Well I have my Planer Diesel Heater in place, and it is working like dream. With the weather down here at Melb. it's a blessing. It wasn't all that difficult, just finding the suitable space inside the van and then making sure no beams, cables or pipes in the way underneath. Was a power cable close by, so wrapped the exhaust line in exhaust wrap, like I read someone on here had done. I just used the supplied rotary thermostat switch, and it works easily. Did wonder about the optional digital switch that's available, but not necessary.
Well I have my Planer Diesel Heater in place, and it is working like dream. With the weather down here at Melb. it's a blessing. It wasn't all that difficult, just finding the suitable space inside the van and then making sure no beams, cables or pipes in the way underneath. Was a power cable close by, so wrapped the exhaust line in exhaust wrap, like I read someone on here had done. I just used the supplied rotary thermostat switch, and it works easily. Did wonder about the optional digital switch that's available, but not necessary.
For $820, I reckon it's money well spent.
I am thinking about a tracking device now.
It sounds like you are as happy as we are with our Planer diesel heater. I have been working in the van this week upgrading the important 12 volt cables. I do hate to have to do stuff that should be done at the factory!!! With the Planer on the lowest setting, the TV going, and a nice coffee it is a pleasure to work inside the van this weather.
Hi John, I have not fitted a silencer as yet. The noise seems not to bad, but I see Pinnacle sell them on their website. I think I will put some sort of air filter on the intake pipe for the burner, especially as we do a lot of dirt roads, even if only some foam rubber. As for the other business, we have to watch that Chief fella lurking around, do we not.
Hi Paul, yes everybody seems happy with them.
You posted a few weeks ago from Gisborne. Our van was stored at friends there while we were back over in NZ. I spent last week under the van in that cold wind. One afternoon when I knocked off, it was 3 deg, my hands were frozen.
I heard that! My bestest Braves are doing their war dance as they also heard that. I can only ask them not to head in your direction but I will not be with them.
May your diesel have water in it and your chooks turn into emus and knock ya dunny down
Good to hear the heater is working well Brandt. I have a gas one but need the aircon here in the tropics mate. No frozen fingers up here
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Couldn't justify the cost + postage from Pinnacles for the digital controller so I got the identical unit from evilbay, $23.00 delivered.
Found the temperature ranged a bit too far for my comfort when sleeping, varied 10 degrees at night so I was pulling up the doona, then chucking it off again.
Fitting the new controller this weekend so will see if it improves the cut in, cut out range.
__________________
The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else.
there good a kewe only thing ours smells of hot lint and della reckons it makes the air dry i have to run a intake to the heater side from another place as i think it sucks lint into it . because i have it mounted in a cupboard . also i think I'm getting a bit of burnt smell through the hole in the floor at the washing machine . just other things to do when i have time lol and like jim i put small mesh over both pipes .
Hi Graham, how's it going, yes I will put mesh over the ends of the pipes. I had trouble with those little critters in the breather pipes from the water tanks. I put some foam rubber over them and that fixed em.
Did you fit a muffler in your exhaust line?
Being in the southern states of Cold, the heater question is a burning one..... On a serious note I would appreciate some comments about the NOISE from a diesel heater. In other places there are comments often enough that suggest the diesel heaters are noisy for the users, the fuel pump clicks all night, and the neighbours are likely to smash your van with an axe....
I have yet to find anyone using one to do the neighbour test and my girlfriend does not have a caravan so the bed test is not likely either (the wife's boyfriend wont go 3 up).
I assume you can run them all night.... what level of noise?
How would it compare to having the neighbours aircon running all night?
Being in the southern states of Cold, the heater question is a burning one..... On a serious note I would appreciate some comments about the NOISE from a diesel heater. In other places there are comments often enough that suggest the diesel heaters are noisy for the users, the fuel pump clicks all night, and the neighbours are likely to smash your van with an axe....
I have yet to find anyone using one to do the neighbour test and my girlfriend does not have a caravan so the bed test is not likely either (the wife's boyfriend wont go 3 up).
I assume you can run them all night.... what level of noise?
How would it compare to having the neighbours aircon running all night?
Thanks
Sarge.
Much much less than someone's aircon. We run it all night if needed, yes there is an audible click of the pump in side. We are not light sleepers so it does not worry us. Time will tell if and when we are squeezed in like sardines some time, although not if I can help it will we be caught in that situation. They are certainly much quieter than having an electric fan heater running.
Hi Sarge, welcome to the topic. It is something I am passionate about, having just installed one myself.
Paul says it all, there is a silencer you can get if you feel it is needed, $20 or $30 I think. As for the clicking of the pump, most heater diesel tanks are installed on the back of the van, with the pump under the back. If your bed is at the front you would struggle to hear it while in bed. I would never put the pump under the bed.
The first thing I did was go outside and listen, after hearing the comments about noise. I was pleasantly surprised, and that was without a silencer fitted. Also if you run it all night, it would only be on the low setting, which is very quiet.
We are camped down at Rye alongside Briche, and they could not hear it, I have just measured and they are five mts away.
-- Edited by Kiwi-as on Monday 3rd of August 2015 11:42:25 AM
There is some previous topics/ posts in the forum about Diesel heaters. Ways to dampen down the pump sound, and muffle combustion air , and combustion exhaust etc. I fitted the pump with vibration dampening under the mounting and all the fuel pipe clips were treated the same. The pump click is not that bad, but is greatly improved by doing this to the mountings. Do a "search" for previous posts on this subject. We have never had to run the heater all night, always switch it off before sleeping. Easy to reach out and switch on again from bed before getting up.
Hi All we are still looking at which type of heating we are going to install.
Can anyone tell me what the diesel usage rates are when you say use the heater for approximately 5 hours a day.
As because we are not running diesel in the Tug we may lean towards gas or the new hot water heater combi but will weigh it all up,
__________________
Tug Landcruiser Sahara Turbo Diesel/ Den Luxliner 21' plus
Hi All we are still looking at which type of heating we are going to install. Can anyone tell me what the diesel usage rates are when you say use the heater for approximately 5 hours a day.
As because we are not running diesel in the Tug we may lean towards gas or the new hot water heater combi but will weigh it all up,
I fitted a diesel heater rather than gas because when free camping which we do mostly, we only get about 10 days from a 9kg gas bottle and didn't want to get any less. Where we go it is a 50 - 60km round trip to fill a bottle at upwards of $45 a fill.
Diesel on the other hand to me is far more economical, 5 hours running would only use about 250mil of diesel as , once running I turn it down to the lowest power setting. A 10L can of diesel will last a couple weeks.
On the low power setting I can barely hear it either inside the van or out. No smell either.
__________________
Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
Thanks Neil and Lynne, totally understand about the gas usage and the diesel usage figures you have given are pretty impressive. That means I could use just one of my back up jerry cans with diesel in it for about a good 2 weeks for solid heating use, which the wife hates being cold.
Will now focus on the costs and feasibility of the Truma/Swift Heater Combi via the hot water unit to see the gas and or electric consumption on that and then try and make a qualified educated guess as to which heating system will be the best.
Then in 12 months tell everyone we chose the wrong one lol.
Keep Safe
Neil and Suzie
Patterson Lakes, VIC
__________________
Tug Landcruiser Sahara Turbo Diesel/ Den Luxliner 21' plus
Liltacker, I hope you keep us up to date with your cost/feasibility studies so I can use your cogitations as part of my own muse. I like the concept of hot water and warm wife in the one deal... and I see there is a choice of gas or diesel in these too.... or did I miss that was what we were talking about anyway?
Sarge.
-- Edited by Sarge9 on Friday 7th of August 2015 09:21:02 AM
