cabin heating

Bigplumbs said:
Yes it is a very fair assumption. The Chinese ones are very good but you cannot compleetly trust their heat rating. I know mine claim to be 5KW and they do indeed put out a lot of heat. I suspect the 8KW are actually the same machine but I do not know. From 3KW to 8KW is a big increase. I would perhaps try a 5Kw first. They are only about £90 all in so nowt to loose rearly
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where did you buy yours from
 
Bigplumbs said:
Yes it is a very fair assumption. The Chinese ones are very good but you cannot compleetly trust their heat rating. I know mine claim to be 5KW and they do indeed put out a lot of heat. I suspect the 8KW are actually the same machine but I do not know. From 3KW to 8KW is a big increase. I would perhaps try a 5Kw first. They are only about £90 all in so nowt to loose rearly
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The fuel draw on an 8kW chinkaspaccher is the same as a 4kW eberspacher. It’s is therefore magic, or a 4kW heater. It’s why I’m fitting 2.
 
Just a remark on the silencer matter: The question is not as much who makes what designs, as even Webasto and Eberspächer have the model with drain hole, which of course also will blow out exhaust fumes. They are very particular on this in the installation manual and the info is valid also for chinaheaters even if not mentioned in their documentation.
The crucial thing is to fit a silencer that is suitable for your use. If on a vehicle where spills from the silencer goes outside the cabin (van, car, truck etc.) the drain hole version is ok.
If fitted inside (as you'd normally do in a boat), the silencer must be airtight and of course all connections must be tight (correct hose diameter 22mm, 24mm, 38mm or whatever stated or measured).

Hence a search for e.g. 'airtight steel silencer 22mm' will find many ('steel' included to exclude (plastic) silencers the combustion air intake)
 
Bigplumbs said:
Yes it is a very fair assumption. The Chinese ones are very good but you cannot compleetly trust their heat rating. I know mine claim to be 5KW and they do indeed put out a lot of heat. I suspect the 8KW are actually the same machine but I do not know. From 3KW to 8KW is a big increase. I would perhaps try a 5Kw first. They are only about £90 all in so nowt to loose rearly
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I have a catamaran so long ducting runs. I will try a 5KW but also I think I am going to have to lag the ducting. Just bloomin' awkward trying to trace it!
 
Bigplumbs said:
This is the Exhaust £38

24mm Exhaust Silencer Muffler Fits For WEBASTO NARROW BOAT diesel Air Heater UK | eBay

And this is the Skin fitting. £29

Skin Hull Marine Diesel Boat Exhaust Fitting Heater Stainless Steel 24 mm | eBay

These say 24 mm so do a little research on the diameters to make sure they are the correct ones. I am sure there are others just make sure they are leak free and the correct dia for the tube. Also use fire cement to seal at the connection and good stainless Jubilee clips. The ones that come with the heaters are not the best
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Yeah saw all those but opted for the MV heating one as it has less joints for potential leaks.
They also do a good insulation which is less damp and water absorbent ( not that important) which I prefer.
Got the skin fitting as well.
This is the insulation, it has a silicone coating
25-30mm Silicone Coated Exhaust Lagging – MV Heating

They also do good quality clamps which is vital for a good seal along with exhaust joint sealer paste.

This is for a Webasto water heater ( not a Chinese one) But going to get one for my garage.
Like everything if fitted with due diligence , common sense approach and regular checks, with a CO2 and fire alarm ( which should be fitted about a boat in any case) i cannot see an issue at all.
 
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Last year I replaced an Eber D5lc with a Chinese 5kw model so I have some fairly recent first hand experience.

-I reused all the Eber inlet and exhaust pipework etc so the Chinese spot welded silencer etc was binned.

-The 5KW Chinese heater is similar form factor as the 2KW one and is physically a fair bit smaller than an Eber D5lc so on fan power alone it doesn't have as much power. For my 50footer with 4 cabin outlets including the saloon it is ultimately underpowered. For two outlets and a shorter run of ducting then it will be fine. The saloon gets very hot air regardless of the two forward cabins.

-I lagged all my ducting with YBS Thermawrap and it has improved the efficiency a LOT... Definitely worth a day of your time and it's very easy to apply with a roll of silver foil tape..

-I have zero evidence to suggest an 8kw Chinese heater is 8kw.. I'd say it's 5kw, exactly the same as......the 5kw model. Youtube tests seem to suggest the same.

-The controller works fine though it does look a bit 80's Calculator and the little remote control works perfectly.. Programming it to turn on at a set time uses very odd logic and i've not successfully managed to get that to work.

-I've had mine for about 6 months or so and have used it a LOT.. (Belfast in winter is very chilly) and it's worked fautlessly every single time. I think the heater was about 80 or 90 quid and I've spent 60 quid on lagging, but I would have done that regardless of what heater I used, so basically let's say 90 quid and a perfectly usable heater....

I hope this is helpful.
 
Best thing is not to fit a silencer at all. Then you are not introducing anymore potential leaks, my families safety is far more important than cutting down on a little exterior noise.
 
I fitted a 5kw Chinese one last year on my 44ft yacht and it hasn't missed a beat. I have no silencer fitted and dont find it noisy at all. The most difficult part of the installation was routing the 75mm ducting from the aft cockpit locker to the cabins. I also spent quite a lot on armaflex duct insulation sleeving and the ducting itself. Most of the issues people have is voltage drop at the heater as the power cables are not heavy enough if you have a decent run to the 12v supply.
 
fred247 said:
Best thing is not to fit a silencer at all. Then you are not introducing anymore potential leaks, my families safety is far more important than cutting down on a little exterior noise.
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You need to think about the boat next to you if in a Marina me thinks. It is not hard to get a proper joint between silencer and Pipework
 
In sixty yrs of boating I've never been bothered by any boats eber/webasto heating exhaust, neither have I had anyone complain about mine, me thinks you maybe a little oversensitive :love:
 
Bigplumbs said:
You need to think about the boat next to you if in a Marina me thinks.
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+100%

Basically everybody has been too polite to ask fred247 to turn the thing off. ?
A decent silencer can reduce the noise with correct item properly installed.
A Russiaspacher silencer reduced the noise from my heater from a roar to hard to detact whisper even with a ear close to the skin fitting.
 
darren west said:
possibly stupid question , the actual unit/burner does this need t be placed outside the cabin then ducted in . ?
thanks
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The best place to locate it is in an area that if there was an issue with it it will cause the least problems but can also be got at. Some people put then in the engine compartment ( I dont like that idea) I was lucky and had a locker at the rear in the 'tented' part of the boat which was an ideal spot. Remember that the air to be heated (unless you duct it in) will come from the area that the main unit is in so it needs to be a clean 'smell' free and fume etc free area. You also need to minimise the distance from the Exhaust outlet on the unit to the exit point on the boat.

Also think about where you will run the hot air ducting as that can be the most difficult part of the Job. And where you locate the fuel tank
 
To think they are all Chinese made ( crap ) at the end of the day, but for for Webasto they are made all over the world. . the cheapo ones i guess this thread is on about is the most basic and afforable or what folk are to tight to pay for a better known make and relibale to after sales like Erber, Webasto or Planar.

I have a had Propex LPG for a few years and has been great. no problems at all. cost mahbe 4xs the chinese diesle heaters but its British made, proud to buy British aswell. And believe me i am far from having spare money like so many on here. so its not a price thing for me. i want quality and good service. you dont get that with cheap chinese tat. its buy another unit for spares and fix yourself lol.

Its a shame all the UK is going or is already there to buy cheap ( chinese crap )

I lie the sound of a Planar diesel heater for my next boat but its Russian. mite risk it as all fol i talk to say there great.
 
waynes world said:
To think they are all Chinese made ( crap ) at the end of the day, but for for Webasto they are made all over the world. . the cheapo ones i guess this thread is on about is the most basic and afforable or what folk are to tight to pay for a better known make and relibale to after sales like Erber, Webasto or Planar.

I have a had Propex LPG for a few years and has been great. no problems at all. cost mahbe 4xs the chinese diesle heaters but its British made, proud to buy British aswell. And believe me i am far from having spare money like so many on here. so its not a price thing for me. i want quality and good service. you dont get that with cheap chinese tat. its buy another unit for spares and fix yourself lol.

Its a shame all the UK is going or is already there to buy cheap ( chinese crap )

I lie the sound of a Planar diesel heater for my next boat but its Russian. mite risk it as all fol i talk to say there great.
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You’re wrong Wayne the Chinese one isn’t crap it’s just cheap. You were heated by one when you were on my boat!!

The instructions and accessories it comes with are crap though. But at £89 for the lot you can chuck em.
 
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