Diesel tent heater install

Great info, thank you. I had the same cheap 5kw unit in my Amazon cart but maybe I should rethink that. We do spend a good bit of time at high altitudes. I hadn't read anything about the elevation issue

 

Here's the Facebook Group that you can learn more. Jones is the owner.


This is the Facebook Group I follow about Chinese Diesel Air Heater. Lots of good information to learn from.

This is what I plan to buy next. (Lavaner)
https://www.lavaner.com/ lavaner.canada@telus.net Just send an email with size, model, and address.

Gordon Reid Nichol (Admin on below FB Group. He's also gave me the link & instructions above): contact for sales in US & Canada.


-Dan

 

I’m interested in getting one of these heaters. Particularly for my shed out back. Amazon shows a lot of sellers with different names for basically the same model/type of heater. Are they all being manufactured in China in the same plant, but with multiple names affixed to them?

 

That is the question.

I was about to pull the trigger a maXpeedingrods heater because they claim automatic altitude adjustment. Then browsing reviews of some of their different packages (heater or all in ones) I noticed a recent review where the heater caught on fire and burned up, coincidentally that recent all in one version is not available anymore. And on the heater only reviews there was a recent one with charred control board, and other complaints about boards dying. I am assuming they have a fatal design flaw with poor wires or bad boards that occasionally overheat.

They are still for sale. So there can be some minor variations between them, but we are the test dummies to see what works and what burns up.

The other ones @B_Quad mentioned advertise they use proper wiring. I am just stuck since it’s harder to justify the extra few hundred $ when I don’t really have a need for this most of the time.

 

Dont buy it off Amazon, find it there and then google the maker and buy it from their site. Its usually cheaper and still has free shipping.

 

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Go to post #180 it will explain about the CDHs. You’ll get a lot of good information and answers to any questions on the FB group in the post before yours.

 

Thanks guys. I will continue to research sellers.

 

I don't have FB so I can't join that group but has anybody purchased or have more info on the "Plateau" version of the Vevor 5kw model? It's like an extra $50 on their website.

Does the regular model not work at altitude? I'm sitting at 4600ft in my house and go up to around 10k when camping.

Diesel Air Heater All in One 12V 5KW Plateau Version For Cars Trucks Boats Bus RVs | VEVOR US

 

Not sure about that specific model. But after B_Quad mentioned the issue, I did a bit more research. Seems like the heaters with the "blue controllers" have a setting for high altitude that adjusts the air/fuel mixture to compensate for the lower oxygen. Other cheap models don't have this feature, which results in problems at high elevation.

Maybe that helps some.

 

I see. So I best order this model considering my high altitude. It’s on eBay for $119 which is nice.

 

Thought I’d leave this here too. Just discovered and ordered an upgraded silent pump. More explained on the post below.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kimbo-camper-bs-and-mods.651104/page-91#post-28176940

 

That's the same fuel pump that I mentioned in post #170, but a different seller.
It's not silent, it's much quieter though.

 

Good to know it connects to the existing power connector. Was taking a guess on that.

 

I have this too. I haven’t messed with any of my settings but keep it around 2.0 when at altitude and don’t go lower.

 

I've seen a different one in FB, but similar. I've got it somewhere.

 

i seen a couple u tube videos and i see them mount the diesel tank inside the truck camper, this safe? Cus ik its not safe to sleep with gas tanks inside my camper so why is okay with diesel?

 

Gas is flammable, diesel is not.

 

thank you! I didnt know, so the vapors in a gas tank are bad for you but what about the diesl?

 

Diesel doesnt really evaporate like gas does, it might smell a bit, but its not going do like gas does. Personally I would never put the diesel tank inside anywhere that I dont want diesel spilled.

 

Coldest trip to date this past weekend. Mixed K1 into the tank earlier in the week about 60/40 diesel to K1. Ran a few prime cycles to circulate the mixed fuel into the lines, switched the valves back over to the heater and lit it off at -21°C / -6°F. Could definitely see the fuel was running pretty thick in the lines, but it did start. Took a bit longer than normal to come up to temp but once it did I hooked the vent hose up, got the RTT deployed and let it warm up. Kept the run of hose from heater to RTT as short as possible!

Kept an eye on it over the next few hours while fiddling with other stuff around camp - no issues. I think having the tank directly against the heater and enclosed in the box helps preheat the fuel. Coldest I saw that night was -15°F. Tent was a decent 45-60 inside depending on how hard I ran the heater. Kept it set around 3.6-4Hz all night (5Hz being the highest setting on my unit).