Aqua Hot performance

[Wayne Kotila]

Eric, good information, I stopped at Parliament coach and had them check my fuel pump pressure and it was 20 psi to low, the guy ajusted it and now the diesal boiler at least keeps up, itis now able to keepthe boiler fluid expanded to the proper level in the expansion tank. Before the pressure ajustment the diesal burner could not keep up and the fluid would cool to the point thatthere was none in the expansion tank. Ihave a heavy Glycol to water mix in the boiler, about60% glycol to 40% water, this heavy mixture is supposed to be much less efficient at transfering heat than the recomended 50/50 mix. I am going to thin it out, that being saidI still think that the 50,000 BTU boiler is barely adequate to keep up with all the heat loss generated by the single pane
windows and aging window seals in low ambient temps. It's possible that an additional zone for the front of the coach would make heating up front with all those windows easier, but maybe the boiler couldn't keep up with an added zone.

I was told by Aqua Hot that heating the boiler fluid with the engine when driving is only going to be adequate in mild temps because there is only about 15' of tubing in that engine heat loop. The earlier Wanderlodge's that used the 3 heat exchangers in the coach that had engine antifreeze circulating through them worked much better, in my last coach (1985 PT40) that system using no additional heat, kept the coach very warm inside while driving at -10 deg. farenheit. I quessmost peopledon't intend on usingtheir coach's in extreamly cold temps, but I do expect the coach heating systems to be able to keep the plumbing from freezing and the coach comfortable if having to travel in cold weather.

Wayne

96PT42

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From: Eric To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, February 27, 2011 9:53:49 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Aqua Hot performance

I spent one night at +6 degrees while only using the Aquahot. I wanted to see if the Aquahot would keep up. The Aquahot could keep up. It cycled on an off. It appeared to have plenty of additional time to heat the glycol solution. It sure wasn't toasty in the coach. Let me give you a run down of life in the coach as I remember it.

I almost never run the bedroom heat (Zone 3). I did run it occasionally on that night. I don't like the noise nor a hot bedroom. Zone 2, the bathroom was fine but remember Zone 2 also heats the basement and in cold conditions there are a lot of radiators in the basement demanding hot water. The 1/2" line that circulates glycol is mighty small to keep about 6 to 8 radiators satisfied.

Finally zone 1, the main area puts out heat but by the time the hot glycol gets to my dashboard toe heaters the air blowing out is lukewarm. The first zone, under the sink if fine, the radiator under the couch is warm. The
third radiator in series with the other two heaters, under the dashboard is disappointingly lukewarm.

In order to keep the coach comfortable (I should say from being uncomfortable.) I closed all the window coverings as tightly as I could. I turned the basement thermostat down to as low as it would go +/-40 degrees. I should tell you that Rich Archie's recent experience with freeze up should be kept in mind when setting the basement heat on minimum.

I chose not to run the electric heat that night. By morning the temperature in the coach, as I recall, was in the high 50's. I turned all the electric heaters on. The bottom line for me, in my coach, in single digit temperatures is to run the electric heaters.

In fact 98.9% of the time I run only electric heaters to heat the main cabin. I of course use the Aquahot to maintain above freezing conditions in the bays. The only time I ever use the AquaHot to heat the cabin is when I dry
camp. When I start dry camping in single digit temperatures is the time for some members of my family to commit me for my own safety.

After full timing for 7 years we've found that supplementing the two electric heaters that BB provided with one silent type heater near the dash board is quite satisfactory. The front, silent heater is on all the time and the other BB heaters trim the heat in the bus. I don't use the Aquahot because it is much louder than the electric heaters. Furthermore the AquaHot uses diesel. I pay for that. Typically I don't pay for electricity.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Eric Perplies
96' PT-42
currently in Las Vegas