Initial Inspection - Diesel Heater

A Dickinson Marine Newport Bulkhead Mount Diesel Heater Operating and Installation Instruction Manual was obtained from the Dickinson Marine's website and reviewed. The Dickinson Marine Newport Diesel Heater is still currently manufactured and has spare parts availability.

A Dickinson Marine Newport Bulkhead Mount Diesel Heater was installed close to the center-line, facing the stern of the boat, against a ceramic tile area (heat shield) attached to the forward wall of the main cabin.  Its installation conformed to the stipulated manual's safety clearances. The 3-inch custom made stainless steel chimney pipe was routed upwards on an angle and passed through the forward cabin bulkhead wall into the head area with custom 3-inch wide steel dress rings on each side.

In the head's ceiling area, the chimney pipe bent 90-degrees upwards and passed through the cabin top through a Dickinson Marine stainless steel dress ring (#16-070) to a Dickinson Marine DP Exhaust Round Cap (#16-080). The chimney stainless steel DP exhaust deck cap was spotless and shinny and the thru-deck fitting installation looked new.

Overall the installation complied with manufacture's installation instructions, except a CO detector/alarm and a chimney pipe barometric damper were not installed as specified in the manual.  Internal inspection of the heater revealed this heater had not been used for a long time.  The internal burner pot had some soot accumulation and dust balls had formed on the inside of the external heat shield vents. Immediately beneath the Dickinson Marine Newport Diesel Heater a custom stainless steel drip pan was installed.

Added to the To Do List:

  • A0145 - Obtain both a CO and fire detector/alarm.
  • A0146 - Obtain a chimney pipe barometric damper.
  • A0147 - Obtain a diesel heater oil valve repair kit (02-200).
  • A0148 - Perform diesel heater annual inspection per manufacture's instructions after fuel pump repair.

 

Diesel Heater Fuel Connection

The diesel heater fuel hose connection to the diesel tank was disconnected and plugged with a round piece of wood secured with a single clamp (#1). The fuel hose next connected to a Parker/Racor model 025-RAC-02 fuel filter with single clamps on both ends (#2). The fuel filter was still full of diesel fuel and the fuel appeared to be very dark and gummy. The fuel hose then connected to a ECCO model 1LM12 diaphragm fuel pump with single clamps, however the plastic pump inlet fitting (#3) was separated from the fuel pump body.

The ECCO model 1LM12 diaphragm fuel pump was not physically mounted to a structure point and was suspended in air by its fuel hose and electrical wiring.

From the ECCO model 1LM12 diaphragm fuel pump, the fuel hose next connected to a metal shutoff valve with single clamp.  From the shutoff valve forward to the Newport diesel heater the fuel line connection was 3/8-inch copper tubing.

Diesel fuel return flow from the Newport diesel heater was by 1/4-inch copper tubing which was joined with a non-marine, non-diesel fuel rated,  plastic hose with a single clamped. The plastic hose was then routed to a unsecured plastic catch bottle locate in the bilge to catch residue output return diesel fuel.

The flexible black hose used for routing diesel heater fuel had no markings and could not determine if it was rated for diesel fuel use.  The regulatory requirements [46 CFR 118.410.c] are that flexible fuel hose be double clamped at each hose connection.  The manual for the Racor model 025-RAC-02 fuel filter was obtained and specified a replacement fuel filter element S2502. It also recommended the fuel filter be changed every 1-2 years - this was probably long overdue.  The ECCO model 1LM12 diaphragm fuel pump plastic inlet connection was broke and needed to be replaced.

Added to the To Do List:

  • A0149 - Obtain new diesel heater fuel pump.
  • A0150 - Obtain diesel fuel T connection and check valve to facilitate connection to diesel tank.
  • A0151 - Obtain Racor S2502 replacement fuel filter elements.
  • A0152 - Obtain new diesel fuel hose and clamps.

 

Diesel Heater Electrical Connections

The Dickinson Marine Newport Diesel Heater has a 12 volt electric fan, that draws draws 0.17 amps, installed inside at its base with a externally mounted On/Off switch on its side.  The installation manual and fan wiring diagram recommend the use of a 1 amp protective fuse. There was no fuse installed for this circuit.

The ECCO model 1LM12 diaphragm fuel pump installation instructions specifies use of a 3-5 amp protective fuse.  Inspection of the 12 volt DC main circuit breaker panel revealed the fuel pump was improperly connected to a 10 amp circuit breaker.  Despite the fuel pump inlet diesel fuel hose being disconnected from the diesel fuel tank and the fuel pump being broke; it remained electrically connected to the DC circuit breaker panel with no posted warning notice.

Added to the To Do List:

  • A0153 - Rewire diesel heater circuit and include proper rated protective fuses.