Yes the same problem can be had with the Chinese diesel heaters. Low voltage and these diesel heaters need around 10 Amps on start up ( glow plug ) if the voltage is toolow the heater will not start and/or blow lots of white smoke out of the exaust. Running very heavy cable from the battery to the heater including the earth return ( negitive wire ). Your house battery may be up to a normal well charged battery, but id you have to much of a voltage drop in the wiring to your heater, you are asking for problems and is made worse when the house battery id not fully charged. The wire i have used around my own caravan for the heater and other things ( tv and extra lighting or a small inverter ) is rated at around 30 Amps. Not cheap in price, but does the job.

-- Edited by valiant81 on Sunday 24th of July 2022 10:59:41 AM

DMaxer wrote:

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I am looking at getting a diesel heater installed. Does this issue only affect it starting up or does the whole show come to a grinding halt when the house battery starts to get low? Also, do they drain the battery to any large degree when they have started and just running.?

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 Mine runs ok even when the van battery gets a bit low.

If my batteries are getting low and there is little or no sun I activate the generator. 

We dont know what model you are getting so it may pay to check unit specifications as to the current draw and required voltage on initial start up from cold.

I would hope the installer would cover wire size and voltage requirements. The instructions that came with my heater were a little lacking but I did find a bit of info from google.

-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Sunday 24th of July 2022 11:59:27 AM

Hi Dmaxer

Diesel heaters run a glow plug which draws about 10 or 12A for around three minutes or so when they are turned on, after that they draw about (iirc) 200mA on minimum setting which is generally what you'll run it on.

To put that into English for you :)

The 12A for three minutes will mildly test caravan batteries but if the wiring is good and the battery is good all should be fine - if it isn't then something needs to be looked at because if the battery can't handle that then it can't handle much else either.

After the glow plug switches off the running current (at minimum setting) is trivial and even an old caravan battery should be able to support it pretty much indefinitely without issue.

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I do it slightly differently in that I have a 30Ah battery dedicated to supplying the diesel heater and a diode controlled connection to the main caravan battery. If you understand this you'll know why I do it this way and if you don't it doesn't matter :)

Or as others have done a 2.5kW split system air conditioner, so no consumables.

DMaxer, our Truma unit was installed some four years ago. The unit fits snugly under the bed. had a choice of two outlets. Have just fished out the invoice and it was fitted by a local caravan plumber here in Melbourne, (Healesville) for $150:00. Cash. Included was installation of the on/off switch which has three heat positions. Fan can also be used without heat if it is a bit warm.Took the van to him and waited for him to finish, tea and biscuits courtesy of his missus. Installation took him a little over two hours.

I realise that you are a long was from us here but I have yet to meet a tradie that will not give a good price depending on the method of payment!!!

Has not, as yet, missed a beat. Good luck whichever way you go.

Diesel consumption is economical
You get what you pay for with diesel heaters stay away from the el cheapos
they are really useful,if you wake up cold in the night or spending a fair time inside on really chilly days
So in a 24 hour period you might only run the heater for 2 hours max
At the caravan park we use the reverse cycle air con as it is quieter

DMaxer, as Doug has said . Hole in the outside wall necessary for the exhaust in my case about four feet from the unit. No bayonet fitting, gas was picked up from the pipe to the oven and fitted with a manually operated shut off valve under the bed where the incoming pipe is. Unit came with an outside cover for the exhaust to keep the nasties out when not in use. Note that if you forget to remove the cover the umit will not fire up.

We have found that only using it when retreating to the van in the evening for about 3/4 hours it was very economical. our rate of usage does not seem to be very much different than when it is not in use. Cleanliness and very low maintenance was the deciding factor for us.

-- Edited by Magnarc on Monday 25th of July 2022 04:39:20 PM

-- Edited by Magnarc on Monday 25th of July 2022 04:39:52 PM

-- Edited by Magnarc on Monday 25th of July 2022 04:40:33 PM

Thanks Magnarc. I will follow up on yours and Dougs advice. Thank you both, sorry I took the thread off topic but I cant help myself.

Cisco kid wrote:

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You get what you pay for with diesel heaters stay away from the el cheapos

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 My cheap Chinese diesel heater

He was low on battery . Comparing this to gas heater ? Is like saying my gas heater wont work with no ignition or gas either . Starting motor and bridging batteries for the duration of start up will get it going . The question is why is the batteries low on volts ? Not much cloud ?? Batteries getting old ? Too much load somewhere ? Maybe a run on high or kerosene for a while ?