Cheap Amazon Diesel heater recommendations?

[reaver]

I was able to fire up mine over the weekend to make sure everything works as it should prior to my weekend trip in two weeks. I have a suspicion that this thing will have ZERO problems keeping my tent warm on even the coldest of nights.

Now to figure out a way to keep water out of it for the time being...

 

[Tackleberry]

I have the Vevo all-in-one unit and I'm thinking of using a shallow storage tub upside-down on it ...attached with some wing-nuts would keep the rain and snow off it and prevent it from blowing off. If I use the same tubs as I already use, it should nest with the others and not take up much space. I'll report back when I get the chance to try it out.

 

[reaver]

I have the Vevo all-in-one unit and I'm thinking of using a shallow storage tub upside-down on it ...attached with some wing-nuts would keep the rain and snow off it and prevent it from blowing off. If I use the same tubs as I already use, it should nest with the others and not take up much space. I'll report back when I get the chance to try it out.

You'll need to make sure the air intakes and exhaust can breathe. That's not a terrible idea though. I've already sort of standardized on the plano totes. Putting it in one of the 56 qt totes would honestly work fairly well.

 

[Viking1204]

There's a lot of videos on YouTube of people putting diesel heaters inside cases like Pelican cases.

 

[grubworm]

damn...i just did a post making fun of the cheap chinese heaters and now i just ordered one.
the Buddy heater almost killed me a few years ago and now we're winter boondocking in a cargo trailer with no insulation
i need heat and im too cheap to pay $1500 for a Webasco...

 

[reaver]

Unfortunately, I was unable to test mine over the weekend. About two miles after leaving my house, my Xterra started peeing transmission fluid out of the cooler lines, ending our trip before it even started. I may just go out and sleep in the tent over the weekend in the driveway to test out the heater.

 

[OTH Overland]

We just purchased a Hcalory 8kw all in one unit from Fleabay, got it for 140 shipped to the house. We have used it a couple of times in the past two weeks and are happier than expected with it. Put a Anderson connector on the end of the supplied wire, and made up a 15 foot anderson to anderson extension cable so we can plug it into the house battery on the JK. Poured diesel into it and it fired right up. Have enough hose that we can pipe it into the annex or directly into the RTT. Taking it on a 15 day trip later this week so will see how it does longer term and in much colder weather. have found that the heater and a 2 gallon rotopax fit in my last US bag company tire trash bag perfectly and leaves room for some garbage on top, keeps all the smelly flammable liquid out of the rig.) We did splurge and buy a silicone spiral supply hose as the cheap tin foil / plastic one from Amazon was not going to last and if not pulled tight restricted the airflow so bad the unit shut down. With the supply hose running into our annex to under our folding table we stayed very warm in 32 degree weather. Then when ready for bed we just opened the tent door and left the heater hose where it was and just enough heat rises into the tent to keep the chill off, giving a nice warm room to come back down into to get dressed.

Pros:
- Hot Hot Hot..lol no shortage of heat production and fast to start.
- Readable instruction manual
- Remote paired very easy, allows on/off and bumping through the 10 heat settings.
- Housing has raised feet allowing easier exiting of exhaust pipe without placing on blocks
- top of housing has raised handles, allows me to place a shallow tote over top to protect from rain and hold in place with a rock etc.
- Remembers last settings even when unplugged.

Cons:
- super cheap accessories (hose clamps, tiny 2 foot hose, muffler, and intake filter)
- Noisy pump that is common to all CDH
- Display is located on unit so that it reads temperature of the outdoor air not the warm tent. (not a major issue, just make sure you switch the heater from automatic thermostat control to manual heat level, then just pick a level that gives a comfortable environment. )
- Not weather proof - may switch parts to a waterproof case, but going to try using the inverted shallow tote to protect it for a while first. Keeps the electronics, fuel cap, and air intake up out of the weather.
- Vented fuel cap might let odor escape while travelling, currently put a piece of white electrical tape over the pinhole vent for travel (used white so I can see it on the black cap and remember to remove for use..lol)

Likely upgrades to come after our trip.
- upgraded fuel pump with sound proofing to lessen the tick
- upgraded intake hose and some sort of muffler for the intake. We leave the intake hose attached and run up the back of the heater
- upgraded exhaust hose and quick connection to the unit
- better quality fuel line and a inline filter.

 

[grubworm]

We just purchased a Hcalory 8kw all in one unit from Fleabay, got it for 140 shipped to the house. We have used it a couple of times in the past two weeks and are happier than expected with it. Put a Anderson connector on the end of the supplied wire, and made up a 15 foot anderson to anderson extension cable so we can plug it into the house battery on the JK. Poured diesel into it and it fired right up. Have enough hose that we can pipe it into the annex or directly into the RTT. Taking it on a 15 day trip later this week so will see how it does longer term and in much colder weather. have found that the heater and a 2 gallon rotopax fit in my last US bag company tire trash bag perfectly and leaves room for some garbage on top, keeps all the smelly flammable liquid out of the rig.) We did splurge and buy a silicone spiral supply hose as the cheap tin foil / plastic one from Amazon was not going to last and if not pulled tight restricted the airflow so bad the unit shut down. With the supply hose running into our annex to under our folding table we stayed very warm in 32 degree weather. Then when ready for bed we just opened the tent door and left the heater hose where it was and just enough heat rises into the tent to keep the chill off, giving a nice warm room to come back down into to get dressed.

Pros:
- Hot Hot Hot..lol no shortage of heat production and fast to start.
- Readable instruction manual
- Remote paired very easy, allows on/off and bumping through the 10 heat settings.
- Housing has raised feet allowing easier exiting of exhaust pipe without placing on blocks
- top of housing has raised handles, allows me to place a shallow tote over top to protect from rain and hold in place with a rock etc.
- Remembers last settings even when unplugged.

Cons:
- super cheap accessories (hose clamps, tiny 2 foot hose, muffler, and intake filter)
- Noisy pump that is common to all CDH
- Display is located on unit so that it reads temperature of the outdoor air not the warm tent. (not a major issue, just make sure you switch the heater from automatic thermostat control to manual heat level, then just pick a level that gives a comfortable environment. )
- Not weather proof - may switch parts to a waterproof case, but going to try using the inverted shallow tote to protect it for a while first. Keeps the electronics, fuel cap, and air intake up out of the weather.
- Vented fuel cap might let odor escape while travelling, currently put a piece of white electrical tape over the pinhole vent for travel (used white so I can see it on the black cap and remember to remove for use..lol)

Likely upgrades to come after our trip.
- upgraded fuel pump with sound proofing to lessen the tick
- upgraded intake hose and some sort of muffler for the intake. We leave the intake hose attached and run up the back of the heater
- upgraded exhaust hose and quick connection to the unit
- better quality fuel line and a inline filter.

the one i ordered comes in late friday and we're leaving early saturday, so i wont have time to mod it, but i think a better quality fuel line and filter are definitely in order. this is going in a converted cargo trailer that isnt insulated and will be in freezing temps over the holidays, so hope it works. im going to run it inside and exhaust thru the floor...also bought a CO detector
it also seems that the fuel tank is a bit loose in these all in one units, so i'll be checking on that to see if i need to shim around the tank with some neoprene or something.
i dont have a back up plan and there wont be any electricity, so its going to be an interesting trip...

glad yours is working well and hopefully it will last a long time

 

[Rids93]

Just did Death Valley 2 weeks ago and the heater did just fine. It did leak diesel through the hole on the cap as mentioned by @OTH Overland. The cap has a hole to relive pressure/fumes when traveling through wash boards and fire trails as well when you off road. I replaced the black accordian duct hose with Lowe's aluminum foil duct due to smell.

 

[Dimitri_Raptis]

Looking for a budget diesel heater and what are you guys currently using....
Any feed backs are appreciated.View attachment 243127

I have the first one on your list. I am very happy with it. Used in only a few times up to now. No issues. Please make sure you fuse your electrical connection, when starting can use over 10Ah and then drops to around 1Ah. All these models have an issue with the exhaust, you may need a right angle metal tube so that it exits without lifting the box.

 

[Dimitri_Raptis]

Also, you will need to replace the terrible aluminium hose with a silicon one.

 

[Rids93]

I have the first one on your list. I am very happy with it. Used in only a few times up to now. No issues. Please make sure you fuse your electrical connection, when starting can use over 10Ah and then drops to around 1Ah. All these models have an issue with the exhaust, you may need a right angle metal tube so that it exits without lifting the box.

Thanks. What size fuse is recommended. I have 5k diesel heater. Appreciate the tip.

 

[Dimitri_Raptis]

I have the first one on your list. I am very happy with it. Used in only a few times up to now. No issues. Please make sure you fuse your electrical connection, when starting can use over 10Ah and then drops to around 1Ah. All these models have an issue with the exhaust, you may need a right angle metal tube so that it exits without lifting the box.

Thanks. What size fuse is recommended. I have 5k diesel heater. Appreciate the tip.

I have used a 20Ah fuse without problems. Best. Dimitri

 

[PCO6]

There's a lot of videos on YouTube of people putting diesel heaters inside cases like Pelican cases.

I'm kind of stuck on whether to buy the components, or a kit, and going this route vs. buying one of the many all in one ready to go versions. The latter are inexpensive enough that you could probably buy one and "part it out" as the basis for a Pelican style case build.

The only advantages I can think of for the "in the case" type is that they would provide, I think, better weather protection and they're probably more durable when transporting them. Those are good reasons for having them.

I found this video on some of the common problems with the ready to go heaters. He offers some pretty simple improvements.

(430) Chinese Diesel Heater, problems and solutions. - YouTube

 

[MuckSavage]

This unit is pretty slick.....

HC-A01 Diesel Heater, 5L Handheld Toolbox All In One Black

5KW power adjustable fast heating, can be used for cab heating of various 12V vehicles and eliminate window frost, Portable with Remote Control.

hcalory.com

 

[Rids93]

This unit is pretty slick.....

HC-A01 Diesel Heater, 5L Handheld Toolbox All In One Black

5KW power adjustable fast heating, can be used for cab heating of various 12V vehicles and eliminate window frost, Portable with Remote Control.

hcalory.com

Sleek but Sold outside of US though.....Australia.

 

[grubworm]

I have used a 20Ah fuse without problems. Best. Dimitri

the fuse needs to go with the wire size so that the fuse is the weak link and blows out before the wire over heats and causes problems. a 20 amp fuse would go with 12ga wire. if the wiring is smaller than 12ga, then the wire is now the fuse and will burn before the 20a fuse blows.
a diesel heater will pull around 10 amps for about 3 minutes in order for the glow plug (heating element) to heat the diesel to the point of combustion. i'm going to go with 14 or 12 ga wire and a 15 amp fuse since that is closer to the load rating.
not harshing on your advice, @Dimitri_Raptis because a fuse is a great idea and another thing to consider about the chinese imports are that they probably use a copper clad aluminium wire in their heaters and that also brings down the amp rating, so that makes it even that much more important to be slightly undersize for your fuse to make sure it is the weak link as intended.
i'm usually less worried about fuses and wire sizes for most things since there is always a safety factor built in, but when dealing with something like this, i pay a lot more attention because "cheap construction" and "flammable liquid" can be detrimental to our health...

 

[grubworm]

Sleek but Sold outside of US though.....Australia.

the manufacturer is a chinese company and they sell to whoever has money. there is an import company called banggood.com that sells a lot of chinese imports from a US location. i thought banggood was a porn site at first, but it is legit and i have bought a good bit of gray market electronics from them for cheap and they usually have inventory here in the states so there isnt a 6-8 week shipping delay

Hcalory HC-A01 12V 5KW Diesel Parking Air Heater Portable Toolbox bluetooth Remote Control Power Temperature Adjustable

Only US$185.99, buy best Hcalory HC-A01 12V 5KW Diesel Parking Air Heater Portable Toolbox bluetooth Remote Control Power Temperature Adjustable sale online store at wholesale price.

usa.banggood.com

 

[Dimitri_Raptis]

I have used a 20Ah fuse without problems. Best. Dimitri

the fuse needs to go with the wire size so that the fuse is the weak link and blows out before the wire over heats and causes problems. a 20 amp fuse would go with 12ga wire. if the wiring is smaller than 12ga, then the wire is now the fuse and will burn before the 20a fuse blows.
a diesel heater will pull around 10 amps for about 3 minutes in order for the glow plug (heating element) to heat the diesel to the point of combustion. i'm going to go with 14 or 12 ga wire and a 15 amp fuse since that is closer to the load rating.
not harshing on your advice, @Dimitri_Raptis because a fuse is a great idea and another thing to consider about the chinese imports are that they probably use a copper clad aluminium wire in their heaters and that also brings down the amp rating, so that makes it even that much more important to be slightly undersize for your fuse to make sure it is the weak link as intended.
i'm usually less worried about fuses and wire sizes for most things since there is always a safety factor built in, but when dealing with something like this, i pay a lot more attention because "cheap construction" and "flammable liquid" can be detrimental to our health...

This is a great analysis, thank you very much, indeed multifactorial. In this case do you recommend steeping down to 15a fuses with appropriate wiring? Thanks

 

[grubworm]

This is a great analysis, thank you very much, indeed multifactorial. In this case do you recommend steeping down to 15a fuses with appropriate wiring? Thanks

yes. 15a would be the best size fuse