Gas vs Diesel Heating

[Rig Pig]

It was fitted and still not working as far as I know
Seems it is faulty, we get it primed but the control just flashes 2 LEDs at us. Seemingly, according to guys on facebook, that means over voltage. Well it is supposedly a 24v heater and the boat is 24v and it is reading 27v or so when the engine is running which is well within normal range of a 24v system. So either the LED error is not an over voltage error or the PCB is faulty or it is a 12v heater in 24v clothing
The skipper was going to be trying to hook it up to a single battery to test it but I am not sure if he has tried yet, my concern with that is the pump is 24v so it still probably won't work, it may however half work

Quality gear then!

 

[Hood]

Quality gear then!

Sounds like it, the other guy that bought one at the same time had a week of heat before it stopped working

 

[Ashley Burton]

Sounds like it, the other guy that bought one at the same time had a week of heat before it stopped working

Sounds like they should be best avoided!

 

[Hood]

Some people seem to get good ones that last and run well. I suppose it is like all cheap stuff from China such as welders, you can get a good one or you can get a bad one and it is up to you as to whether you are willing to take the risk.
I think the skipper, that I fitted the one for, is ordering a Webasto or Eberspacher if the Chinese one doesn't run on the 12v.

 

[julianf]

A way to get a water ebaersspacher on the cheap is from the right type of car at a scrap yard. They're fitted as engine preheaters, but a lot are linked to the host canbus, so wouldn't work independently.

There are certain models that just have generic control though, and can just be operated with a switch or thermostat.

For a large motorhome, a wet heater is a consideration, as you can then run a calorifier etc too. You can heat the air from hot water in various ways.

 

[Anguz]

So what cars had them fitted in the UK?

 

[Water skier 16]

E53 x5 3.0d bmw

 

[Ashley Burton]

I get the impression that BT had them fitted to their vans also?

 

[Cobbler]

I get the impression that BT had them fitted to their vans also?

Correct

 

[carbon]

I have an old eberspacher D1L (air only) in a 27’ artic trailer approx 9’ high. It’s approx 1800w output now running on kerosene it does a reasonable job of heating the space but does take a while as the roof is not insulated, but haven’t used it at really low temperatures

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I get the impression that BT had them fitted to their vans also?

They did. Certainly on the mk6transits.

 

[Kent]

Kerosene (heating oil) has actually been cheaper than mains gas fot about two years now.
However you need to buy at the right times and have decent storage capacity
Lpg is the dear and although you get the tank foc you are locked into the supplier - very bad idea.
For ease mains gas if its available.
Coal is great but its not so good for heat and hot water on demand and there's a fair bit of graft involved.

 

[8ob]

I should have made it clear that this for a mobile living space, So no means of mains gas.

I am watching this thread with interest Ashley because I need to build a welfare unit into an artic trailer for my lads, its for their away work . Only a short single wheel unit of 20`-30` because of where it needs to get to but that too will need heating/hot water. I have been looking at the oil fired wall hung combi boilers, very compact units that also takes care of the hot water, down side is it needs rads but thats not a major issue. Expensive new but come up cheap on the bay of thieves on occasion, downside is no one ever wants to post them.

Bob

 

[Ashley Burton]

I am watching this thread with interest Ashley because I need to build a welfare unit into an artic trailer for my lads, its for their away work . Only a short single wheel unit of 20`-30` because of where it needs to get to but that too will need heating/hot water. I have been looking at the oil fired wall hung combi boilers, very compact units that also takes care of the hot water, down side is it needs rads but thats not a major issue. Expensive new but come up cheap on the bay of thieves on occasion, downside is no one ever wants to post them.

Bob

Mines for a 10 x 50 Narrowboat

 

[Luke]

In general, gas on boats is good to avoid, as gas, being heavier than air, will fill the boat up if there are any leaks. Gas bottle lockers should be vented overboard, but that still leaves the pipework and everything else.

 

[supaimpy]

Anyone figuring on buying second hand make sure you get the fuel pump with the heater, unless of course its D4 or D5wsc Hydronic where its all combined. Suddenly the secondhand bargain isn't as cheap, the other thing is not all OEM fitment heaters are supported in the aftermarket for spares or technical help , now whilst they often share parts, there are occasions where the software is protected and code reading is blocked for all but OEMs.
The BT heaters often have only a 1 hour run time, but thats simple to get around.

 

[bigegg]

may be worth bearing in mind, long term (say 10-15 years), that as diesel vehicles become less and less popular, diesel is likely to drop in price: a LOT.
and so is availability, I'd guess. much like autogas/lpg (or two star!) isn't as easy to find in petrol stations