Diesel heaters - what to choose

[Rod-greying-nomad]

G'day all, I've been looking into the options for heating the caravan when free camping, and going by what I've seen/read so far I'm leaning towards one of the diesel heaters either Webasto or Dometic.

My main concern is about noise both inside and outside the van (it's a 21ft full height Jayco Heritage by the way). I understand there is some exhaust noise, although I've seen references to mufflers or silencers, and also a ticking noise from the diesel pump.

I've sought advice from the local caravan dealers but they don't have any caravans with diesel/LPG heaters, and they don't have any experience with them. Has anyone here got a recent (or latest) model of the Webasto or Dometic heaters installed, and if so could you please provide some advice on them particularly in relation to the noise?

Many thanks in advance

Rod

Canberra

[Almost_A_Nomad]

Rod
I fitted a Dometic diesel to the van about 3-4 years ago. There is some noise. When the heater starts up you can hear it 'winding' up. Not really annoying just that you can hear it. We have 2 outlets in the van and the unit is fitted in a cupboard near the bed. The fuel pump is fitted to the chassis under the bed and the exhaust runs under the van to the offside
Once the heater gets up to speed/temperature it quietens right down and is hardly even noticeable. The outside noise is the same
We run the heater all night, normally start it up around 4:00PM and it gets turned off around 9:00 - 10:00AM next morning.
The fuel pump makes a very slight clicking noise. I have it directly under me when in bed and sometimes that's the only way I know the heater is actually running. I think a ticking clock is louder. It certainly doesn't keep anyone awake!
I spent a bit of time with Dometic and got some good hints.

1. Run heavy cabling (I used solar cable)
2. Run the cable direct from the battery, not through the master switch. When its switched off the heater needs to go through a cool down cycle so if the master switch is turned off the heater will shut down immediately. Apparently this is where people have trouble with the heater carboning up
3. Don't let the heater cycle. Firstly it uses most of its power in starting up but once it reaches temperature the current drain in minimal. We leave a window or a couple of hatches open so the heater is always running. Secondly as I said when it starts up is when you hear it running the most

The van is normally kept to around 25-26 of a night (we're Queenslanders!). Over a night we may use around 2 litres of fuel

As for installing, they're very simple to install (I've now installed 3). Allow about 5-6 hours. The Dometic wiring, apart from the battery connection is all plug-and-play

Hope this helps a bit

Peter

[Cyclone]

I'm experienced with the Eberspacher ( Dometic) diesel heaters,so my comments apply to them. The other brands I know SFA about.

Noise. You 'll hear a ticking from the pump- the frequency will vary with the heater output. More heat=more fuel=more ticking.
The location of the pump is a big factor. Most caravans mount the tank on the front. The pump needs to be closer to the tank than the heater, so if you have a front bed the pump will be underneath the bed. Some find that annoying- it depends on how light a sleeper one is.

Another thing to watch is the installation. The pump is mounted on a rubber mount to insulate noise from the van. If the installer- with the best intentions secures the fuel lines too tightly to the chassis/van floor/ whereever, it can negate the insulating effect of the rubber mount. I have heard of people wrapping the pump- not sure if I like that.

The noise of the heater is a " whine/soft roar" but noise is a very subjective thing. What I can live with you might hate- and vice versa.
I think the best thing is to try and find a van with fitted and have a listen.

Have you considered an LPG heater- you still have the "whine/soft roar" but no pump ticking. And no need for a second fuel source.

[afarawayplace]

Cyclone,

Does the hose need to be fitted in the interior of the van or could it run for a short distance under the van? I was thinking of the scenario where heater and output vent could be located on floor of ensuite cupboard while intake vent could be in a kitchen or lounge cupboard (floor level, of course). However, the ensuite cupboards are at the back of the van and not adjacent to cupboards that run along sides of van! Hence my question re hose running under the van........Thanks!

[Dunaruna]

Cyclone,

Does the hose need to be fitted in the interior of the van or could it run for a short distance under the van? I was thinking of the scenario where heater and output vent could be located on floor of ensuite cupboard while intake vent could be in a kitchen or lounge cupboard (floor level, of course). However, the ensuite cupboards are at the back of the van and not adjacent to cupboards that run along sides of van! Hence my question re hose running under the van........Thanks!

The ducting tube is very thin, if you routed it outside the van you would need to insulate it so that it did not loose too much heat (it can get VERY hot). Also, what you are suggesting would mean 2 x 60mm holes in the floor. Apart from that, it is doable.

[Ashleyman]

I run Webasto's in all of my Ambulance fleet including the larger Bariatric vehicle, works like a demon, just be mindful of the the pump location for the noise.
regards,
Ashley M

[Cyclone]

Cyclone,

Does the hose need to be fitted in the interior of the van or could it run for a short distance under the van? I was thinking of the scenario where heater and output vent could be located on floor of ensuite cupboard while intake vent could be in a kitchen or lounge cupboard (floor level, of course). However, the ensuite cupboards are at the back of the van and not adjacent to cupboards that run along sides of van! Hence my question re hose running under the van........Thanks!

Do you mean the fuel hose or the air ducting? Either way I'd say no.

On the fuel front, the hose (like the combustion air and combustion exhaust) connection is under the vehicle, so I'd run the fuel lines under the vehicle. Suitably secured & protected naturally.

On the ducting for the heated air, both intake and discharge, again I'd keep the ducting inside the vehicle. The ducting isn't designed to be weather proof and it would be easily damaged by rocks,etc. Secondly, running the ducting outside will compromise performance
because of the heat loss to the outside air.

For those reasons, I strongly advise the all the heated air ducting be inside the vehicle.
Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Cyclone

[ozjohn]

I can't comment of the duct location with Diesel heaters, but with my Truma LPG heater the inlet and outlet ducts are next to each other with only around 300mm to the heater which is under the bed.
OJ

[afarawayplace]

Thanks for all comments - make sense re keeping ducting inside van.
Will sort out position!

[diatrbus]

Our Eberspacher is housed under the N/S bed and draws air from that enclosed (and mostly flitered by the mattress) space and the (adjustable-direction) outlet vent is placed to blow pretty-much straight down the middle of the 18' van.

Brgds, D8Rbus





And the external fittings are at the rear . . . Note the chair-leg ends to stop mud-dauber wasps, etc. We also use a piece of water-filter insert as an inlet noise muffler (courtesy of Colin1943).






Wires/cables run along the floor/wall interface and are inside square conduit where appropriate. The manual (who needs a remote?) control is immediately above the bed's headboard and easy to get at when you poke your nose out from under the doona.





Go get one; spend ten days thinking about where it will fit before attacking your van with drill and key-hole saw. You'll wonder why you didn't get one before now.

Don't worry about the neighbours - wowsers will always bleat about anything/everything - but you now have the choice of being warm . . . or not!!

Brgds, D8Rbus

[rayjanround]

Hi
Could someone please advise best place to buy 90mm ducting. Needs to be able to be shipped around Australia. Can't find any at all in Broken Hill

Ray

[Chris R]

Not saying these places will have it.
Did you try Reece plumbing in Argent Street

Len Condon Electrical Blende St

Shannons in Electrical in Galena St

South State in Blende St

Blackwoods in Argent St

[rayjanround]

Not saying these places will have it.
Did you try Reece plumbing in Argent Street

Len Condon Electrical Blende St

Shannons in Electrical in Galena St

South State in Blende St

Blackwoods in Argent St

Thanks Chris
Tried all except Shannons plus a lot of other places around town but no go, will try them tomorrow. it appears I might need to buy via internet & get it sent.

ray

[afarawayplace]

D8Rbus, thanks heaps for the piccies of your diesel heater installation - very helpful indeed! Like the way you've made a box to protect the heater, too.

When people go out of their way to be helpful, it makes for a great forum!

[Ron & Shirley]

Previous thread re installation of Diesel Heaters may be of interest.

http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23650

[Rod-greying-nomad]

Thanks very much for the responses everyone. I'm almost 100% sure I'll go ahead with the diesel one - reason being cost of running the thing will be much cheaper than gas. I think I might have to ring around and find the nearest dealer who actually has one fitted that I can listen to (probably means driving to Sydney as there's none in the yards here in Canberra despite our sub-zero temps) because I'm a light sleeper and I don't want to fit one then find it drives me round the bend.

The photos are very handy (as are the hints such as the plugs for the outside pipes & filters to lower noise) and I'm thinking of fitting it myself as I'm ok with a spanner. The plan is to fit it under the dinette then using a Y shaped fitting run 2 outlets, one near the bed and the other out from closer to the heater - as the air will go along the path of least resistance I might need to experiment with a loop in the shorter hose to ensure even distribution of air.

Thanks again & if anyone has a diesel one in the Canberra region and they don't mind giving a 2 minute demonstration I'd be eternally grateful.

Cheers

Rod

[NomadicNavara]

I find that most of the time the Webasto is no more noisy than a 240 V fan heater. It is certainly quieter than an air-conditioner.