Added 120VAC @ 400 watt immersion heater to IL671 bypass heater loop

[dtcerrato]

Well went ahead with the 120 vac immersion heater in the booster pump heater circuit. The relay that energizes the immersion heater feeds off of the relay that energizes the 12 vdc booster pump so no circulation - no heat... The immersion heater is placed into the gutted oem check valve that was part of the heater loop - nice flow, no restriction.
Fired up the engine today until the heater loop was warm, no rad flow as it never got to op temp. Upon initial booster pump flow - w/o engine run I could hear air pockets flowing through the heater loop so I knew there was good circulation. The 400 watt immersion heater was heating the loop a lot better than I thought it would as laser temp readings show. Low temp was the copper intake elbow at the booster pump. The high temp reading was at the entry into the main HVAC heater core towards the front of the bus. My next test I'll try warming the heater loop from cold with the booster pump & immersion heater w/o main engine heating first. This may be a great redundant heat source for the heater loop & a path to faster warm up of heater loop in cold temps!
The 2000 watt main block heater keeps the engine block toasty.

Some photos of this brainstorm...

[buswarrior]

After a day's drive, in the cooler spring or fall weather, there's 2000 lbs of hot soaked engine casting back there...

And independant booster pump and some fans..

You are on a path to a warmer salvation?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[sledhead]

and he must have gotten a deal on the 2 stacks of washers

dave

[luvrbus]

Is 400 w going to do any good in cold weather ?,our AquaHot has a 1000w and a 1500w elements when down in the 30* range the 1000w alone is pretty useless for heating 400w is what my fuel heater is rated for

[dtcerrato]

Is 400 w going to do any good in cold weather ?,our AquaHot has a 1000w and a 1500w elements when down in the 30* range the 1000w alone is pretty useless for heating 400w is what my fuel heater is rated for

The 400 watts by itself, probably not. Got 2000 watts on the engine block. Looking at the temp differences with the 400, it will add or at least help to maintain some heat as there is no "mass" in the heater loop. The new 400W immersion heater was sitting in a junk pile - you know, brainstorm then a better place to store it!?

[luvrbus]

The 400 watts by itself, probably not. Got 2000 watts on the engine block. Looking at the temp differences with the 400, it will add or at least help to maintain some heat as there is no "mass" in the heater loop. The new 400W immersion heater was sitting in a junk pile - you know, brainstorm then a better place to store it!?

Works for me Dan even a bic lighter feels good when it is cold

[windtrader]

Well, 2000 watts is a battery buster. Guess you go solar, you will get a frozen engine to start in the morning.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 It's been my observation that Dan knows what he's doing..>>>Another Dan

( Adding heat along the route also reduces the cooling effect of the route itself..>>>)

[dtcerrato]

Thanks for the feedback. We have supplemental solar and a genny that will always be there. Did a cold test  this morning. The 400W & booster pump by themselves gets almost a 10 degree rise per hour in the heater loop. I guess the heater loop (by pass?) is circulating through which part of the engine?