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Old 06-07-2017, 07:53 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Using a tankless water heater to heat bus through original bus heaters.

I have an idea. How about using a tankless water heater to heat water to circulate through the original bus heaters. This way, the engine doesn't have to run to get heat. And less engine coolant to contend with.
You could set up a pump to circulate the water and use the original fans to push the heated air.
You could also move the heaters to a more convenient place in the bus.
You could attach a thermostat to the pump to start and stop when You need heat.

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Old 06-07-2017, 08:18 PM   #2
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That's what's nice about the tankless water heaters. They automatically maintain the temperature they are programed for. Some people do put in a dedicated tankless water heater and pump to circulate coolant from the engine. There's as many variants as people can think of.

Using the bus fans would work to distribute heat but might be a drain on the 12 volt system overnight. More efficient motors and fans can be used.

Good thinking, but you're not the first.
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Old 06-07-2017, 08:22 PM   #3
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Would there be an issue running antifreeze in the tankless heater? Or would water in the heater cores be a bad idea? I like this idea. I hadn't thought about it, but it is a pretty good idea.

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Old 06-07-2017, 08:35 PM   #4
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there are models of tankless heaters that are designed to have boiler loops and domestic loops.. if you are going to run a closed loop system and not run the coolant through the engine as well then you'll need expansion tanks, blow-offs and the like.. if you are just connecting to the bus coolant system, you will also be heating your engine as well and a small amount going to the radiator as most thermostats have a small bypass on them to keep air from building up under them...
-CHristopher
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Old 06-07-2017, 09:25 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Friend Christopher,
All You would need would be a small expansion tank with even a radiator cap for a pressure relief. When I was working @ Freightliner, the small engines, (Cummins 5.9 and 8.3,) used an expansion tank separate from the rad as a fill pressure relief, with a radiator cap. It even had a low water level site glass.
This could be placed at a high point in the system for maintenance.
Because the system would be completely within the bus, antifreeze would not be necessary, except some form of coolant treatment would be necessary to avoid corrosion of the heater pipes.
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Old 06-08-2017, 04:38 PM   #6
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This is common. Use a unit that's designed for that task though.

Planar Heaters. Hydronic Heater 14TS-Mini-12 (-24)

Eberspaecher - Hydronic S3 Economy, Automotive Heaters

https://www.webasto.com/us/markets-p...r-top-2000-st/



Quote:
Originally Posted by Lonejack View Post
I have an idea. How about using a tankless water heater to heat water to circulate through the original bus heaters. This way, the engine doesn't have to run to get heat. And less engine coolant to contend with.
You could set up a pump to circulate the water and use the original fans to push the heated air.
You could also move the heaters to a more convenient place in the bus.
You could attach a thermostat to the pump to start and stop when You need heat.
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