Regulating temperature in a parked vehicle using a diesel heater / coolant heater

[JamesAdam]

I have a suggestion for using a diesel heater / coolant heater to heat a parked vehicle using a thermostat to regulate the parked vehicle temperature.

Those diesel heaters ( I suggest using Kersosene, less soot problems than Red Dye Diesel ) are very popular these days.  The unfortunate thing about them is that you can't leave them on and keep a consistant temperature.  I like the Diesel Heaters because they don't build condensation on the windows in humid climates with thier dry heat. 


So I came up with a solution. 

Using a Diesel Heater / Coolant Heater version (the kind that will heat the coolant water in your engine as well as provide heat for the vehicle.

As I mentioned, you can not regulate the heat.  You can set a temperature, but the unit never turns off and only slows the fan down.  I suggest using this heat application on the diesel heater to heat watertanks, or other non human areas in a vehicle, like underneath storage on a motorhome.  Using the Coolant Heater to heat a Heat Exchanger (similar to a rear heater in a school bus or van using the coolant in the engine.)  but not have it connected to the engine coolant system.  Instead, connect it directly to a Heat Exchanger utilizing a expansion tank for when the water expands and contracts, similar to a cars cooling system.  Install an electric fan behind the heat exchanger that is connected to a thermostat connected to the house battery.  With the diesel heater running non stop to keep the water hot, the fan will turn on and off with the thermostat to provide comfortable heat in the living space. 

I think this a a terrific solution that is better than a propane heater / furnace such as installed in a motorhome that drenches the vehicle with moisture from the propane.  The Bottle Propane heaters are hard to regulate and therefore you don't leave them on.

The Diesel heater can run for quite a long time using a larger fuel container such as a 5 gallon jerry can filled with Kersosene. 

Well, what do youi think?  Regulating the heat in a parked vehicle using a diesel heater / coolant heater connected to a heat exchanger using heater hose and and expansion tank should be simple to set up.

Here is a link to the Chinese Diesel Heater Factory that produces the diesel heater with the coolant heater feature. 
$248.94 plus shipping from China.
I found this on youtube and the man said it was close to $400.00 after shipping.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...a2756.order-detail-ta-bn-b.0.0.5fcf2fc2idfAj9

Here is a link to a Honeywell Thermostat suggestion 
$92.89 Plus shipping and taxes from www.industrialstores.com
https://www.industrialstores.com/pr...remote-bulb-thermostat-temperature-controller


Imagine being able to walk up to your vehicle after work and have it be as warm as your house in the winter...

 

[JamesAdam]

Here is a link to a 12V 24W 3 Hole Portable Car Heater, Vehicle Heating Defroster Demister Winter Car Interior for Car Truck SUV
by S WIDEN ELECTRIC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KGLHRBY/ref=dp_cerb_1
$46.08 from Amazon.com

 

[tx2sturgis]

I dont know if the heater you have is defective or what, but the bunk heaters we used would spool down to zero heat if the interior temps got warm enough.

 

[maki2]

I don't know about the cheap Chinese units but the better quality units have a digital thermostat control.

Using the right combination of keywords will help you find them quickly.
"diesel bunk heater thermostat"

 

[JamesAdam]

link to the youtube video testing the Chinese diesel heater I was referring to.

 

[JamesAdam]

I dont know if the heater you have is defective or what, but the bunk heaters we used would spool down to zero heat if the interior temps got warm enough.

Thank you, I didn't know that.

 

[JamesAdam]

I don't know about the cheap Chinese units but the better quality units have a digital thermostat control.

Using the right combination of keywords will help you find them quickly.
"diesel bunk heater thermostat"

Here is a link to the Knight Trucking Company reference video about the bunk heater you are talking about.

Thank you for sharing that some of the chinese diesel heaters come with a thermostat.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Sorta like saying that some cars dont include a steering wheel.

I have no experience with any of the chinese units, but the expensive ones we used in commercial trucks (webasto, espar, eberspacher, and others) generally called 'bunk heaters', ALL had a rotary or digital thermostat control, and an electronic control unit that controls the fuel pump, the ignitor, fuel metering and combustion cycle, the fan speed, the temperature, and the shutdown cycle, not to mention monitoring of on-board sensors, diagnostics, trouble codes, and safety shutdown sequence. 

I dont see how one of these chinese units can even operate without electronic controls because these miniature furnaces are somewhat complex in the way they operate and I fail to understand how one of these could operate at full blast all the time with no temperature control....the heat produced would be way too much if it did not cycle or modulate.

 

[highdesertranger]

yes the better units have thermostats and safety features that those cheap Chinese ones just don't have. I would be scared to death to fall asleep with one of those cheap ones on. please be safe think with your brain not your pocket book. highdesertranger

 

[Camper]

It's amazing what competition does to help us poor guys.

If there are any safety features or controls on the expensive heaters that are not on mine, please tell me exactly what they are.

No one will convince me that I made a bad purchase.

 

[maki2]

I would never waste my time trying to convince you of anything when you have said it would be a waste of time to do so

 

[Camper]

I guess I'm a happy camper.

 

[B and C]

I think TX said it all in post #8.

It is amazing what they can sell when built to a price point.

 

[highdesertranger]

"I guess I'm a happy camper."

if you equate cheap with safe, then yes.

what happened to Riverman.

highdesertranger

 

[Camper]

I can't lot in.... tried to get a new password and it won't let me. help

 

[highdesertranger]

just change your password. I just had to do it, it's easy just check the box that says "Forgot Password" it will walk you through the steps. highdesertranger

 

[Camper]

I did that several times and it won't let me, I will try once more.

 

[Riverman]

OK got it working again. thanks

 

[66788]

It's amazing what competition does to help us poor guys.

If there are any safety features or controls on the expensive heaters that are not on mine, please tell me exactly what they are.

No one will convince me that I made a bad purchase.

We don't have to convince you, you have to live with that thing, not us.

 

[HalfShadows]

If you have a china  diesel heater like mine, the fuel pump is a piston operated pump that relies on the oil in diesel to keep it lubricated. 

If you use kerosene it will wear out the piston from lack of lubrication. There is a formula for adding kerosene to the diesel for an occasional clean out of the exhaust carbon within the burn chamber and exhaust system.

Or what I do is run the heater on high for about 5 minutes before shutting down. I do this about every 4th cycle. no issues yet.