range rover diesel water heater into a shed heater?

[bigegg]

i've just sourced a 12v diesel fired water heater from a range rover for "not a lot"

i want to convert it to a shed heater, but i havent seen it "in person" yet.

obviously, i'll need a 12v supply - thats easy enough.
but whats the best way of getting the heat into the room?
blowing air through the water pipe?
or running a closed loop water system, with a radiator?
i have a spare transit radiator with an electric fan, and also a small domestic heating radiator.

anything else i need to be aware of?

CO alarm is already installed.

 

[Shox Dr]

Do you know the the kw output is? I would have thought you need the match the rad to suit, too big a rad might take ages to get to temp, and might never get there
Must be fairly high to cope with heating the block up

 

[bigegg]

i dont.
its from a 2012 range rover, ah22-70g308, made by webasto

 

[Shox Dr]

I used to have a 3kw electric heater in the pickup. That died, the current one is only 2kw, it wont heat the block to the same temp even if run for longer. Cant cope ithe the heat loss

 

[bigegg]

ok...
but this is a diesel powered one.

so im best off getting a radiator to match?

or are you saying that these heaters are only really for defrosting an engine in subzero temps, and no good as a space heater?

 

[minimutly]

Blown air is best, how big is your shed?
I have a domestic oil boiler with a car radiator and fan blowing through it in one half of mine. (20 by 35 ft). Toasty in 30 mins, but I had to fit a ceiling fan to get the warm air down from the ceiling.
What's a domestic boiler - 60,000 btus?

 

[bigegg]

its a 20ftx10ft part insulated garage.

 

[Shox Dr]

ok...
but this is a diesel powered one.

so im best off getting a radiator to match?

or are you saying that these heaters are only really for defrosting an engine in subzero temps, and no good as a space heater?

Doesnt matter how it produces the heat. If the rad is too big, you just end up blowing slightly warm air about. The heater will be at least 2/3kw. Dont know the kw ratings of a vehicle rad

 

[Burdekin]

This one is 5kw if it’s the same: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rov...-V-diesel-heater-9004760M-07-10-/263538985546

Sounds like a nifty idea, let us know how you get on please.

 

[julianf]

I'm assuming it's a webasto thermotop?

Is the code just "c" or is it "cz"?

Edit - just read burdekins post above...

Really, if it's a "c" your life will be much easier than if it's got any z's etc in it.

It's because some have an ecu that is coded to the hosts can bus, whilst some are just generic units, applicable for single wire operation.

Plenty of people end up with z units and spend an age trying (and failing) to get them to run : (

 

[Shox Dr]

This one is 5kw if it’s the same: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rov...-V-diesel-heater-9004760M-07-10-/263538985546

Sounds like a nifty idea, let us know how you get on please.

5kw max by the look, dont know how its only rated at 48w@12v

 

[julianf]

5kw max by the look, dont know how its only rated at 48w@12v

Because the electricity only runs the fan, glow plug, fuel, and circulation pumps.

 

[Burdekin]

5kw max by the look, dont know how its only rated at 48w@12v

My blower one I think will be about 120watts when heating the glow plug.

 

[Shox Dr]

Because the electricity only runs the fan, glow plug, fuel, and circulation pumps.

Doh!

 

[bigegg]

0

I'm assuming it's a webasto thermotop?

Is the code just "c" or is it "cz"?

Edit - just read burdekins post above...

Really, if it's a "c" your life will be much easier than if it's got any z's etc in it.

It's because some have an ecu that is coded to the hosts can bus, whilst some are just generic units, applicable for single wire operation.

Plenty of people end up with z units and spend an age trying (and failing) to get them to run : (

Thermotop V
9017951d

Are the only other numbers on the label, he says?

 

[indy4x]

If its off a Range Rover it will have its own ECU, you will need other stuff to make it work, I think it uses something called W Bus protocol for communication to start and stop it. You can buy a converter to do 12v switching instead that interfaces with the internal Webasto controls

If you decide you can't/don't want to use it I maybe intersted in taking it off your hands, beer tokens involved of course. Need to strip mine on the Disco 3 and probably need another one for parts

 

[CompoSimmonite]

These are popular for narrowboats to provide hot water and central heating. Go for it

 

[minimutly]

There is one in my camper, not much smaller than your shed - get the interface and go for it. Nothing worse than faffing about with water in your shed.
Years ago I had a gas air heater from a hotel heating my workshop. I ran it on propane from red bottle, half sized bottles lasted 2-3 days max....

 

[hotponyshoes]

The land rover ones will heat the 12litres or so in the cooling system from sub zero to 60deg or so in about 20mins.

They then reduce power output and keep it there. I think there is a limit to how long they will run for but pretty sure that's just to stop them draining the battery. You can probably get it to run all day with the correct controller.

Maybe use the built in pump to run it through a car radiator, have a fan behind that with a thermal switch so it blows air through once it's warmed up.

Some of them need a w-bus signal to start so you will need a aftermarket interface to get it to work. Some of them will work from a switched 12v. You will also need the diesel pump for it.

I have one for spares/repairs if anybody needs one. I also have a couple of the little exhaust silencers for them.

 

[bigegg]

decided to "pass" on the heater.
i was hoping it'd be as easy as connecting a fuel tank, and a fan.
too much faffing, and i didnt really want a radiator set-up

thanks for all the advice, though.