Night heaters?

[RMS]

Thanks for those thoughts Brad

Of course, with an ambulance you've got a bit more room than we have in a Carawagon or Dormobile, so you could probably get away with the larger one.

I never did get that water heating one working which you gave me a year or so ago, so it looks like I might need a couple of these for the projects.
I should really fit something in my electric van as well - the original Webasto Thermotop failed 3 years ago so there's no heat! Not good on cold winter mornings when your breath freezes on the inside of the windscreen

Cheers,
Robin.

[tuggy]

Hi robin,just a heads up......ok let me tell you the pros and cons as i have found.....


pros,,,,
it puts out fantastic heat so as my truck is quite big it warms it up in no time at all.
it comes with its own fuel tank and it all sits on a frame so easy to bolt in.
all the wiring is connected and control unit is easy to fit.


cons,,,
its BIG you need a big cavity to put it in i had to buy a belly box.
its a little bit noisy but nothing you cant live with.
it smokes a little on the cool down cycle .

i still have to use it a bit more before i can say i would buy another one but at the moment its 50/50 but i am liking it....

[RMS]

Thanks Tuggy,

I think the size is going to swing it for most of us.

I must admit I didn't realise the size and weight of the cheaper one until I started copying the specifications over - I suppose in a tractor, excavator, lorry or lorry based camper then size and weight might not be so much of a problem, but I don't think there's anywhere inside a Carawagon or Dormobile where it could be mounted.
I know the tank is removable, so perhaps the answer might be to split it and mount the heater and tank separately

I'm also wondering if the weight quoted is with the tank full? 6.7 litres weighs 6.7kg, so that might partly explain why it's quoted as 16kg total.
I know that causes a problem with shipping as well, especially as they are quoting 190kg for 10 units of the cheap one and only 65kg for 10 of the dearer ones (both including packaging) so that figures into the cost of each unit!

I think, even as I write this, that it looks like the dearer unit is going to be the only sensible option for most of our campers

Cheers,
Robin.

[RobW]

Looking at the photo splitting the fuel will only save a couple of inches in width, it's the unit that's huge.

[tuggy]

well as you can see from the picture thats a 1m x .400 x .400 box and it takes up most of it and the outlet pipe is 80mm so as you say for the bigger truck yes its ok but for one of yours the big question is.....where are you going to mount it..????

[RMS]

Well, I've done the deed and placed an order for 10 of the 'Webasto' Airtop 2000 units including full fitting kit and hoses/vents etc.

Due to communication issues it's still unclear if the import duty is included.
Each time I have asked, they say 'Yes, duty included' but I think that might be their export duty, not our import duty, and I'm sure UK customs will add VAT so I'll not publish a price per unit until they are here with all the paperwork in order.

However, even if the duty and VAT is added they will still be considerably cheaper than others on sale here in the UK

Lead time is about a week, and they say transit time is about 10 days to the UK, but I don't know how long UK customs will hang on to the pallet before it can be released, so it looks like about 3 weeks before they might arrive.

Watch this space

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

Good news!

The first shipment of 2kW heater kits has arrived - all look ok and I will be testing the first couple in a few days (busy at the Ripon show this weekend).

The not so good news is that I was hoping to get away with UK customs and VAT charges - the spares and ducting got through without attracting customs charges, but the heaters themselves were checked and charges applied before they would release them to the UK courier

That means the final price of each heater, full install kit including all wiring, thermostat control, fuel piping, fuel pump, exhaust & intake pipes comes out at £480.00.
I've also included a 1m length of ducting, a T piece, outlet grills, hose clamps and a mounting plate for each kit so you should have everything you need for wherever you want to fit it.

If anyone wants one at that price, please let me know.

Any not sold to forum members after a reasonable time will be offered to other forums, then put on ebay at a higher price - still cheaper than the same kit already selling on ebay (at £625!), and mine includes the ducting etc. as well

Just to remind you, these are the heaters:

"Webasto" 2kW




Technical Specifications:
Heat Power: 2kW
Fuel: Diesel
Rated Voltage: 12V
Fuel Consumption: 0.12~0.24l per hour
Power Consumption: 14~29W
Working (Environment) Temperature: -40°C~+20°C
Dimensions: 323×120×121 (mm)
Weight: 2.6kg
CE Certified

Full kit including fuel pump, fuel tubing, exhaust pipe, inlet pipe, clips, wiring, control etc.
Plus: 1m ducting, T piece, outlets, hose clips and mounting plate as a bonus

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

Well, I set up my test rig today - a car battery and a 5l can of Diesel and tested two of the heaters.

15 minutes full bore, cycled off then on, 15 minutes temperature controlled, cycled off then on to full bore for another 10 minutes.

Both heaters worked very well giving out loads of heat, as expected, so I think I'm ready to let the first heaters go out

I still have some which haven't been allocated, so please get in touch if you want one.

I am taking 'orders' with a small deposit for anyone wanting one but who wants to pay later.

Cheers,
Robin.

PS. If anyone wants to contact me about these, but doesn't want to register on the forum, you can email me on heaters@rms1.co.uk

[RMS]

I've just tested another two this morning - that's 4 out of 4 passed with flying colours

Someone has asked about the noise level of these, so I compared it to the (now fully silenced) Eberspacher 2D in my current Carawagon - bought and fitted 2 years ago before I thought about importing these.

The sound level, using an app on my phone, at 30cm from the exhaust outlet is 36db at low power and 44db at high power, with no silencer fitted.
I couldn't get a reliable reading at 1m, 3m etc. as there is too much background noise!

The Eberspacher in my Carawagon, at the same distance from the exhaust/silencer outlet, is almost exactly the same; 35db at low power and 46db at high!

Combustion air intake can also be noticable, but a trick I picked up on a boating forum is to route the intake pipe into a 500mm length of foam pipe lagging! The foam absorbs some of the sound of the intake air and so makes it quieter.

Personally, I know I've been a bit lax in fitting a silencer to my Eberspacher over the last 2 years, and because I do get 'complaints' from those in tents nearby (though I think some of that might be jealousy as I toast in my Carawagon when it's -9.5C outside ), I've fitted an exhaust silencer and it has made a big difference.

So, basically, these heaters are as quiet as a silenced Eberspacher 2D which is why silencers aren't offered as an option!
Of course, you could always go into stealth mode and fit silencers as well - Webasto and Eberspacher ones are available on ebay, or even make one like I did for Patrick's, but I don't think you'll need to.

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

What you get



2kW Diesel Heater unit
Exhaust pipe
Combustion Inlet pipe
Silicone seal with nuts/washers
Fuel tank pick-up pipe (to straighten and cut to suit)
Fuel filter
Fuel pump
Pump retaining bracket
6 x rubber fuel pipe joining pieces with clamps
Fuel pipe T splitter (if you don't want to use the pickup pipe)
Fuel pipe (8m long, cut to length)
Cable ties (10)
Heater control
Main wiring loom
Fuel pump wiring loom (6.8m long - cut to suit)
Manual with installation instructions and user guide
Pipe clamps for exhaust/inlet pipes with screws

Plus, extra when you buy this kit:
Length of ducting pipe
T piece for ducting
Vent outlet for ducting, with grill
Vent outlet without grill (grill is removed from heater and fitted to this when using ducting
Clamps for ducting

Cheers,
Robin.