Diesel Heaters

[saltydawg]

I really like the idea of the diesel heaters, I just wish they would cycle, not just slow down.

Then we get in to chinese redesign of them and we get issues like sooting, where espar knows this happens and they design around it to prevent it.

I want a chinese knock off of a propex for the 150 bucks, not 800.

[rbtrary]

Not sure I understand your concern about cycling, that means highs and lows temp fluctuation by definition.
Many modern forced hot air home heating systems use a constant fan that varies fan speed to even out the temp instead,
just like the diesel air heater.
I set the thermostat at 16c and it remains exactly 16c all night.

Plus fresh heated air is constantly pumped into my tear creating positive pressure
preventing any accumulation of combustion by products like with say a Buddy heater or stale air like electric
The Germans invented this heating system loved and used by truckers for years.
The Chinese clones made that heating technology affordable.

[rjgimp]

Yeah, but if you buy diesel in August and use it in December...

...or if you buy it on the Gulf coast and use it on the Tundra!

[saltydawg]

Not sure I understand your concern about cycling, that means highs and lows temp fluctuation by definition.

Yes but I have read a lot of reports of it not going low enough and having to open a window to keep it from over heating. Yes I see some of those having it draw air from inside and heat it more, so having it draw fresh air would help with that.

I did watch a few of the guys videos that was suggested about, it looks like they heat the air about 60 C. He was testing and out side air was 21 C and what was coming out of the heater was 90 to 100 C, thats hot.

[lfhoward]

Looks like Slim Potatohead just got himself a diesel heater for his Trillium camper! You can follow his channel on YouTube and I bet he’ll give a detailed account of all the pros and cons.

https://youtu.be/JI-XH8rC_8o

He got a portable unit but inside the red box it would be the same as the one permanently installed in the Astroliner.

[tony.latham]

Looks like Slim Potatohead...

I like Slim. I've been watching his videos for years.

And I'm glad I sold my firstborn before the pandemic trashed the slave market and was able to buy a thermostat-controlled Propex.

I got it for about half retail --new in the box-- from another builder. They do come up on eBay from time to time. We use it a lot more than I thought we would.



Tony

Here are my wife's toes enjoying the 180º heat...

[lfhoward]

I’m excited to have a Propex heater as well. In my case I bought a non functioning unit for cheap on the British version of Ebay, figured out what was wrong with it and repaired it. (Propexes are made in England so are more prevalent in Europe.) I’m still at the installation phase so can’t report results just yet.

[rbtrary]

Slim seems like the kinda guy I want to have a beer with
I have the model in his video however, and with all due respect, Slim video comments ...

you want a light steel chassis, its portable, carry heavy steel is unnecessary as
the major workings are safely enclosed in the actual heater at the bottom.
That tank shelf engages a lip on both ends and
there are locator pins thru those top handles that mate to holes inthe sides.
with bottom clasps closed makes for a rigid case.
mount it on standoffs, why drill holes, its portable.

Of course the blower is at full blast because the regulating lcd thermo stat needs to be in the
enclosed heating space to regulate. mine is in the cabin. thermo just snaps into a
two screw mounting bracket.
when lcd thermo reaches the desired temp that fan grows ever quieter until whisper quiet to maintain temp.
Hope he shows that.

too bad his exhaust pipe split. cause looks like the bend was too severe, mine was/is fine and sound is barely audible at
set point temp even with muffler removed.
of course its somewhat hot to touch but never that outrageous glowing red hot pictured earlier.
I did splurge $10 to replace the flex intake with 1 inch copper elbow and solid plastic pipe filter combo.
I may neaten up the exhaust w/similar metal pipe

20201209_112647.jpg (365.28 KiB) Viewed 1128 times

[rbtrary]

garage demo
only set thermo a degree or so above ambient temp just to demo reality

https://youtu.be/xBEC6K19MO4