Thread: Cheap Ebay diesel heaters

Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
The 8A glow plug current on start/restart is what I've been told, not measured.
The actual exhaust output is surprisingly modest, it can be seen sometimes in the right light/temperature/humidity conditions.
The exhaust is contained in a flexible steel tube. The first half meter or so can get hot enough to melt plastic so needs to be isolated in air to cool.
The furnace itself needs about 100mm clearance onthe sides, and a bit more on top for access to the glow plug.

We have camped in temperatures below -10 and been quite cozy. I don't run it all night, if either of us wake up cold, it only needs an arm out of the sleeping bag to click it on for 15 minutes to warm things up.

Our outlet is positioned where it can warm clothes on the floor and it makes a very efficient hairdryer for Mrs.
Just watch that loose hair can't get in the intake. It winds round the turbine. (don't ask).
Cheers

Hi folks.
I've just moved back to aussie from uk, where i used eberspacher heaters in my vw van.
The cheap htrs are copies. But they will still be installed etc the same as the origionals.
This site.
Home.
Its run by guys who are into narrow boats, which usually have eberspachers.
They have an extremely good section on troubleshooting this style of heater.
Well worth a visit. 😀

Should have updated this thread - I made comment of the heater in my caravan thread. I've since installed the unit and it works great - maybe too well as it kicks out a LOT of hot air even turned right down but will know for sure when it cools down enough to actually check it properly - was 28 the day I tested it so turned the van into an oven real quick. 😁

It draws just on 10 amps during startup - about 2 minutes it runs like this which puts almost no stress on the 400Ah of batteries I'm running. It then drops to 2.5 amps at its lowest setting and 3.5 at its highest - basically just the difference of the fan speed.

Have ordered a muffler and some exhaust tape just to make it a but quieter outside - it's fine inside but it wouldn't be too nice for someone in a tent next to me on a cold still morning if I cranked it up, but it's not loud, just a bit of a drone to it.

Very happy so far - will see what it's like when it actually cools down here.

Originally Posted by gofer

Hi folks.
I've just moved back to aussie from uk, where i used eberspacher heaters in my vw van.
The cheap htrs are copies. But they will still be installed etc the same as the origionals.
This site.
Home.
Its run by guys who are into narrow boats, which usually have eberspachers.
They have an extremely good section on troubleshooting this style of heater.
Well worth a visit. 😀

Great site - thanks for that! Yes, my chinese unit looks absolutely identical down to some of the smallest details - to the D2 unit - I wouldn't be surprised if the D2 parts would fit it if I ever needed them. 😊

Oh - and welcome to the forum. 👍👍👍

Ebay muffler turned up today and I have fitted it. Much quieter - it has taken the drone out of it so it's not bad at all at the lowest setting, a bit noiser as it is turned up, but not terrible. I doubt we'll have it on flat out - almost cooked myself testing it tonight. When it starts, it runs on high for a few minutes before ratcheting down so makes a LOT of hot air before slowing down. Fan seems to vary based on the heat of the unit, and the heat setting slows or speeds up the fuel pump.

Hi,
As I understand it; the sensor measures the temperature of the air entering the heater from the room, and compares it with the setting put into the control switch. As the room warms,the heater burns less fuel.
Thus:
1)If the air was drawn from outside, it would try and warm the world.
2)If the warmed air can feed straight back into the inlet, it will slow down prematurely.

Cheers

Not sure that mine works that way as you can't adjust the temp setting - just the fuel supply setting. It goes down to 1.6 somethings and as high as 5.5 somethings.... 😁

1.6 is a click of the pump every second or so, 5.5 it's going like a freight train.

Hi,
That actually sounds like a better method.
On a cold night (say 7degrees) and starting ours on a low heat setting ( 1 through 10) it will start off at full chat, slowing as the room warms.

With the inlet and outlet both under the table it pays not to huddle too much or it slows before the room warms enough.

Cheers

I've got the inlet quite some distance away near the door, with the outlet under the table almost in the middle. Heading down to Walkerville in 2 weeks so it coukd very well get a good test - will see. 😊