Diesel air Heater

I can't comment on the one you are talking about but Planar UK have just fitted me a 4KW heater in my van and I'm very impressed.
I know how loud the mainstream heaters can be as my company uses them in their cranes.
This one is so much more quieter and throws out heat quickly while I've been working in the van getting it ready to hit the road in a few days/weeks time.
The other day I was in the van for 6 hours and as the door was a jar so it was on all the time and the fuel guage didn't drop enough to see a difference.
 
I'm in a bit of a quandary about this myself.
I liked my Eberspacher D2 Airtronic and didn't find it noisy at all, but at £600 not cheap to buy.
The Planar imported from China looks a very good deal at better than half that price, but support from seller will in reality be non-existant (not practical to send back or wait on parts), so even at the attractive price is still a bit of a punt.
The price of the UK supplied Planars are very close to the established market leading heater so enough reason to try? Not in my eyes.

And the question on CE markings and appropriate REGISTERED safety standards on the direct imports does make them a potential risk I guess.

Probably be sticking to installing the tried and tested Eber in January I would think.
 
I thoughts the Planar heaters were Russian made.
Planar UK holds a good stock and carries parts.
Give Owen a call up in Wrexham I'd you have any doubts.
 
I had an Eberspacher D2 fitted in my van 6 years ago and i would go for the same if i changed vans, you are also adding value to the vehicle fitting the best as buyers will know Eberspachers or Webasto heaters but maybe not the cheaper makes, things are usually cheap for a reason.
 
A heater that's for sale on Ebay at the moment. Air Diesel Heater | eBay

i bought this 5kw air diesel heater from china last week i install the heater as the instructions said but the heater only worked on full power it would not turn down via the controller it was just constant full heat but this morning i came out to have another look at it it refused to work at all the controller just flashes constantly so i dont know what is wrong with it iam no engineer so iam selling as not working its only just 2 weeks old it comes with all in the picture apart from the being use all ok and the controller that was supplied is a differnt ont to the picture iam selling due to the original supplier not answeing my calls or messages will only post within the uk
 
sak said:
I had an Eberspacher D2 fitted in my van 6 years ago and i would go for the same if i changed vans, you are also adding value to the vehicle fitting the best as buyers will know Eberspachers or Webasto heaters but maybe not the cheaper makes, things are usually cheap for a reason.
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That is a good point you make there.
and used (and well-used!) Eberspachers go for more money then a new Planer Heater - silly money for a used heater really as not much less then brand new Eber, but that is what the market dictates.

When I sold my T5 I should really have taken the Eber D2 out as I didn't sell it as having a heater unless they buyer paid extra, but in the end couldn't be arsed to remove it :lol-061:


Interesting comment on the discussion via the previous link from robmac ... the heaters not destined for Europe originally wouldn't pass the tests that would allow them to be CE marked - so the eBay jobs suitability would be suspect. And when sold in UK by PlanarUK (think that is the company?) after suitable mods to gain CE approval, the price benefit is (IMO) severely erroded.

That is how I am reading it anyway. Looks like more money heading to PF Jones for a D2 Airtronic.
 
wildebus said:
Interesting comment on the discussion via the previous link from robmac ... the heaters not destined for Europe originally wouldn't pass the tests that would allow them to be CE marked - so the eBay jobs suitability would be suspect. And when sold in UK by PlanarUK (think that is the company?) after suitable mods to gain CE approval, the price benefit is (IMO) severely erroded.

That is how I am reading it anyway. Looks like more money heading to PF Jones for a D2 Airtronic.
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Is that what the thread linked to by Robmac says?

I thought otherwise and can't find any mention of modifications to meet CE standards. It costs a lot of money to have such items tested and certificated so it is quite possible that the Chinese makers simply have not bothered to invest in that. On the whole I thought that link contained comments both for and against the cheap Chinese heaters and would not put me off.

The question for me is are the established makes actually better and if so are they better by a sufficient margin to make them worth the extra cost? I am not really bothered by the suggestion that one might raise the value of the vehicle by fitting an established make, seems unlikely to me.

Here is another thread about the Planar diesel heater - Oct 2015 Planar diesel heater

Post 16 and then from post 29 onwards may be reassuring.

Also found these, more of the same:

Air Top vs Planar - Jan 2017
Air Top vs Planar - NAS-ROW - The Land Rover Defender Forum

Actual experience with Chinese Espar clones? - April 2015
Actual experience with Chinese Espar clones? [Archive] - Sprinter-Forum

Espar vs Webasto - Feb 2008
Espar vs Webasto | SailboatOwners.com Forums

Aux Heat thoughts – Oct 2016
http://www.defendersource.com/forum/f48/aux-heat-thoughts-73769.html

I have been curious about the name Espar, used in North America:

“The year 2016 marked the 150 year anniversary for Eberspaecher and Espar is very proud to announce that we will officially assume the Eberspaecher name in the marketplace, while still maintaining "Espar" as a legal business entity.”

If one is not willing to risk an import from China with perhaps little chance of service support the options seem to be:

1. Used but tested Eberspacher or Webasto heaters from about £350 upwards. With more or less installation kit, ducts etc so depending upon installation required may end up costing nearly as much as a new Planar kit.

2. A new Planar 2D from the official UK Supplier www.planarheaters.co.uk for just below £500. Seems to come with a fairly comprehensive installation kit although their web site is poor and lacks clarity. Autoterm in Germany have a better web site, charge about the same and will send to UK. https://www.autoterm-europe.com/en/shop/product/325-air-heater-planar-2d-12-2-kw

3. A new Eberspacher Airtronic D2 Heater Kit from PF Jones for £650. https://www.pfjones.co.uk/d2-airtronic-kit-12-volt.html

Has anyone found a better offer?

A simple oil burner, compact and quiet the diesel equivalent to the old gas fired Carver SB1800, could be interesting but have not seen anything suitable yet. Does such a thing exist?
 
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Well I took the plunge and bought one, it arrived today well packed and all seems to be there.
IMG_1474.jpg IMG_1477.jpg
 
I need to make some mounting brackets for it and don't see me getting to do that until Monday as its market day tomorrow which means work.
 
Fazerloz said:
I need to make some mounting brackets for it and don't see me getting to do that until Monday as its market day tomorrow which means work.
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I guess you can connect it together and run it on the bench to try it out ?

:wave:
 
Robmac said:
You have to be a bit careful you don't get caught burning the wrong stuff nowadays.

To burn waste oil, you need a permit costing £3,218 and an annual fee of £1,384 apparently.
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Not for priv/ homes.
 
Fazerloz said:
Yes it comes with its own 10ltr fuel tank, even has a silencer for the air intake as well as the exhaust.
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If you fit the separate fuel tank, you can run it on red diesel, worth it at 40-50p per litre.
 
Fazerloz said:
Yes it comes with its own 10ltr fuel tank, even has a silencer for the air intake as well as the exhaust.
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would you mind measuring the tank? width. height and depth. (I am wondering about a seperate tank and have a possible location in mind)
 
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