone with a water heater. It's extremely common.


It is a very thin line separating that toxic material from your drinking water supply. The closed engine coolant loop may reach 15 psi when hot, and could easily outmatch the force in the fresh water system, especially if you run dry or turn off your on-demand pump for any reason. A pin hole or a crack in the hw heat exchanger could have deadly results.


True, unless you use non-toxic anti-freeze.

In my work as a boiler tech, we were never permitted to use toxic anti-freeze in boilers that produced domestic hot water (summer-winter boiler packages). I've replaced tens of those coils due to leakage!

That's a good idea. It's also a good idea to make it part of
your regular maintenance checks, insure no crossover between
the systems.

In most cases, the water tank is at a different level tha
the engine coolant receiver, so it should be fairly easy to
make a test for any leak between the two. For another, many
boats have their pressure water (potable water) system 'on'
most of the time, so any leak would pump drinking water into
the engine coolant loop while the engine was idle.

I get an effective check on ours every time I test the
engine coolant level (ie every time I start the engine).



Bart wrote:

I've sailed on many boat with these systems and it is hard to complain
about hot water.

Dang skippy!



To avoid corrosion an isolation transformer is the best option. Be
sure not to
tie the grounds on both sides together. Incoming circuit ground goes
to
the transformer case, the other goes to your vessel ground, such that
no
DC current can pass from shore power to the vessel. With such a system
you can crank up all AC appliances and forget about corrosion.


An excellent idea for more reasons than just this one.
Isolating the grounds can be a life saver. Unfortunately
these are rather expensive little bits of gear... our boat
does not currently have one, but it's on the list.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Scout wrote:
How many here have a hot water heater that works with the engine's
coolant system as a heat source?


Prob'ly everyone with a water heater. It's extremely common.


It is a very thin line separating that toxic material from your drinking
water supply. The closed engine coolant loop may reach 15 psi when hot,
and could easily outmatch the force in the fresh water system, especially
if you run dry or turn off your on-demand pump for any reason. A pin hole
or a crack in the hw heat exchanger could have deadly results.


True, unless you use non-toxic anti-freeze.

In my work as a boiler tech, we were never permitted to use toxic
anti-freeze in boilers that produced domestic hot water (summer-winter
boiler packages). I've replaced tens of those coils due to leakage!

That's a good idea. It's also a good idea to make it part of your regular
maintenance checks, insure no crossover between the systems.

It's those precious moments between the birth of a leak and the discovery of
it that worry me!

Scout wrote:
It's those precious moments between the birth of a leak and the discovery of
it that worry me!


Good point.

But don't stay up at night worrying about it, I mean there's
all kinds of chemicals & junk in your drinking water
already. Anti-freeze is just one more... only causes a
slight amount of dain bramage

DSK

Personal experience?? :-) Sorry, couldn't help it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Scout wrote:
It's those precious moments between the birth of a leak and the discovery
of it that worry me!


Good point.

But don't stay up at night worrying about it, I mean there's all kinds of
chemicals & junk in your drinking water already. Anti-freeze is just one
more... only causes a slight amount of dain bramage

DSK