Diesel engine and hot water tank hookup

Seabiose

Seabiose

New Member
Aug 3, 2014
17
Canada
Boat Info
Sundancer 380 2002
2 X Cat 350
Raython electronics
Engines
2x Cat 350 3126
shaft - Diesel
Hello, I had to change the relieve valve on my hot water tank, I decided to use the occasion to run the pipes to the engine room so I get hot water from the engine. I got the pipes in the engine room, now where do I hook to the engine? Caterpillar 3126 350HP Marine engine. Link to a video or forum welcome. Thanks in advance
Screenshot_20200603-220428_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
This is limited help as we have Volvo D6s, but our water heater is piped into the fresh water (antifreeze) circuit of the engine water pump. Basically, just like a car.

Since you are starting from scratch, don’t forget to add a shutoff valve so you can replace the heater without draining the engine cooling system.
 
I've never seen the coolant flow routed through the hot water heater on a CAT powered 380 or 410 Sea Ray. Not sure that was done from the factory or not, but I would assume it can be done. The downside of doing this is adding an additional failure point to the cooling system and the cooling system is critical on these engines. I run the generator if I need hot water with the added benefit of exercising the generator, but I would be interested to see it done.

The J pipe (lower right in the picture above) has a couple of nipples that could be used to access the coolant. Not sure if that would be the supply or return side though. A call to Sea Ray might also provide some information on if/how this was done from the factory.
 
I doubt sea Sea Ray ever did this but it's extremely common in sailboats, trawlers and commercial boats.

Best off contacting your local CAT mechanic for info.

As mentioned installing shutoffs close to the engine is a good idea to isolate the heater.
 
I’ve been to the boat today. Some changes to my earlier post:

There are two valves for both lines that go to and from the heater located on the engine.

Our plumbing comes off the engine block at the water pump and goes to the heater, and the other hose then goes to the heat exchanger. The other engine has nipples that are capped.

I would imagine there a provision for coolant flow to a heater type device. They were pretty common truck and bus engines, vehicles that need cab heaters in the winter, so it would be more of a surprise if there wasn’t a provision.
 
Here are a few videos I made to try to get some mechanic to help me do this :

This video explains how it is inside the hot water tank:

Any help would be appreciated
 
Seabiose said:
Here are a few videos I made to try to get some mechanic to help me do this :

This video explains how it is inside the hot water tank:

Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
20200604_145814.jpg


2334.jpeg
 
Guys,

I’ll go slightly off topic, but the pictures of the Atwood water heaters prompted this. When your water heaters die (and they will). Look seriously into replacing it with the Quick 40 liter/11 gallon B3 model. They are cylindrical SS tanks encapsulated in foam and a hard poly case. It is roughly the same cross sectional size as the Atwood 6 gallons that Sea Ray installed. I know it would fit our old 280.

While spendy, having an 11 gallon tank means you can actually take two showers in a row. That Is, as the old MC commercial went, “priceless”.
 
Seabiose said:
Hello, I had to change the relieve valve on my hot water tank, I decided to use the occasion to run the pipes to the engine room so I get hot water from the engine. I got the pipes in the engine room, now where do I hook to the engine? Caterpillar 3126 350HP Marine engine. Link to a video or forum welcome. Thanks in advanceView attachment 85993
Click to expand...
The Bill Collector said:
CAT 3126 and I'll have to follow the other hose, I did this over 10 years ago and don't remember.
Click to expand...

I would like that - very much :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,114
Messages
1,426,322
Members
61,027
Latest member
NeilS
Back
Top