Diesel heater

[dave1]

I've just bought and fitted one. I'm sure other will have this in there van.

Can you get end caps and drill holes along the pipes so that it distubutes air along the van?

 

[dave1]

Also what battery would you recommend for running this as I think it will be too much for my 110ah battery with electric reel and pump etc.

 

[ched999uk]

Look at camper van conversions as a lot of them use the diesel heaters so you should find hose, adapters and vents etc.
As for battery, some people use 2 x 110Ah batteries in parallel or one for pump and reel and the other for the heater. If you parallel 2 up then they should be the same capacity and same age - ie 2 new ones don't mix old and new.

 

[spruce]

I had an Eberspatcher 2kw diesel air heater in my previous van. I fitted the heater in the cargo area behind the driver's seat. I had a full steel factory bulkhead. Cold air was drawn in from the cabin next to the driver seat and door and the hot air ducting was introduced back into the cabin between the driver's and passenger seats.

Just after the hot air ducting left the heater, it ran to a distribution Y type 'box' where I could divert some warm air into the cargo area. This heater was primarily for warming the cabin as a winter refuge when the weather got too cold for me. It wasn't fitted to be a heater to protect my window cleaning equipment from freezing.

I didn't fit it to my current van as I was tempted to fit a Webasto parking heater to heat the engine and cabin using the engine coolant route. But I have never got around to fitting one. I found it easier to warm the engine by letting it run a bit first in winter before driving. These days I don't work when the ground is frozen as I can't afford a slip and break any bones when falling.

 

[dave1]

I had an Eberspatcher 2kw diesel air heater in my previous van. I fitted the heater in the cargo area behind the driver's seat. I had a full steel factory bulkhead. Cold air was drawn in from the cabin next to the driver seat and door and the hot air ducting was introduced back into the cabin between the driver's and passenger seats.

Just after the hot air ducting left the heater, it ran to a distribution Y type 'box' where I could divert some warm air into the cargo area. This heater was primarily for warming the cabin as a winter refuge when the weather got too cold for me. It wasn't fitted to be a heater to protect my window cleaning equipment from freezing.

I didn't fit it to my current van as I was tempted to fit a Webasto parking heater to heat the engine and cabin using the engine coolant route. But I have never got around to fitting one. I found it easier to warm the engine by letting it run a bit first in winter before driving. These days I don't work when the ground is frozen as I can afford a slip and break any bones falling.

Tbh it was cheap and cheerful was just just something to play around with but I will.use it when needed but hopefully not that much hopefully we have a good winter ahead

 

[spruce]

Tbh it was cheap and cheerful was just just something to play around with but I will.use it when needed but hopefully not that much hopefully we have a good winter ahead

The way the heaters are designed is that the fuel pump can only be mounted outside the van on the body near to the heater. This meant that it's at the mercy of the elements and gritting salt. What I should have done is mount it in a waterproof enclosure somehow, as the body of the pump is falling apart due to rust. It still works, but for how long?

I did mount the pump in what I thought was a protected area away from direct contact with road grit, but it obviously wasn't good enough.

I purchased the heater second hand, so the pump has had at least 10 years of faithful service. The pump on these cheap Chinese heaters does look very similar to the one I have, but numerous users complain they aren't made to last. It's also important to buy a replacement pump with the same fuel meterage. I would have to guess it as Eberspatcher don't supply that detail. Their pump as a spare part costs a fortune.

 

[THL4KEL]

You're better off with a Hcalory Briefcase Diesel Heater everything is mounted inside the case at the right angles. Then you can keep it inside the van.

The Chinese have just copied Webasto as they made a mistake off not copy writing their designs.

Quality is probably not as good but they're a fraction off the price and parts are not hard to get hold off and they're cheap.

Just search Hcalory on You Tube plenty of people use them and have had no issues with them..

 

[dave1]

Tbh it cost £60 everything is built into on unit i wouldn't go for spare parts I'd just order new again and keep old one as spare

 

[spruce]

You're better off with a Hcalory Briefcase Diesel Heater everything is mounted inside the case at the right angles. Then you can keep it inside the van.

The Chinese have just copied Webasto as they made a mistake off not copy writing their designs.

Quality is probably not as good but they're a fraction off the price and parts are not hard to get hold off and they're cheap.

Just search Hcalory on You Tube plenty of people use them and have had no issues with them..

The exhaust fumes still need to be exited out of the van, usually through a hole in the floor.

 

[Part Timer]

The exhaust fumes still need to be exited out of the van, usually through a hole in the floor.

Could this be done through the roller guides

 

[THL4KEL]

Could this be done through the roller guides

Yeah it gets very hot so just make sure it angled away from anything that could melt

 

[THL4KEL]

The exhaust fumes still need to be exited out of the van, usually through a hole in the floor.

I got a hole in van floor for exhaust

 

[THL4KEL]

I got a hole in van floor for exhaust, you want the exhaust angled so that any moisture trickles out of it.

 

[spruce]

Could this be done through the roller guides

The exhaust pipe is 24mm in diameter on the smaller units. I don't know if many hose guides have rollers wider than 24mm.
Roller guides aren't always in the best position to accommodate an exhaust.

 

[THL4KEL]

I've got the Waterworks Security Roller Bar. You could easily fit the exhaust out of that, I can fit a standard plug of an extension cable through it when needed. I was running the air intake pipe out through it last year, but I've decided just to recirculate warm air now. The roller guide provides some airflow into the van.

 

[dave1]

Dorset anybody have a spinning roof vent on there van?

If so any benefits

 

[spruce]

Dorset anybody have a spinning roof vent on there van?

If so any benefits

IMHO, I would imagine the only benefit of one of those vents would be to remove condensation from the inside of the van.

In winter, when condensation is at its worst, we need to stop the van freezing. One of those vents will just suck any warmth out, creating another problem of frozen equipment.

If condensation is the issue, then a window cleaner needs to address the cause of condensation in his van. Leaks are the major cause.

In winter, I may have to put a towel across the roof to dry off any condensation from time to time. Before packing away after each job, the pole hose is drained off and the brush head given a good shake to remove as much water as possible. Before putting the hose reels back into the van, we have some Hozelok tap connectors sealed with silicone adhesive to stop drips from the hose reel's manifold.

If the weather is dry, I will leave the van doors open on our driveway to air the van out.

 

[dave1]

Believe it or not not one leak only way the moisture systems in the van is from.damp cloths. I mate of mine said today about the vent. I straight away thought it would let the cold in. I may just properly seal the bulkhead to stop the windscreen steaming up. So thanks spruce rules that one of the list I will just leave cab windows down a tad see if it helps

 

[spruce]

Believe it or not not one leak only way the moisture systems in the van is from.damp cloths. I mate of mine said today about the vent. I straight away thought it would let the cold in. I may just properly seal the bulkhead to stop the windscreen steaming up. So thanks spruce rules that one of the list I will just leave cab windows down a tad see if it helps

I'm inclined to wash cloths and towels every day. When my son-in-law worked with us, he put all his used, wet cloths and towels in a plastic container with a sealed lid. He washed his wet towels once a week. His van was also dry.

I'm afraid internal condensation on the windscreen is normal, even with the family car. We always have the heater controls on air in from the outside, never on internal air circulation. Cracking the driver's window a tad will help, but I find that on my van it does leak water in if it rains. I have always thought the best solution for me was one of those air deflectors that clip into the window, but have never bought any. They were very popular in South Africa, as it allowed us to leave the window open a bit to let the summer hot air escape a little when the car was parked in the sun.

I need to take a walk down the Marine Parade in Saltburn. I'm sure I will find a couple of motorhomes with them on to see if they work. Boxer, Relay and Ducato vans are all the same, so sooner or later we will see something.

 

[dave1]

I'm inclined to wash cloths and towels every day. When my son-in-law worked with us, he put all his used, wet cloths and towels in a plastic container with a sealed lid. He washed his wet towels once a week. His van was also dry.

I'm afraid internal condensation on the windscreen is normal, even with the family car. We always have the heater controls on air in from the outside, never on internal air circulation. Cracking the driver's window a tad will help, but I find that on my van it does leak water in if it rains. I have always thought the best solution for me was one of those air deflectors that clip into the window, but have never bought any. They were very popular in South Africa, as it allowed us to leave the window open a bit to let the summer hot air escape a little when the car was parked in the sun.

I do have the window plastic trims and I leave the van open majority of weekend to air out I suppose it's just a balancing act I will just put it on when cold on a night although today I put it on and aimed it at the pole hose played ball all day no kinks heated it up nicely

 

[THL4KEL]

Condensation is always going to be an issue as the lids on tanks have a breathing hole.

Good thing about using the diesel heater is it produces a dry heat and that gets rid of the condensation.