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There are lots of companies offering this type of budget heater (Maxpeedingrods, Vevor, FlowerW), all with different power options. This is the 5KW version which is suitable for mid-sized or large vans, such as Sprinters or Transits. There are more powerful versions available but this works fine in our Renault Master. If you have a smaller, Transporter-sized van I would opt for the 2KW version. This model comes with everything you need to plumb it into your van’s own diesel tank (if fitting to the top of the tank) as well as a 10 litre tank if you would prefer to keep it separated. Running the heater from the included 10 litre tank will make this significantly easier to install. Also note that the instruction manuals on these budget heaters may be very limited or mostly in Chinese!
As you can see from the table the main differences between the budget and premium models are the cost and warranty availability. The only thing not considered in this table is the build quality. How does a diesel heater work in a campervan? This one was a tough call; simply because there are a few other models all offering what you want in a premium diesel air heater. However, one manufacturer has been mentioned time and time again. Pollution – diesel is a fossil fuel so contributes to air pollution, although it has the lowest emissions of all the fossil fuels. Webasto are a well established company with a reputation for building high quality products. This is a high end product which is reliable and well supported however, this obviously comes with a big price tag. I selected this heater as the premium heater choice over a similar model by German company Eberspacher, because they are slightly cheaper for the comparable quality. Cut two holes in the cabinet (under bed or dinette) for the diesel heater’s air inlet & outlet vents to poke through. Attach the ducting & vent casings.
EASY TO OPERATE: The LCD dynamic display will clearly show the running state of the machine. Fuel, electricity, temperature can be set arbitrarily. LCD dynamic display, easy to operate, at a glance. If in doubt, please refer to the operating instructions of the LCD dynamic display on the picture. The fuel line will connect to the diesel tank, with the connection of a fuel pump and fuel filter along the way. Note that the angle of the fuel pump (once mounted) needs to be between 15 – 35º.
Most heaters will come with a silencer designed to reduce the noise produced by the heater. The more expensive models will be better at reducing noise, so this may be a factor to consider when choosing which model to buy. Are campervan diesel heaters safe? If you are planning to travel at altitudes of around 2000m, consider upgrading this model with the high altitude ready kit. If you’re planning to travel to higher altitudes of 2000m plus I would recommend choosing the AT EVO 40, again with the high altitude ready kit. Low electrical power consumption – heaters require a surge in power to get going but once up and running use very little electricity (around 0.5 to 1 amps once running). Diesel heaters are therefore low wattage heaters for camper vans. Remember to consider the small surge required by a heater when calculating your solar energy costs.
This model also comes with a silencer which makes the heater that much quieter. There is however, some noise from the pump whilst the heater is running. Separate silencers are available to buy if required.
The main operations of the heater are all done via a responsive LCD control panel. The display is bright and is multi-coloured. The information displayed on the screen is easy to read and simple to understand and the operating system is intuitive and very responsive. Why We Recommend This Model
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Now that you’ve had a chance to play around with the heater settings, it’s now time to pair up your Chinese diesel heater controller to the LCD monitor. No more getting out of bed on a frosty morning to turn the diesel heater on! Use a saw to cut a round hole in the floor of the van for the mounting plate to sit. This is where the pipes & hoses will poke through to the outside of the van. The most common type of diesel heater is the air heater which simply blows out hot air. The air and water heater blows hot air and acts as a water heater. Finally, the most modern type of diesel heater is the hydronic heater which blows hot air and heats water but also use the excess heat energy produced by the engine as a fuel source, effectively providing a limited amount of free energy from your drives. The Webasto Air Top 2000 is a German-made diesel air heater that has been on the market for a number of years. So much so, that this heater is regarded as one of the most reliable diesel heaters ever made. The Air Top 2000 has become a favourite amongst professional campervan conversion companies and self-builders alike.
As the heater gets up to temperature, you’ll notice the lines across the bottom of the ‘diesel heater’ image increase on the screenTo manage the build up of carbon soot in the heater is recommend to use to the heater as per the manufacturers recommendations. For example, avoid running the heater for less than 10-15 minutes at a time and periodically give the heater a blast by running it at its highest for 10 minutes. Running the heater at high altitudes will also cause excessive build up so sure to give the heater those blasts more often. Related Reading Noise pollution – all diesel heaters will create some noise whilst running, particularly during the start up cycle. The noise is worse from outside the van than from inside it.
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