Chinese diesel heater - connecting to the fuel tank

[Adam1991]

Hi, I’ve recently started ordering everything to upgrade a hcalory heater for a narrowboat. The one thing I’m struggling with is  connecting into the fuel tank. 
 

I have ordered this piece attached from mellor online. Which I was hoping to then connect up to the free connection on the tank. 
 

please see images attached. 
 

Have I ordered the wrong valve to connect to this? Is there an adaptor? Also does anyone know if this connection on the tank would typically already have a standpipe built in? 
 

thanks for any advice! 
 

all the best, 

Adam 
 

 

 

[Tonka]

Are you assuming R means return, F means feed or fuel and H means heater?

Who built the boat?

Maybe other boat owners of the same build may know?

[Adam1991]

I have assumed it means H for heater but so far cant work that out for definite. It was built by ABC boats, good idea to try and find out from other boaters. Thanks

[Tonka]

1 minute ago, Adam1991 said:

I have assumed it means H for heater but so far cant work that out for definite. It was built by ABC boats, good idea to try and find out from other boaters. Thanks

Could try asking ABC boats or Crafted Boats who build the boats for ABC

[MtB]

Just now, Adam1991 said:

I have assumed it means H for heater but so far cant work that out for definite. It was built by ABC boats, good idea to try and find out from other boaters. Thanks

 

I's day it is a reasonable guess but the images returned by Google in a search for "hcalory heater" seem to show a heater with an integrated diesel tank. Just curious why not use one that doesn't have the built in tank. Mebbe you have it already?

 

I don't think you can rely on the "H" being for heater or it having a dip tube although both seem likely. Is there an inspection you can take off and peer inside? There 'should' be for the boat to have RCD compliance but as we know, its self-dec and no-one checks! 

 

I'd pipe the fuel up in solid copper if I were you so that fitting won't be right. That thin barbed outlet looks terribly prone to damage.

 

P.S. forgot to say, getting the exhaust gas-tight one these cheapo heaters is a lot more challenging than piping up the fuel. Take care to get it right.

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

I's day it is a reasonable guess but the images returned by Google in a search for "hcalory heater" seem to show a heater with an integrated diesel tank. Just curious why not use one that doesn't have the built in tank. Mebbe you have it already?

 

I don't think you can rely on the "H" being for heater or it having a dip tube although both seem likely. Is there an inspection you can take off and peer inside? There 'should' be for the boat to have RCD compliance but as we know, its self-dec and no-one checks! 

 

I'd pipe the fuel up in solid copper if I were you so that fitting won't be right. That thin barbed outlet looks terribly prone to damage.

 

P.S. forgot to say, getting the exhaust gas-tight one these cheapo heaters is a lot more challenging than piping up the fuel. Take care to get it right.

If he fills the tank up to the brim and then undoes the H blank and nothing comes out then does that mean there is a stand pipe. Or does it mean that the fuel level does not go that high. Because I can't see the other side of that bulkhead I can't tell

[Paul C]

8 minutes ago, Tonka said:

If he fills the tank up to the brim and then undoes the H blank and nothing comes out then does that mean there is a stand pipe. Or does it mean that the fuel level does not go that high. Because I can't see the other side of that bulkhead I can't tell

 

Surely the tests would be:

 

1. Full tank - open H fitting: nothing comes out --> its blocked/nonfunctional, diesel comes out --> its connected somehow to the tank

2. Tank contents below level of fittings - open H fitting and arrange some pipework to apply vacuum (suck on it): air comes out --> there's no stand pipe, diesel comes out --> there's a stand pipe of some kind.

 

I believe it is good practice to have a diesel heater stand pipe just above the engine fuel supply so that if you're really low, engine has priority.

Edited October 27, 2024 by Paul C

[David Mack]

7 minutes ago, Tonka said:

If he fills the tank up to the brim and then undoes the H blank and nothing comes out then does that mean there is a stand pipe. Or does it mean that the fuel level does not go that high. Because I can't see the other side of that bulkhead I can't tell

If you fill the tank to the brim and remove the H plug, then fuel should flow out whether or not there is a stand pipe.

The correct test is to have the fuel level a little below the outlet level, remove the plug and then suck from the outlet. If there is no standpipe you will just draw air. If there is a standpipe you will suck up fuel.

[MtB]

12 minutes ago, David Mack said:

The correct test is to have the fuel level a little below the outlet level, remove the plug and then suck from the outlet. If there is no standpipe you will just draw air. If there is a standpipe you will suck up fuel.

 

A possibly better idea is to do as you suggest but blow into the inlet. If there is a dip tube you will hear bubbles being blown through the diesel and it saves getting a mouthful! 

 

The hard bit is accurately determining the fuel level in the tank first...

 

[Tonka]

21 minutes ago, Paul C said:

 

Surely the tests would be:

 

1. Full tank - open H fitting: nothing comes out --> its blocked/nonfunctional, diesel comes out --> its connected somehow to the tank

2. Tank contents below level of fittings - open H fitting and arrange some pipework to apply vacuum (suck on it): air comes out --> there's no stand pipe, diesel comes out --> there's a stand pipe of some kind.

 

I believe it is good practice to have a diesel heater stand pipe just above the engine fuel supply so that if you're really low, engine has priority.

Oh yes, clearly not thinking straight.

[Up-Side-Down]

23 hours ago, Tonka said:

Could try asking ABC boats or Crafted Boats who build the boats for ABC

01527 407015/07730 777940; Aaronpinder@craftedboats.co.uk

[Andy Br]

Did you get the Hcalory heater installed and if so I would be very interested to know how it's running. The price tag is very tempting compared with the Weberspachers, Thanks! 

[Adam1991]

Hi, yes it is a hcalory and so far until literally tonight (!) it’s popped up with an error code e-08. It may just be a lack of fuel making its way to the heater though. 
 

Other than tonight it’s been running perfectly for 6 months. 
 

It requires a lot of upgrades for the system to meet regs ie fuel lines, pumps, exhaust etc so this adds to the cost. These system parts could be used for other heaters in the future though so worth it as part of the expense. 

Edited March 13 by Adam1991

[Andy Br]

That's interesting thanks. Might give one of those a go next time. The cost of replacement parts for the others is just crazy. Cheers