Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post it here, if it doesn't fit any of the above.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

User avatar
fh9977
Registered user
Posts: 123
Joined: 21 Mar 2018, 12:27
80-90 Mem No: 17112
Location: UK

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by fh9977 »

Any further feedback on Chinese heaters? I am thinking of getting one. What models are best, and where would they fit in the van? A feed from the diesel tank would be ideal.

Sent from my SM-N976B using Tapatalk

User avatar
Dobble
Registered user
Posts: 266
Joined: 25 Apr 2017, 20:23
80-90 Mem No: 15944
Location: North Wilts

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Dobble »

I wouldn't buy a Chinese one personally. For less than £300 you can get a recon webasto from OBG (see previous page) and that includes the fitting kit. The webasto units are serviceable and pretty much all the parts are easily available.

I fitted one of OBG's heater kits over Christmas and used it properly last weekend while camping in Exmoor. It's defiantly the best single item I've fitted to the van.
1989 T25 MTDI RHD Syncro

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by ghost123uk »

I started this thread a good while back, asking about them.

They are now less than £100 each 8)

I can now report that I fitted mine late last summer and it has been great, no issues at all. I am very active over on the Facebook group that offers support to folk fitting them, and folks that are having problems with them (here = https://www.facebook.com/groups/265862240781579/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

They are quite easy to fit, as long as you follow certain guidelines. Obviously with the usual rubbish Chinese quality control and the rubbish "manual" that comes with them, some folk do have problems, but they are usually easily sorted out.

There is now an outfit based near Walsall that provide pre-tested units and they offer a reasonable range of spares too. It is basically a "one man band" (Michael Freeth) and he has a VERY good reputation for being helpful and offering fast delivery. Website here = https://dieselkeepyouwarm.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My tips =

DO NOT get the 5KW one, it's too powerful. Many Chinese sellers advertise the better 2KW one, but when it arrives it is a 5KW one, and the sellers are virtually impossible to deal with, so you have to mess about starting an Ebay "dispute" and the sellers argue that they are not in the wrong and you are stuck with it. So, buy from the UK supplier I mentioned above.

DO NOT buy the "all in one" units. They offer no advantage and are no where near as safe when installed in a camper.

DO mount it to the floor, (or you can mount it on the sloping bit under the bed on a T25)

DO use a "turret mounting plate" to make the install easier and safer (link = https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osac ... acat=36798" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

DO try your best to get one with the simple 2 button + rotary knob controller. The complicated LCD ones seem to be much more trouble that they are worth.

I don't think the mither of fitting a feed from your main (Diesel) tank is worth the bother. A gallon of fuel will last for 3 or 4 nights, depending on how high you have the heater setting. I use a normal 1 gallon fuel can mounted to the frame of the R&R bed. The (thin, hard) fuel feed goes in through a tight fitting hole in the handle and I have a TINY pin prick of a hole, also in the handle, to act as a breather. It all works, and "no", I don't get any smells of Diesel in my van.

Many folk run them on Paraffin as it fires up quicker and runs cleaner. If you buy it from a pump at a garage, it is only about 65p per litre :D

If anyone needs any more advice or info, I will monitor this thread :ok
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

User avatar
fh9977
Registered user
Posts: 123
Joined: 21 Mar 2018, 12:27
80-90 Mem No: 17112
Location: UK

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by fh9977 »

That is great info! Thank you [THUMBS UP SIGN]

Sent from my SM-N976B using Tapatalk

User avatar
slowcoach
Registered user
Posts: 1575
Joined: 06 May 2010, 10:23
80-90 Mem No: 8892
Location: West Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by slowcoach »

A large thread here too..
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... p?t=703569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Id love some heat, but I've got jobs/projects lined up for a while yet to keep me busy enough. Maybe ready for next winter?

Obg's offer here though, is tempting.
===================
1984 TRAKKA Conversion Subaru EJ20 5 Speed

User avatar
bigherb
Registered user
Posts: 2579
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
80-90 Mem No: 5789
Location: West Kent

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by bigherb »

I've had one in the camber for three seasons to replaced the Propex been fine, 2kw running on kerosene. Runs most of the time I'm driving in the winter to stop cold drafts coming from the back.

Image

5kw in the garage runs flat out most days in the winter again been fine.

Image

Fitted one in my Portafold as well.
Image
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Mocki »

I have a 8kw ( Chinese kilowatts are smaller than uk ones I think ) in my garage , been in there two winters , just about takes the edge off unless you sit right infront of it , but the garage has a big uninsulated flat roof and is 20ft x 25ft

I did have a 2kw DL1c eberspácher in there , it didn’t quite take the edge off and I thought for £100 it was worth a go with a cheapo . It runs on kero at 50ppl

There is a reason they are cheap tho, it’s isn’t anywhere as controllable or economic as the eberspacher .
I’m pretty sure the many reported issues with them clogging up is down to the fuel pumps over fuelling

I was testing a DL1c for someone on the bench a few weeks ago and the pump was faulty so I switched it for one of the cheapo Chinese ones off a 2kw kit to prove the point and it over fuelled badly making the eberspacher over heat in just 5 mins and when I did the metering test it was delivering twice the fuel the eberspacher needed .
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

User avatar
Oldiebut goodie
Registered user
Posts: 7259
Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
80-90 Mem No: 11135
Location: Eastern Angle

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

Those pumps are no good for Webastos either - they underfuel by 2/3rds with them! You can adjust some of the pumps though. They advertize them to death on Ebay as being suitable for both though. :roll:
1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶

Stesaw
Registered user
Posts: 1892
Joined: 10 Aug 2019, 23:30
80-90 Mem No: 17004
Location: Coventry

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Stesaw »

I've been looking at one, ever since the mrs and I camped out on bonfire night at some friends we found out the van isn't quite as warm as we thought haha. So striping down and insulating is the big job this year.
I'm quite relucant to drop £100 ish on some chinese knock off as what comes to mind is the van get's too hot, ie burns down! but I also haven't the pockets nor the inclination to drop nearly 1k on a eber / weba.
It's certainly on the list but my van priorites change frequently :roll:
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Mocki »

you are much much safer to use a cheap chinese diesel parking heater than any form of petrol or gas heating , their cheapness isnt a issue in that respect , there are no flames to worry about , and ive only ever heard of them not starting ( or indeed just stopping) , all the combuston takes place in the chamber which is isolated from the living space.
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by itchyfeet »

Mocki wrote:you are much much safer to use a cheap chinese diesel parking heater than any form of petrol or gas heating .....


I can't see how a cheap anything is better than a quality product, any electrical connected device can be a potential fire hazard if it's badly made and not fused appropriately.

all the combuston takes place in the chamber which is isolated from the living space.

Same a as a Propex
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by Mocki »

itchyfeet wrote:

I can't see how a cheap anything is better than a quality product, any electrical connected device can be a potential fire hazard if it's badly made and not fused appropriately.

they are fused appropriately , and all plug and play as far as it goes.
the fact is diesel is much harder to accidentally set fire to than petrol or gas .
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Cabin Heaters, Diesel powered, new Chinese ones = any good ?

Post by ghost123uk »

I have been following 3 "groups" on Facebook re these heaters. To date I have not heard of anyone having a fire problem with the unit.

As long as it is installed properly, they are perfectly safe.
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

Post Reply