Chinese Diesel heater install/review (video )

denmonkey · Senior Member

Chinese Diesel heater install/review (video )

AlanKerry · Newbie

Hi Brett,

That is a great explanation and demonstration of installing one of these cheap diesel heaters. I have been looking at installing one in our van on our sojourn around Australia and this has really helped make up my mind. I liked all the tips you gave along the way and showing the smoke pour out when you started it up first time.

Thanks for your efforts and for putting it together for us.

Cheers

Alan & Kerry

Eaglemax · Guru

Thanks Brett

I installed the same heater 4 months ago.

I installed my tank on a slight angle allowing the filler to protrude the wall for external filling..my pump is under my toolbox on the drawbar with protection.

I used the second muffler on the combustion intake. I assume thats where it goes
Cheers

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Sunday 23rd of June 2019 11:13:43 PM

denmonkey · Senior Member

Hi A&K

glad it helped. It's getting it first real field test this weekend for a 4 days near the snow or maybe in the snow depending :)
With how cool it has been this week, it might just happen. Never seen the snow, so that would be bloody nice.
It was a lot of smoke but it looked worse than it was because of the LED light behind it and being night in the cold air.
It wouldn't be near as obvious during a warmer day.
Right now, I'm very happy with it as you may have seen. Just need to see how reliable it is long term.

EageM ,

any chance of a pic of the filler on the outside. Cutting a hole in the floor is one thing but in the wall..... not sure I'm that brave.

I still haven't done anything with the second silencer as yet, but I have seen/heard of people doing exactly that and puting it on the intake.
From a noise perspective I'm ok with in once it gets into its groove, but quieter is quieter, so I'll try it out and see if it gets even better.

I take it since you didn't mention anything , all is still going well with yours ?

cheers Brett

Inland_Sailor · Veteran Member

Hi Brett, [and others] there's a very useful Facebook group that cover the Chinese Heaters, with links to useful files covering all aspects of these heaters.

As far as your exhaust, Brett here's the link:

www.youtube.com/watch

To all of his Youtube Videos. See:

www.youtube.com/user/johnmck1147/feed

To the FB Group, See:

www.facebook.com/groups/146837062640024/

Cheers

-- Edited by Inland_Sailor on Monday 24th of June 2019 11:40:42 AM

denmonkey · Senior Member

Thanks IS.
I'm at work, so can't see utube links from here :(
Will suss it out from home. I think I know who you've linked to though. I'm pretty sure I've seen every utube video on these that's been loaded :)
I've also joined the FB page but haven't spent any time on it and hope not to. If I'm on there it means something has shat itself and I need help
I figured it would come in handy if I get error codes.
Luckily I was able to sort the first one myself without too much effort.

cheers Brett

Eaglemax · Guru

The tanks capacity has dropped to about 8.5-9 litres.

Im very happy with our heater. I built the van myself (see reno section "lightweight caravan builld 600kg tare") so my walls have 36mm of polystyrene so is well insulated. Floor not so much. Hence we have the heater on the lowest setting most times. Every 4th time we run it flat out for 15 minutes.

Tony

Eaglemax · Guru

The tanks capacity has dropped to about 8.5-9 litres.

Im very happy with our heater. I built the van myself (see reno section "lightweight caravan builld 600kg tare") so my walls have 36mm of polystyrene so is well insulated. Floor not so much. Hence we have the heater on the lowest setting most times. Every 4th time we run it flat out for 15 minutes.

Tony

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Monday 24th of June 2019 08:33:04 PM

denmonkey · Senior Member

Thanks Tony, I guess since you build the van, your level of confidence for knocking a hole in the side wall was a little higher than mine :)
Since on low it only uses around 100ml per hour or a 1L per 10 hours, that's more than enough for a normal 4 day weekend for me. Those stats were provided to me , not self tested.
I'm going to stick a 20L jerry on the draw bar at some point and once I figure out how to do it, but that will mostly be for vehicle top ups rather than for the heater but it will be there either way.
I'd love to strip my van and insulate it properly but thats outside my talents I believe.
thanks for the pics too. Im bit of a visual leaner, so that works well for me.

cheers Brett

Eaglemax · Guru

I like 2 or 4 of these from ebay. They are mounted on a pole. One for unleaded for the jenny, 2 for diesel. Etc. I figure in the coldest period my tank will last one week. 10L spare another week+. By then we've done more shopping and refilled.
www.ebay.com.au/p/5l-Jerry-Can-Fuel-Container-With-Holder-Spare-Petrol-Container-Heavy-Duty/568563467

Radar · Guru

Thank you Brett,

We are down on the York Peninsula SA enjoying very low temps, I think we will be fitting diesel heater very soon.

One big question. Can you hear the heater running from outside the caravan?

We were parked near a caravan running a diesel heater the other night which was not good, the noise, a constant noticeable hum.

We were at a caravan show in Brisbane where a comlany was promoting there product which was very acceptable noise level but others we hear are not very friendly to other campers.

-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 25th of June 2019 08:21:51 AM

Eaglemax · Guru

That particular unit 3kw has 2 mufflers as many only have one. If you put both on the exhaust it is barely audible. But I'd try it first as one muffler is acceptable.
Tony

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Tuesday 25th of June 2019 07:13:40 PM

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Radar wrote:
Thank you Brett,
We are down on the York Peninsula SA enjoying very low temps, I think we will be fitting diesel heater very soon.
One big question. Can you hear the heater running from outside the caravan?
We were parked near a caravan running a diesel heater the other night which was not good, the noise, a constant noticeable hum.
We were at a caravan show in Brisbane where a comlany was promoting there product which was very acceptable noise level but others we hear are not very friendly to other campers.

-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 25th of June 2019 08:21:51 AM

Radar when we were in Tassie end of April it was cold. The only heaters we heard and smelt in parks or free cams were Diesel. I Think a lot depends on how you install them.

If you want quiet, longevity and easy on the nose go gas.

Cheers.

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 25th of June 2019 08:22:33 PM

denmonkey · Senior Member

Hey Radar,

If you haven't had a chance to check out the video, I did include audio of the unit running to give you an idea of what it will sound like in action.
On start up it's the noisiest, smelliest and uses the most power that it is ever going to.
This start up cycle only goes for between 5-10 minutes. I then turn mine back to its lowest setting and I'd say unless you're near my van, you're not going to hear it.
That chances obviously if you have it turned up and by how much its turned up.

I don't think anyone would have an issue with this level of noise . If they do, you're not winning that fight, as they're likely the kind to find something else to complain about anyway.
Keeping in mind, I'm not a caravan park type camper, so this is more for me when I'm off the beaten track and I'm not likley to have someone parked on the cement patch beside me.
Still, I've heard them from others vans and haven't given the noise level a second thought.

As Tony said, I grabbed a kit that had the 2 silencers included for just this purpose. At this stage, I haven't found/heard the need to add the second unit in, but will probably anyway.

bottom line, they're not noiseless and they are a diesel engine, so will have an odour to them. I don't find levels of either offensive at all but that's me.
I'm heading away this weekend camping and will get some follow u video of the campers around me and their opinions of the noise etc and report back.
Hopefully that might help you with your concerns and we can get it straight from the horses mouth.

cheers Brett