Chinese heater.

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iantomlinson

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I have seen the threads on chinese heaters, i'm after a diesel heater with one outlet for our boat. anybody recommend a decent outlet to buy one from in uk? apperciate the skin fittings to buy etc but anybody recomend planair copies/eber/webasto copies that are tested and seem to be okay???
 
I've just removed a Chinese 5kW job from my (new to me) boat today, it was smoking 'some'.
There are a few blogs from soap-dodging van dwellers suggesting Vevor or Triclicks branded stuff is OK.

There are a lot of ebay and Amazon sellers who all look the same to me.

I have bought a new fire extinguisher and the CO alarm is in the post.
Might fire up the old unit in the backyard tomorrow.

A lot of the problems seem to me to be more about the DIY installers than the factory product. I found my exhaust hose was splitting, due to tight bends I think.

It's not 'ergonomic' installing one in the stern of a small yacht, things go 'off message' working with your head in the bilge and you can't see what you're doing.
Not easy to check all the joints are good!.
 
I replaced an old eberspacher in my boat with a Chineses cheapy - around £100. Works perfectly and just dropped in to replace the old unit. Highly recommended. there is a Facebook group devoted to resolving problems with these heaters and, as the above poster notes, most problems seem to come from poor installation. There are a couple of UK based sellers recommended on the Facebook group but I bought mine on eBay with no problems. Alternatively, buy from Amazon.
 
I installed a 2 kw 2.5years ago works fine,most problems are due to poor installation,some of the very cheap one come with a poor controller.
 
I've installed two, both new install and a drop in for a dead Eber. Can't really fault them. There's a lot of hot air about the dangers of them but no actual confirmed cases. One user on here managed to make one go up in smoke by blocking the outlet. I don't know if a Planar/Autoterm or an Eber/Webasto would have survived that either.
 
To avoid the hassle and a lot of the hazards, I have an all in one unit. It sits in the cockpit, is connected to the batteries via 230v 'blue' plug / socket, and simply ducts through a hole in the bottom washboard. It has two timer functions and a remote, so once inside and buttoned up I don't need to access it
 
RumPunch said:
To avoid the hassle and a lot of the hazards, I have an all in one unit. It sits in the cockpit, is connected to the batteries via 230v 'blue' plug / socket, and simply ducts through a hole in the bottom washboard. It has two timer functions and a remote, so once inside and buttoned up I don't need to access it
Click to expand...
That sounds like a very sound and practical solution for use while not under way, but many users will require heating below decks for off-watch crew while on passage. If the self-contained type was safe to use in a lazarette or cockpit locker this would be a very convenient arrangement, although a little more thought would need to be given to ducting.
 
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If you only need one outlet then a genuine 2kw should be fine - often it's described as a 2/5kw - the genuine 2kw is physically smaller. And from memory has a 60mm diameter outlet. The hose clips and exhaust pipe supplied are rubbish - get decent ones, Eber or Webasto and of course the exhaust outlet. You'll spend as much on the extras as the original heater cost. There are a couple of Facebook sites which give a lot of info.. most problems are down to poor installation.
 
Be especially careful with the exhaust - the exhaust pipe supplied is dangerously inadequate for a boat and only barely suitable for a lorry or van, it wouldn't last long.
The silencer typically provided is spot welded with a condensate drain hole - making it completely unsuitable for use in a boat.

The proper stuff is fine though - I'm looking at installing one and the current hurdle is finding enough space for it, and to route the exhaust somewhere safe
 
Just in case anyone has not twigged, the exhaust on a boat installation needs to be effectively lagged.
The exhaust gas needs to be kept over 100degC to keep it dry. If the water vapour is allowed to condense, then it will eventually destroy the exhaust and/or heater, or it will drip through any leaks in the exhaust and dissolve your keel bolts or something. You can get exhausts with a condensate drain and fit a catch tank instead.
This may be more of an issue running a big heater on low, or running for lots of short periods.
it will be worse, the longer the exhaust is.

I think the exhaust needs regular inspection, which kind of contradicts with the need for it to be well lagged with something that will survive 200 degrees!

The exhaust I've just removed had split on a bend near the transom terminal. Weight of stainless hose and wet lagging hanging on it perhaps?
I will make some brackets to support the new hose, and use a stainless rigid 90deg fitting to avoid bending the hose so much. Kerching!

By the way, the aluminium spigot of the heater's exhaust port seems to be 24mm, the transom fitting is 22mm and the old stainless hose looks like it has been 'persuaded' to fit.

CO alarm is out of date, kerching another £16 at Argos.

I will keep an eye on the condensation issue and if needs be, fit a catch bottle.

My heater is in a cockpit locker with no big openings to the cabin, but inevitably leaks where cables, the engine exhaust etc etc go through. Currently the heater draws its air from the locker too. i may change that, but not this month.

Splashing £100 to replace the actual heater is starting to look like a detail....
 
iantomlinson said:
I have seen the threads on chinese heaters, i'm after a diesel heater with one outlet for our boat. anybody recommend a decent outlet to buy one from in uk? apperciate the skin fittings to buy etc but anybody recomend planair copies/eber/webasto copies that are tested and seem to be okay???
Click to expand...

I seem to recall that “Lavener” branded Chinaspachers were considered better made than some non-branded heaters. Worth a google I reckon.
 
Just Bought a Lavaner.
Opened the box, looks good... Loads of fittings to play with ( very comprehensive)
So far so good, more to follow when I start assembling it
 
RumPunch said:
To avoid the hassle and a lot of the hazards, I have an all in one unit. It sits in the cockpit, is connected to the batteries via 230v 'blue' plug / socket, and simply ducts through a hole in the bottom washboard. It has two timer functions and a remote, so once inside and buttoned up I don't need to access it
Click to expand...

This sounds perfect for me. Do you have a link to the model? Searching eBay is a minefield!
 
RumPunch said:
To avoid the hassle and a lot of the hazards, I have an all in one unit. It sits in the cockpit, is connected to the batteries via 230v 'blue' plug / socket, and simply ducts through a hole in the bottom washboard. It has two timer functions and a remote, so once inside and buttoned up I don't need to access it
Click to expand...
How do you route the exhaust to the outside? If it's sitting in the cockpit some of the exhaust could filter to the accommodation? Do you have a Carbon Monoxide monitor?
 
RumPunch said:
To avoid the hassle and a lot of the hazards, I have an all in one unit. It sits in the cockpit, is connected to the batteries via 230v 'blue' plug / socket, and simply ducts through a hole in the bottom washboard. It has two timer functions and a remote, so once inside and buttoned up I don't need to access it
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was thinking of for Winter nights at anchor in Portugal.

What particular model are you using, and how is the exhaust configured?

- W
 
Hi, I was trying to find somebody who could recommend buying one of this place or that. i know i need the extra parts but surely theres somebody who bought one from dealer x or dealer y and they seem okay??
 
I bought the cheapest on ebay. I love the thing and it has run some serious hrs over the past 3 years.
The expensive part is all the quality ducting ,exhaust and lagging. Probably another £350 in my case.
Mine is under a cupboard amidships and the exhaust uses the old force 10 chimney out through the cabin roof.
Most of my exhaust is solid stainless tubing and solid aluminium tubing for the ducting. Aluminium tube was a lot cheaper than the proper stuff and gives me a smooth wall for both.
 
bought the heater and worked out where its going(under cockpit in front of fender locker), if it helps anyone with the layout of stbd side under genoa winch on colvic victor 34, needs 7ft of 316 24mm exhaust to route through cockpit locker. needs 15ft of 76mm air outlet ducting. questions are;
how close can the exhaust be to fibreglass locker bulkhead(read 2 inch) but anyone experience?
some sort of shield coz its going through fender locker.
source for 316 exhaust skin fitting on transom and does it need a 'down' cowl in case of wave slap or rain?
presume we need anti-syphon loop in exhaust?
Do we realy need a silencer-on mooring 90% of the time?
How far beneath cockpit sole for the heater mounting(vertical heat disipation) spelt wrong.
source for air ducting?
Thanks
 
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