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Post Info TOPIC: Diesel heater power source.


Member

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Diesel heater power source.


Hi all. My caravan solar regulator instructions say I should connect all devices to the regulator. The new diesel heater instructions say I should connect straight to the battery. Is either of these a more suitable option? Thanks.

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Guru

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The heater uses a minimal amount of power - I would connect to battery - normally heaters are fitted to offside of van and batteries located on near side so a convenient source to run minimum cable length would be my deciding factor.

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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan

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Thanks. On start-up, they are said to draw 10 amps for a couple of minutes....

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Just connect straight to the battery but make sure you have the appropriate size fuse in the cable.  There is no reason to use the load terminals on the solar controller although they can be used for things like lighting circuits where you want things on a timer.



-- Edited by TimTim on Saturday 20th of May 2023 07:35:39 PM

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Member

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That's great, thanks for that. Yes, I'll be using a 15 amp fuse and 6mm auto wire. 



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Vic01 wrote:

That's great, thanks for that. Yes, I'll be using a 15 amp fuse and 6mm auto wire.    


 Good decision. When I had problems with my diesel heater sometimes being hard to start I visited a chap who knows his stuff. 
After a quick look he said "Installed by 240 volt electrician", which it was. "They know little about cable size, and that wiring's too small" he said, and after he re-wired it all with 6mm cables, no more problem. Do it once, do it well. Cheers



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v



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And they need a full 12volts to operate. Even though my light's, fridge and water pump ran at 11.8v the diesel heater wouldn't.

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Member

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Absolutely diesel heaters should be wired direct to the battery.
Not some existing fuse box or power distribution point.
Low voltage is the biggest single cause of diesel heater failure.
Green fuel tubing and the clear plastic filters supplied with the diesel heaters come a close second.



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