I bought one thinking it would be like my gas truma in the van. For my office at the bottom of the garden.
It wasn't- it was very noisy fairly thisty ( on both kero and pump fuel )
Eventually worked out that an electric oil heater on a remote timer was cheaper to run and considerably more reliable to boot. - but the kero was cheaper than the 13kg butane I was using previously
Pumps and glow plugs appeared to be consumables on both fuels.
[i]It wasn’t- it was very noisy fairly thirsty ( on both kero and pump fuel )[/i]
There is a YT video showing you how to tune them to improve efficiency and reduce coking up. Basically they are sent fromt he factory over fuelling to ensure they fire up and burn hot, initially at least. I think it was something like 20% improvement in efficiency and no visible exhaust after tuning.
Been there.
What you end up with is a much lower kw output.
You can't have it all ways.
Essentially they reach state kw by over fueling.
Are they not all 2kw units with the pump over fueling to give the fantasy outputs on eBay adverts..... Mine was certainly pants once tuned
I did look at a calor gas heater but then would need buy one of those
You can usually pick them up free or very cheap from Facebook or similar. Probably not this week, though.
Bit hypocritical of you “Edukator” to be ranting away after you’ve done the single most damage a human can do to the planet - created more life by breeding.
Bit hypocritical of you “Edukator” to be ranting away
Aye Aye, we've covered that bit, and no need to go harping on about it.
We all moved out the playground decades ago, so let's leave it behind.
[i]Are they not all 2kw units with the pump over fueling to give the fantasy outputs on eBay adverts….. Mine was certainly pants once tuned[/i]
The tuning shouldn't effect the heat output, just the amount of fuel used and unburnt fuel being exhausted.
Basically you turn the fuel rate down until it drops below maximum temperature and then turn back up one click to it goes back up to maximum. In practice this might mean turning the fuel rate down 5 clicks and then back up 1. That gives you 4 clicks of fuel efficiency and 4 clicks less exhaust fumes. How much a click is worth and how many clicks your machine needs will obviously vary but they come out of the factory turn up high so even the most need one wilkl get enough fuel, all the rest just run inefficiently with too much fuel
So does this mean the cheapo Chinese heater is off the cards and its warm jumper and put a little more effort in 😆
Still not convinced that plugging in an electric heater that will be cheaper and run on about 30% wind power is a better alternative then. 🙁 You've had several posters leading you to water, take a drink.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism
That's a link for my my detractors in general and not aimed at you alone WorldClassAccident. These threads often descend into woke versus nihilism.
Tinas, gobuchul, I thought you can get a license to run a waste oil heater.
Given this is wca, I’m surprised he’s not welding up a few bits of pipe and an old gas bottle to make one.
You used to, but not anymore.
These days it gets sent away for incineration, which whilst technically burning it, an industrial thermal oxidation unit with all the pollution controlls is nothing like a Chinese diesel heater.
Engine oil contains all sorts of metal based additives that would make for particularly nasty pollution.
Engine oil contains all sorts of metal based additives that would make for particularly nasty pollution.
But due to emission laws they dont just send the residue out the chimney, theres filters and things.
[i]Still not convinced that plugging in an electric heater that will be cheaper and run on about 30% wind power is a better alternative then.[/i]
I agree the electric heater plugged in will be a more efficient use within the single scenario but, as repeated a couple of times in the post, I am looking beyond the single scenario and don't want to have to over consume buying a heater for the garage, another for the potential motorhome, another for the trips to unheated cabins etc.
I am trying to be more responsible and find a reasonably ecological solution to multiple issues. I feel that a transportable heater running on bio fuel would meet all of these needs without requiring multiple different heaters.` does this make sense for you?
No, but insulation would.
The garage is already partially insulated with a dropped ceiling to keep the hot air in the working area. There is little point in more extensive insulation for its use pattern.
I am in there for perhaps 2-3 hours at a time so need something to heat the air relatively quickly rather than needing to retain the heat for long periods. As the main loss of hot air was up through the unlined roof tiles, the recycled wood ceiling has had a noticeable effect.
As I am sure you would agree, it is about proportionality of approach. It would be irresponsible to fully insulate the garage given the materials and environmental impact of their production for such a situation.
That’s a link for my my detractors in general and not aimed at you alone WorldClassAccident. These threads often descend into woke versus nihilism.
These threads used to go like this...
• Advice asked for.
• Lot's of good advice given.
• OP goes away happy and others were happy to have helped.
^^ on Singletrackworld? I think this person is lying
Those gas heaters (freestanding “Calor” and the propane rocket type) seem to send fumes straight into the inhabited space though. No one really wants to breathe that for hours. Nasty.
@WorldClassAccident
I've got a spare you are welcome to borrow and give it a try.
I think it will work great but why not just test it and see?
Couldn't you make some sort of generator/system that can charge up off a Zwift bike.
You could power it up for a while, then run it as a heater.. double the benefit 😀
I recently installed a 2kw standalone system on my t4. been a godsend recently.
This is probably the bets up to date guide on chinese diesel heaters
https://www.vanlifeuksurvivorsguide.co.uk/post/tried-and-tested-diesel-heaters-3-0-2022-2023
The newer heaters now have bluetooth and full app control ono yoiur phone which is handy
I have seen ppl add a switchbot so they can set 7 day timers
There is a YT video showing you how to tune them to improve efficiency and reduce coking up. Basically they are sent fromt he factory over fuelling to ensure they fire up and burn hot, initially at least. I think it was something like 20% improvement in efficiency and no visible exhaust after tuning.
Just stick an EGR on and feed into a radiator of some sort. (I have an EGR and pump as well if you want to try)
When they coke up just strip and clean... it's not a big deal.
How about a 600 x 1200 t22 rad, 7200btu, or approx 2.4kw. Linked into the house ch?
Ypur garage is close enough, the rads a cheap, plumbing straightforward.
If its cold enough to need a few degrees in the garage then the ch will be running anyway.
Utilise the efficiency of the ch boiler, on cheapest kw/h heating medium. Gas.
Ok so its not movable, nor instant, but its cheap to install and run.
A lever valve inside wpuld give you a real simple remote on - off switch,
Im going outside after dinner to tinker, so open lever valve, 30 mins later and the garage will be warming up.
Or fit a woodburning stove, I'll lend you my chainsaw and ypu can go logging in LW. Then we get the double benefits of " anyone want to see what a chainsaw does when it hits ypu" and "i appear to have burnt my garage down"
Garage is close but dropped about 6 feet from the level of the house with a big concrete patio, retaining wall and tarmac path to get to before the pipes reach the garage so that is a No from me. 🙂
Heater is ordered and arriving in the next week.
Stevextc - I am intrigued by the idea of EGR and radiator. As I plan top make the unit moveable I will have some kind of connection between the exhaust from the unit and the out pipe from the garage so I guess I could put and EGR and radiator in there before the out pipe. ANy picture, links, coming round here to show me what yo are talking about is welcome 🙂
but its cheap to install and run.
Really???
At the very least: buy radiator, drain down the CH system, find somehere to extend the run from, drill holes in the wall, fit pipework, fit the rad, refill CH and bleed system.
Not cheap and your'e heating the rest of the house just to heat the garage for a couple of hours unless you go round turning all the other rads off first.
I'll see if I can send you some video's but check
It works really well, it's really just I didn't want extra holes, hoses etc under the van so I instead made a heat exchanger for the hot air to heat water. (Just 2x cheap PC watercooler radiators) I got one with a 25mm end so it literally just plugs on .. then couple of silicone pipes (to take heat) and a small pump ..
I'll see if I can find the pics/video but this was just a temp knockup POC... but 10L of water from 10C-50C takes about 10 mins... slight decrease in the efficiency of the burn but not anywhere near as much as you recover.
It a full redundant unit so if you want a go and see how it works out we can work something out... It will doubtless include bikes 😉
@oikeith it goes down pretty well very similar to my enduro. The weight is in the right place. Rode it without assist, it's just heavy but ok. Can see me getting twice the amount of climbing done.
A lever valve inside wpuld give you a real simple remote on – off switch,
That's going to be fun when it freezes.
Another option is a small patio type heater.
We have a small one designed to go under a patio table.
It's a bit like sunlight for warmth.
It does not really heat a room up like a proper heater ,but u feel warm beside it.
It's also designed for damp conditions with safe lead etc.
My Mrs uses it behind her desk indoors.
We use it camping when a power point.
Another possible idea.
600w I think but surprisingly warm.
But not garage specific but multi use may suit.
^^^
Er.... is that a joke? They're unsafe because they didn't come with proper instructions? Have these people never bought anything from China?
No, not a joke -
All products were found to be unsafe, with listings for all sellers removed on eBay.
Consignments arrived at the Port in October and November and were stopped by the team, with samples sent to a test house for assessment.
Each of the products did not meet the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 because they could present the hazards of fire and death due to poor supporting installation information.
Manuals supplied with the products failed to give measurements for installing and did not give the minimum distance the exhaust pipe can be installed from flammable material, or material that could give off poisonous fumes when heated, such as insulation material.
No warning was provided about heat and dangers to the user if installed incorrectly.
Large parts of the manuals were written in poor English and had incorrect words used. The intended meaning was, in some cases, difficult to understand.
Additionally, the products and instructions did not have the name and address of the importer or manufacturer, and did not included the required Declaration of Conformity (DoC). A DoC is a formal declaration by a manufacturer, or the manufacturer’s representative, that the product to which it applies meets all relevant requirements of all product safety directives applicable to that product.
Our illustrious 'Office For Product Safety and Standards" (no, I hadn't heard of them either) have stopped quite a bit of tat coming in recently:
Link (Vevor comes up a *lot*)
They’re unsafe because they didn’t come with proper instructions?
Never underestimate the stupidity of people!
Never underestimate the stupidity of people!
I have little confidence in plastic parts and heat to be honest.
That's why it is better to manufacture locally with some parts source overseas.
The current energy crisis will last for sometimes to come and anyone who are innovative enough will "hit the jackpot" if they can engineer something that is workable.
Plenty of scientists and engineers on STW forum so why not someone take a lead by coming up with a prototype that is economical, safe and price reasonably etc?
Then "crowd fund" from STW with shares in exchange if it is viable. I rather invest in a company that can make something then to let my money rot in the bank tbh.
It is now time for all you brilliant minds to show that you can do something rather than swinging your handbags at each others.
I feel that a transportable heater running on bio fuel would meet all of these needs without requiring multiple different heaters.
How are you going to make it portable to move between garage and future motorhome? They are designed to be permanently fixed, sealed to the floor/wall with the corrugated exhaust and intake hoses fixed a set distance apart with metal clamps and the correct length relative to each other, then you've got the paper/foil ducting on the interior side inlet and outlet, the diesel tank and connection, power supply and the control/stat wiring.
I've got a van and an unheated garage. It's unimaginable that I would try and make the Propex heater in my van movable to the garage for the sake of a £15 electric space heater from Screwfix! Also you can point the electric heater towards the bench/bike stand for direct heat whereas it's unlikely you can can do that when you've poked the diesel heater hose through a 100mm hole through the wall.
These heaters are normally fitted on the floor below other items in the van (space being at a premium and lots of obstructions in and below the floor) so they are not easy to get to, my work vans have had them below shelving, my old van had one below the kitchen units, my current one is the best for access but I need to disconnect and remove the fridge to get to it and that's just the heater, not the ducting and inlet/outlet.
Er…. is that a joke? They’re unsafe because they didn’t come with proper instructions?
Doesn't sound like a joke to me! It's a heater that creates lethal fumes designed to be used in a confined space (van/horsebox/truck). You wouldn't fit a gas boiler in your house even with instructions, what makes you think you can do it with poor instructions?
It's got to be room sealed and the exhaust has got to be effective, not near an opening window, not able to collect water, not allow fumes to collect and rise up through gas dropout holes, not set fire to the floor or insulation of the van, and if you put an awning on your van, is the wind going to allow fumes to collect in there?
Was staying away last month and had to help when a horsebox caught fire early one morning, not fun seeing smoke billowing out, no one could get in to check if anyone was inside asleep due to the smoke, trying to get people to close the doors/ramps to starve the fire and get adjacent trucks moved out the way was chaotic.
What about a tea light and a flower pot, apparently a rocket engineer built a heater using a few candles and it heats his entire house. According to Facebook.
You do know who it's WCA we are dealing with here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-63880157
What about a tea light and a flower pot, apparently a rocket engineer built a heater using a few candles and it heats his entire house. According to Facebook.
LOL! I was planning to experiment on that but the small flower pots got sold out at local Wilko.
someone take a lead by coming up with a prototype that is economical, safe and price reasonably etc?
It exists in the form of Autoterm / Planar heaters, but they're 4 x the price of the Chinese ones:
Be careful with the innovation bit:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-63880157
Dodgy ones siezed
from what i can gather they were seized due to the instructions rather than the actual units being defective
