Catalytic heater for workshop

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

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My old cabinet heater has died do I am looking for a new one for my workshop. I'm thinking of going catalytic. Has anyone any experience of either the Camping Gaz CR5000 or the Orbegozo H55? Both get generally good reviews, with some suggestions that the thermostat on the CR5000 may be a weak point and a lot of grumbling that the H55 does not come with regulator or hose.

Any alternative suggestions welcome. It really has to be a butane cabinet heater, though.
 
Essential that it be butane? I was talking to a mate just this evening who was singing the praises of the Chinese Webasto knockoff he's just bought to warm up the small warehouse he's working in. I'd assumed they only came in the boat or van models we're familiar with here, but apparently there are versions with a built in fuel tank and some kind of stand or frame for standalone use. He says it cost him £85, works very well, and he likes it because diesel's cheaper than bottled gas for the same heat.

Pete
 
JumbleDuck said:
Thanks. Where does the exhaust go? The listing shows what looks like a very short length of hose but no skin fitting of any sort.
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My friend just has his stuck out under the bottom of his roller-shutter - part of his praise for the machine was that it kept the place warm despite the draught blowing in through the gap under the rest of the door. I don't know how much exhaust pipe he received.

Pete
 
Chinaspacher all the way. If nothing else, it gives us all something to argue about. I’ve had a couple of catalytic heaters and been underwhelmed by both of them.
 
I have a 5kw Chinaspcaher in my concrete prefab workshop. The exhaust goes straight out thorough a hole I drilled in one of the concrete panels (no skin fitting needed). Yesterday I went in there in the morning and it was 1.5°C. Banged the heater on and in minutes the temp was rising. Got to my set tempreture of 16°C surprisingly quickly. It would have carried on too if I had wanted a higher temp. Workshop is around 6m x 3m and average 2m high (lots of stuff in there, so actual air volume is obviously much less). It is completely uninsulated and has gaps around the big double doors that you can see daylight through. I run it on 28 second heating oil, which is cheap as chips. Now on its fourth year and so far has run without fault. Probably put 20 hours on it over the last two days alone. Total cost of heater was around £100.
 
JumbleDuck said:
OK folks, I'll investigate. Any UK suppliers of the diesel heaters? I don't fancy trying to buy from China now.
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I have a catalytic heater but not one of those models. It was my fathers and is 40 years old. It still works fine. They are very simple - there is little to go wrong with them. One of those you listed in your post will see you out. How long do you think a Chinaspatcher will last?
 
JumbleDuck said:
OK folks, I'll investigate. Any UK suppliers of the diesel heaters? I don't fancy trying to buy from China now.
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loads on ebay for c£100 uk stock. Longer exhausts too. I've had one over a year on my boat and i've been using my boat as my office - it's been on all day almost every day through the winter.
Needed a new glow plug at one point otherwise faultless. If it packed up now I'd happily pay anther £100 - worth every penny,
 
AngusMcDoon said:
I have a catalytic heater but not one of those models. It was my fathers and is 40 years old. It still works fine. They are very simple - there is little to go wrong with them. One of those you listed in your post will see you out. How long do you think a Chinaspatcher will last?
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not 40 years but at just £100 I don't much care. The blown air heat is so much more comfortable.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
I have a catalytic heater but not one of those models. It was my fathers and is 40 years old. It still works fine. They are very simple - there is little to go wrong with them. One of those you listed in your post will see you out. How long do you think a Chinaspatcher will last?
Click to expand...

Good point. The long term plan is to fit a flue to the old coal-fired Rayburn Royale I installed when I converted the workshop years ago.

Elessar said:
loads on ebay for c£100 uk stock. Longer exhausts too. I've had one over a year on my boat and i've been using my boat as my office - it's been on all day almost every day through the winter.
Needed a new glow plug at one point otherwise faultless. If it packed up now I'd happily pay anther £100 - worth every penny,
Click to expand...

All the ones I can see are 12V or 24V and about £120 Is that the sort of thing?
 
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