Wallas Stove / Heater

mrexj71860 · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:31 pm Post subject: Wallas Stove / Heater

Hello C-Brats,

I'm pleased to report that I am becoming more familar with my C-Dory 22 and my wife and I love the boat.

I am however baffled by the behavior of my Wallas 95D stove/heater. My boat sat for over a year before I purchased her in September of 2014. As the weather got cooler the time came to try out the heater. After a couple of restarts the heater fired up and worked perfectly. It also worked great on the next two outings. Then it just stopped!

I had the boat out today on Lake Conroe. 48 degrees and a nice 10 knot north wind had me wishing for heat. I fired up the stove and it works great with both burners getting very hot. I know the stove is getting fuel and working.

I cannot get the heater to work. I've followed the instructions to a tee. They are so simple that there is not much you can do wrong. I turn on the heater, wait about 2 to 3 minutes and then the red light starts to blink indicating I need to try again.

Any help from you experienced C-Dory folks would be much appreciated.

Mike Johnson
C-Dory 22 #47
C-Horse

williwaw · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:04 pm Post subject:

My first guess would be that it isn't getting enough voltage on start-up. The stoves are very sensitive on start-up because they need to heat a glow plug and low voltage would cause too much amperage. There are other causes of course.

My suggestion would be to call Scan Marine in Seattle (888-606-6665) straight away. They're very helpful and will spend the time it takes to walk you through the situation.

You might also find this helpful: http://www.scanmarineusa.com/docs/pdf/techtalk_Installation_StartUp_Wallas_85D.pdf

hardee · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:30 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike,

Welcome and glad you are getting to like your boat.

If you don't have instructions for your Wallas, I would contact Scan Marine, or their web site and get them to start with. Then if that doesn't help call them. They are very service/client oriented and helpful.

I don't know the ;light signals for the 95D (yours) but for mine, And I don't remember that either for sure, but I start it on high, let it run that way for a while, like 15 min at least, and then adjust it down to where you want to run it at. Before turning it off, turn it back up to high and run it there again for about 15 min before turning it off. I think the red light blinks as it is running to cool off, and as it it warming up. I believe it is a signal that it needs to stay on high. That has worked for me. I don't use the Wallas very often, (maybe 5-6 times a year.)

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

RobLL · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:08 pm Post subject:

Some things, per Scan Marine

If the stove overheats a thermostat, which is near the bottom of the stove, it will turn the stove off. You can tell if this is the case, because after the stove cools off it will restart without difficulty.

Another way to confirm this is to temporarily take the doors off the cabinet to improve ventilation, keeping the bottom of the stove, hence the thermostat, cooler. If this fixes things add ventilation to the cabinet.

Another temporary fix is to run the stove at less than its highest setting.

Anyway this has solved the problem for me. Also the lid must be in the down position with the lid-fan on unless you have pans on the burners.

hardee · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:22 pm Post subject:

mdoug · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:33 am Post subject: Wallas Stove

I just leave my Wallas set on high all the time. Never a problem since 2005, when I bought the Mikey!

thataway · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:04 pm Post subject:

Hmm, I AM not so sure about the not running the stove, (except with the lid down). It is not unusual to have one pot, on high, and nothing on the other burner, or one pot on very low and on the less hot of the two burners.

When were were in AK for a month, we used the stove as a heater much of the time, and put an "ECO" fan on the top, with the lid up. There is some advantage of this, as far as heat distribution as well as using less power.

It was not clear to me if Mike had let the stove come up to operating temp, before putting the lid down, into heater mode. I am sure that you know if there are X failed starts, you have to pull the fuse, to "reset" the "computer". Also some find that their stoves require more voltage than others. We have never had to start our outboard or run the generator, but I have heard of some who have had to boost the voltage before the stove lit properly. So I would be monitoring the battery voltage. It should be 12.6 volts.

mdoug · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 5:32 am Post subject: Wallas Stove

I always have outboard started before firing up my Wallas. Also, I never turn off boat master switch until the fan stops.

I agree that low voltage may be an issue.

localboy · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:35 am Post subject:

From reading this it appears the burners are getting hot, but the FAN is not blowing? Confused

Or maybe I'm reading it wrong. I know the small switch which activates the fan could be broken. It's on the lid, lower right corner with the lid up. Nothing more than a small stainless wedge about 1/4" that stick out. When the lid is up, the springed switch pops out, stopping the fan.

mrexj71860 · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:19 am Post subject:

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. This weekend will be cold and wet. A perfect chance to try and fix the problem.

Mike