Diesel Heating

[Kappy]

As the weather has got colder, found myself considering one of these for my bus.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-5KW-Die ... SwEbhbuwRt

Wondering how many have installed them or similar.

Are they any good?
Are they noisy?
Can you still watch TV with it running?
Where is best location to fit?

Watched a few Youtubes, doesn't seem like rocket science.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YthaCqkMOs

Cheers

[jon_d]

Hi Kappy,

That model with the LCD screen is getting a good wrap. Out of all the heaters I've seen; I prefer this screen.

Mine is near impossible to see. (I have a 5kw in a meter bus. - does the heating job well)

** Just make sure you choose the model that matches your house voltage.

jd

[VicA]

Hi Kappy ….I have recently installed a 3Kw version with LCD controller …..is brilliant …..quiet and easy to operate...I have just spent this last weekend away from power and was kept very warm …...it is quiet...
I am very, very pleased with it ….
Cheers
Vic

[BruceS]

Jon & Vic you can go back in and edit your posts if you do decide it doesn't really say exactly what you intended to say!!!

[Kappy]

This guy has tested a 5kw and 8kw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjDDlI_42a4

Hes saying the larger unit is quieter.

Interesting

[Noggins]

I had a 2 KW one and it didn't get enough heat to the long end of the van , The heater was at the front and the bedroom is a serarate entity at the rear.
I got a good deal on a 5 KW one with the lcd screen and although the heater and ducting is larger it fitted nicely where the 2KW one was.

The 5KW is not as noisy and the temp is easier to adjust so the fan just idles along.
Another problem with the 2KW one was a great variation between firing up and slowing down, I measured it to be a variation of 7 Deg , and that was too much for me .
I'm much happier with the 5KW heater and when shutting down for summer run pure kerosine thru it to remove any diesel traces.

Ron

[SteveW]

About 2 years ago my Webasto was reconditioned including replacement of the exhaust - that apparently was contributing to the original problem because of excessive length and placement - for about three times the cost of a Chinese Heater. The cost of the Chinese heater is about the same as the purchase prices of a reconditioning kit for the Webasto. The Webasto is playing up again with very little use since the reconditioning. Makes you wonder.

[Greynomad]

I note there is no brand name on the eBay unit... I'd be wary of that.
We had an Eberspacher diesel heater fitted to Girt coupla years ago.
Apart from a warranty claim -- which was the result of a m/h dealer (who started off in Kew, Melb and is nicknamed 'Robber') installing a heater for which he was not a dealer and whose workers (won't call them technicians) knew 0 about correct installation -- it has been a great unit (once Dometic corrected the installation problem).
Ours is installed under the dinette seat, & has just one outlet ducted under the seat and aimed toward the bedroom. Plenty of output for our 25-footer... in fact, it can get TOO hot!
Thermostatic control unit is simple to understand, and mounted on the bedhead alongside SWMBO's pillow. If it reads under 18*, it's switched on, and she won't emerge until it's 19*+!!!
You can set the thermostat like any home heater to maintain a minimum temp overnight if you camp in cold climes. Running is barely audible inside, and operation is so quiet ours does NOT have a silencer fitted (don't know why the eBay unit offers a free one)... exhaust was simply turned down toward the ground, (by Dometic) which vastly reduced outside noise annoyance for neighbours. Noisiest component is the fan. Doesn't wake us when it kicks in during the night.
As with all diesel heaters, recommended practice is to run it once a month for about 15~20mins, and once every 6 months run it up to max temp to clear the burner unit of accumulated crud. We didn't one year... cost us to have the unit dismantled & cleaned manually. And -- as with diesel engines -- stale diesel is not kind to them.

[jon_d]

"And -- as with diesel engines -- stale diesel is not kind to them."


There is not je, or injector. The pulse pump simply pulses. The fuel pipe in the heater is just that; a pipe with a 1-2 mm hole. The fuel dibbles onto the mesh which is red hot and burns.


I think the biggest problem for heaters is a dirty air filter. Mine was dirty after Uluru and had to be blown out.
It causes it to carbon up: aka not getting hot enough.

[bagmaker]

if you run them on kero for an hour or so, annually (depending on how much you use it) the carbon will be cleaned out. Beats pulling it down to de-coke