Chinese (5kw )air heater

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pcatterall

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I said I was going to try one and it has arrived!
It is very similar in size and weight to a D4 as shown in the pic but I will report with a detailed comparison later.
It is working and has not burst into flames yet!!
There seems to be a priming system installed so you can pump fuel prior to going through the start process.
The control switch seems basic but there are simple ( count the flashes) diagnostics.

I guess that there are hundreds of Chinese speakers and readers among us so can one of you translate the writings on the switch
for me!! ?100_5752.JPG100_5755.JPG
 
I'm intrigued by these cheap Chinese heaters. They bear a striking resemblance to the MV Airo 4 - MV heaters seem to be the new name for the well-respected Mikuni heaters. If you look at the curved line on the cover, the clips holding the cover on at one end, the screw hole positions for the end plates, they all look the same as the much more expensive MV Airo 4. I'd hazard a guess they all come out of the same factory. Here's a pic of the MV Airo 4...

Airo 4.jpg
 
pvb said:
I'm intrigued by these cheap Chinese heaters. They bear a striking resemblance to the MV Airo 4 - MV heaters seem to be the new name for the well-respected Mikuni heaters. If you look at the curved line on the cover, the clips holding the cover on at one end, the screw hole positions for the end plates, they all look the same as the much more expensive MV Airo 4. I'd hazard a guess they all come out of the same factory. Here's a pic of the MV Airo 4...

View attachment 68186
Click to expand...

The casing looks and feels like the d4 and has the same dimensions although the top and output heads fit each other one is a much tighter fit so the odd mm difference.
Size and positions of exhaust and combustion air ports match, the rubber anti vibration mounts are the same and the same base plate can be used.
The ECU is quite different, its internal but with the components visible on a simple looking board under a clear case.
The control switch feels pretty Micky Mouse but it works ok to date. heated workshop to 23 degrees no problems and then I was able to use control to get it to
run at a steady 20degrees on 'tickover' ( 100 pumps per second).

The switches that I would like naming are called on the translation 'open' and 'off' but nothing to show which is which.
 
As shown

LEFT = OPEN (Roughly looks like #)
RIGHT = TURN OFF (Roughly looks like >|-|< )

I think the controller is pictured 90 degrees from it should be. Turn off should be a two headed stick man hola-hooping and would be on the bottom.
 
pvb said:
I'm intrigued by these cheap Chinese heaters. They bear a striking resemblance to the MV Airo 4 - MV heaters seem to be the new name for the well-respected Mikuni heaters. If you look at the curved line on the cover, the clips holding the cover on at one end, the screw hole positions for the end plates, they all look the same as the much more expensive MV Airo 4. I'd hazard a guess they all come out of the same factory. Here's a pic of the MV Airo 4...

View attachment 68186
Click to expand...

Me too, have put my money where my mouth is and ordered one too, with a digital controller and four outlets for £170, i'll let you guys know if it burns the van out......
 
Yes, rotate pic 90 degrees clockwise.. Then the top one is ON and the bottom one is OFF.

ShinyShoe said:
As shown

LEFT = OPEN (Roughly looks like #)
RIGHT = TURN OFF (Roughly looks like >|-|< )

I think the controller is pictured 90 degrees from it should be. Turn off should be a two headed stick man hola-hooping and would be on the bottom.
Click to expand...
 
If it does prove to be a half decent bit of kit and and somebody somewhere takes the risk ? of importing a few spares and offers some back up, I personally would not be investing in any shares in Webasto or Eberspacher any time soon. :)
Many years ago, we started supplying/ installing electronic equipment derided as "mickey mouse" by long established companies in the field.
The "mouse" equipment eventually totally eliminated the competition within a decade simply on price.
It was probably more reliable .

Suspect that it could be boon to installers as well.
If the stuff is any good the chance of making an actual decent profit on the supply and fitting of the stuff will improve and more folks will be able to afford to consider actually installing heating or renewing a knackered system.
It will simply not be worth throwing money at some stinky old geriactic system merely for it to stagger on for another few months. ?
A fellow club member has installed a "chinese"one on his rather splendid Broom 41.
The boat had not been reduced to pile of glassfibre rovings last time I walked past.
He does have a much cherished collection of non functioning Ebers in his lazerette which his wife would like to see the back of.!
We live in interesting times ?
 
Last edited:
pcatterall said:
The casing looks and feels like the d4 and has the same dimensions although the top and output heads fit each other one is a much tighter fit so the odd mm difference.
Size and positions of exhaust and combustion air ports match, the rubber anti vibration mounts are the same and the same base plate can be used.
The ECU is quite different, its internal but with the components visible on a simple looking board under a clear case.
The control switch feels pretty Micky Mouse but it works ok to date. heated workshop to 23 degrees no problems and then I was able to use control to get it to
run at a steady 20degrees on 'tickover' ( 100 pumps per second?????).

The switches that I would like naming are called on the translation 'open' and 'off' but nothing to show which is which.
Click to expand...
 
Any chance you can post the link to the seller, as I am interested in the unit for my workshop.
 
What would be very useful to know is the delivery times of the units (from when you won the auction to doorstep arrival) and also did you have to pay any Import tax or VAT?
Did the package go through customs and was there any other taxes or dues to pay before you could receive it?
Never really sure about ordering expensive items from China about any hidden "extras" that need to be paid?
 
mickywillis said:
What would be very useful to know is the delivery times of the units (from when you won the auction to doorstep arrival) and also did you have to pay any Import tax or VAT?
Did the package go through customs and was there any other taxes or dues to pay before you could receive it?
Never really sure about ordering expensive items from China about any hidden "extras" that need to be paid?
Click to expand...

Just over a month to arrive from ordering. No customs on mine but I don't think you can rely on that. Seller answered my questions ok and confirmed the marking on the switches.
 
mickywillis said:
Did the package go through customs and was there any other taxes or dues to pay before you could receive it?
Click to expand...

Chinese suppliers have absolutely no compunction about lying on customs declarations - I’ve bought quite a lot from there and they all turn up either quoting a price well below the customs limit or claiming to be a personal gift. I don’t think I’ve ever been charged duty or VAT on a Chinese import (unlike American).

These were all quite small packages though (generally electronic modules of one sort or another) - I don’t know whether HMRC would react differently to a substantial box claiming to be only worth a fiver.

Pete
 
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