Sale of Heater Control Panels for Boat
In this section topRik marketplace offers control panels for heaters from the best manufacturers on the market. Models for air and liquid heating systems are available, including digital ones.
If choosing one of the boat heaters is difficult for you, contact us for free professional advice right now. topRik experts are experienced, constantly practicing sailors; they will answer all your questions via the feedback form or by phone. You can also ask your questions about any marine heating systems in a letter by sending it to our email address [email protected].
The heating system on a yacht can be quite complex depending on the size of the vessel and the number of rooms that require heating. This includes an air, liquid, air-liquid or other type of heater, a fuel supply system and an exhaust gas removal system. Depending on the type of heater, the circuit may also include the following equipment:
- heated air deflectors;
- air ducts;
- heating radiators;
- boiler;
- security system elements, etc.
Of course, even on a small yacht with air heating, the skipper cannot control the operation of the heating system without special devices - heater control panels. Therefore, it is advisable to know which types of these control accessories best suit the characteristics of your yacht's heating system.
Types of Heater Control Panels
The main category in the classification of control panels for heaters is a type of signal technology.
Therefore, it is customary to separate control panels with analog and digital signals. Both types of heater control panels are used to control and regulate temperatures in various systems, but their operating principles and characteristics differ. Let's look at their key differences, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Analog Heater Panels
Such panels consist of mechanical or electronic components and produce continuous changes in output as temperature changes. On the outside of this control panel there is a lever or rotary knob for setting the desired temperature.
Advantages of analog heater panels:
- ease of setup;
- the principle of setting the required temperature is simple and intuitive;
- reliability;
- high resistance to voltage surges.
The disadvantages include less accuracy, since such panels have fewer capabilities and insufficient flexibility of settings. But the main thing is that you cannot use such a panel to remotely control even a modest air heating system, not to mention a branched or liquid one for several radiators.
The good news is that modern technology allows you to control even a superyacht's heating system without leaving the helm or even while eating breakfast in the galley, saloon or cockpit. To do this, it is enough to buy a digital control option for the yacht’s heating system.
Digital Heater Controls Panels
In these heaters control panels are equipped with digital temperature sensors and microcontrollers that are sensitive to even the slightest temperature changes. The external interface is represented by a screen that displays the current temperature and other parameters (depending on the functionality of a particular model). This display will find a place on the dashboard at the helm or on the skipper's table. And the remote control feature will make it even easier to use.
By the way, many modern models of digital heater controls allow you to use your own smartphone with the appropriate application for this purpose. Such applications allow you to effectively control any air heater or liquid heaters. For example, this is how the QSTART modem presented in this section of the marketplace from one of the leading companies producing yacht heating systems works - Autoterm, Germany.
Advantages of digital heater controls:
- maximum accuracy;
- the ability to accurately set the target temperature and maintain it at a constant level;
- more software options;
- the ability, in addition to temperature, to program different operating modes, for example, taking into account the start and end of the heating process, etc.
Disadvantages include vulnerability to voltage surges and higher price of digital heater controls.
The choice of the appropriate type of control for each specific boat depends on its size and type and the ramifications of the heating system.
For a small yacht or boat with air heating, an analog control panel will be sufficient.
But if your yacht has liquid heaters installed, it means it has a fairly extensive and complex heating system. Yes, and a large yacht with air ducts that are supplied to several rooms, also, like a liquid system, will require more accurate and efficient of digital heater controls panel.
After all, you will definitely need the option of programming several temperature modes, and analog models exclude this possibility.
For each specific yacht, the advantages, disadvantages and functional features of each type of heater controls panel to make the right decision regarding the choice of the required model.
Functions and Advantages
Some of heater control features are described in the previous section on the difference between analog and digital models. But their main function is to provide all of marine heating advantages regardless of the type of signal and type of heating system installed on the yacht. This includes the following functions depending on the heating type:
- remote start/stop;
- starting the heater with a specified operating duration;
- adjusting the temperature and checking the current status;
- timing of the heating process with programming for a certain period of sailing;
- adjustment of boiler operation for water heating;
- display of water or air temperature in real time;
- protection against overheating and freezing, etc.
Despite the numerous and varied functions, all presented models have an intuitive user interface. In addition, they are equipped with:
- LED status indicator;
- thermostat function;
- additional heating options;
- quick access to starting the heating system;
- a signal reminding you of the need to service the yacht heater;
- the most accurate built-in digital temperature sensor, etc.
The rheostat mode allows you to program the heating system according to the following algorithm: as soon as the temperature reaches the set value, the heater or heaters will turn off, and when the set lower temperature level is reached, they will start working again. This is convenient and economical, regardless of what type of fuel is used on the yacht.
If you have liquid or air heaters of a certain manufacturer installed on your yacht, then for control and management it is better to buy control panel for heaters from the same manufacturer to ensure maximum compatibility. This is easy to do, since all the leading manufacturers of boat heating systems also produce corresponding control panels for them.