I have recently purchased a 2003 Hunter 386 in Vancouver Canada. The Espar heating system was working when I got the boat but now it does not come on at all. I suppose this is a dealer installed option rather than a factory installation. There are 3 hi/low fan switches and 1 thermostat. The procedure is to turn on the fan switch for the zone you want to heat and then set the thermostat. None of the fan switches turn on the fan. The fuse in the thermostat tests good. The fuse in line with the battery tests good. I do not know if there are any other fuses or circuit breakers in the system. This is as far as I have gone to this point in time. Does anybody have any experience with this sustem or any suggestions on what I should do next? Steve
Espar heater not coming on
- Thread starter uptownsteve
- Start date
- Status
clean the contacts
It's not enough just to check whether the fuse is good. Clean the fuse contacts and the contacts on the fuse holder. On my system this had to be done once a year.
It's not enough just to check whether the fuse is good. Clean the fuse contacts and the contacts on the fuse holder. On my system this had to be done once a year.
My Experience
The main fuse as supplied with the heater and as fitted by the local man is in a soft black plastic moulding - probably polythene. On start up and switch off it gets hot - 25 Amp fuse & 19 Amp current for just a half minute. The fuseholder softened and lengthened to the extent where it was making bad contact. It looked okay though! Heater start up became hit and miss. I tied the two parts together with string and racked it up tight and meaning to replace the fuse holder soonest. All that was 5 years ago. No trouble since - good string?
The main fuse as supplied with the heater and as fitted by the local man is in a soft black plastic moulding - probably polythene. On start up and switch off it gets hot - 25 Amp fuse & 19 Amp current for just a half minute. The fuseholder softened and lengthened to the extent where it was making bad contact. It looked okay though! Heater start up became hit and miss. I tied the two parts together with string and racked it up tight and meaning to replace the fuse holder soonest. All that was 5 years ago. No trouble since - good string?
Fuse contacts
Donalex and John, Thanks for the tips on the main fuse. Is this fuse just for the heater or is it also for the heater fan circuit? In other words if the fuse is not making a proper contact is it still possible to turn on the fan with one of the fan switches even though the Espar would not fire up? Or does power for both the heater and the fan pass thru this main fuse? Steve
Donalex and John, Thanks for the tips on the main fuse. Is this fuse just for the heater or is it also for the heater fan circuit? In other words if the fuse is not making a proper contact is it still possible to turn on the fan with one of the fan switches even though the Espar would not fire up? Or does power for both the heater and the fan pass thru this main fuse? Steve
- Status