Dangerous diesel heaters impounded

[penfold]

Not noticed a tsunami of lurid tabloid headlines about people in boats/sheds/caravans killing themselves with chinaspachers, so either they aren't dangerous or it's an evil conspiracy to suppress this information that involves the Barclay brothers, Max Aitken, Elon Musk and the makers of Bacofoil.

 

[stelican]

Wrong.

Carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and diffuses evenly throughout the space it is released into.

A carbon monoxide detector is cheap and easy to unstall. The ultra cautious can easily install two.

- W

So that's why alarm/ detectors are usually ceiling mounted?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

So that's why alarm/ detectors are usually ceiling mounted?

Head height is good too. Ours is at the top of a bulkhead, we can only just claim to have standing headroom. I have a hand held detector too, obviously I’ve given the installation repeated goings over with that, at close range. It’s true that these things put a huge onus onto the installer to make sure the exhaust is gas tight. Which is also the case for other gas and diesel fuel heaters, but if you’ve got a marine kit, at least all the parts you’ll need are in the box. We wouldn’t use any internally mounted fuel heater at night even so.

 

[TSB240]

A good indicator of a problem with unregulated equipment tends to be the reaction or coverage given by your insurer,. If these heaters were maiming killing or burning houses boats or people then the claims department would be straight onto the renewals to ensure our premiums reflected the new risk to their profits.

 

[NormanS]

Of course the exhaust system has to be gas tight. Just as the exhaust system for an engine has to be gas tight. What's all the fuss about?

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've got a Chinaspacher heater fitted to my boat and it's excellent value compared to Eberspacher/Webasto. I researched it for 3/4 months before buying it. Most of the problems are in the installation, lots of info on the Internet and from memory you can download Eberspacher installation instructions. I replaced the crap items with marine items, silencer, exhaust pipe, hose clips, fuel line etc etc. Also looked at the BSS regs for inland waterways. I did have to replace the motherboard and controller as later ones were better. I ran it in my shed for a week then stripped it and it was perfect internally. Very pleased. Spares when needed are incredibly cheap compared to Eberspacher.

 

[paradave]

Why is no entrepreneur selling these heaters with decent installation kits? It sounds as though with proper exhausts etc, they’re great.

 

[Osmosis]

Lithium Batteries next or am I already behind the times?

 

[oldgit]

Lithium Batteries next or am I already behind the times?

Anchors next ?

 

[Bigplumbs]

I spent 2 years researching these heaters - I bought one binned everything that came with it except the controller and heater everything else I bought seperatley and more uprated - jobs a good un.
All I can say is do your research and be prepared to spend a bit more cash dont expect for £80 its going to be sing and dancing because all diesel heaters regardless of make are lethal if installed wrong.

You dont need to bin much at all. Infact none of it needs binning. Just buy a quality Silencer and outlet, better fuel filters and make sure the joints on the exhausts are sealed.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Here you go one of mine il in one unit set up. I have this one and a further 3 in other situations. One in my Sealine S24 but not the all in one but the separates...... If you are sensible these are very very good

 

[Bigplumbs]

Here is the one in my shed

 

[Bigplumbs]

 

[jon and michie]

@Bigplumbs - I went for a more belt and braces approach - marine silencer and skin fitting with a webastor exhaust pipe (used off cut for the air intake) along with a condensate pipe - Marine grade stamped fuel pipe - ducting I used 2 ply silicone which can take double the heat what the heater gives out - insulation I made up which can take 2500c - the main positive wiring from my fuse board breaker is upgraded as is the negative - jubilee clips marine grade from screwfix of all places and proper mikalor exhaust clamps from fleebay - exhaust is wrapped up.
I made my own diesel tank with isolation tap _ I didnt want to go into my own boat's fuel tank - I used air ducting for the main air intake coming from the starboard side - exhaust outlet is on the port (not to choke on the co fumes).
will post pics if you like as and when I get time

jon

 

[Flyingspanner]

So finally installed my Chinese diesel heater, I have to say very impressed so far - all the bits were there and fitted, worked first try as well which was a bonus - I bought a stainless steel thru hull skin fitting to vent the exhaust outside and a 240v-12v power supply as a permanent feed - also fitted a long life Co2 alarm just in case - in my workshop it’s very power and heats it in a few minuets - the only negative is the fuel pump is a bit noisy (a ticking noise) but I have seen some diy improvements to make it a bit quieter - loads better than my paraffin heater

 

[Daydream believer]

So finally installed my Chinese diesel heater, I have to say very impressed so far - all the bits were there and fitted, worked first try as well which was a bonus - I bought a stainless steel thru hull skin fitting to vent the exhaust outside and a 240v-12v power supply as a permanent feed - also fitted a long life Co2 alarm just in case - in my workshop it’s very power and heats it in a few minuets - the only negative is the fuel pump is a bit noisy (a ticking noise) but I have seen some diy improvements to make it a bit quieter - loads better than my paraffin heater

Mine is rubbish ( uses loads of fuel for little heat output) & I have repaced it with a propane blower in my workshop.

 

[volvopaul]

Old thread this but I was with a well known surveyor this week him doing his bit and myself doing the green bits , this heater business is more dangerous with diy fitting this particular boat had its outlet fitting too low so the exhaust from the starboard engine blew sea water at the heater exhaust and the owner had fitted a camper style silencer with a condensation drain which allowed fumes straight into the heater fan inlet filling the boat with fumes and smoke on start up , it also had no lagging and no swan neck , Nick Vass has posted photos on Solent boating facebook page , whilst the foreign junk is dangerous it's also the diy brigade that are there own victims in many cases .

 

[jon and michie]

Old thread this but I was with a well known surveyor this week him doing his bit and myself doing the green bits , this heater business is more dangerous with diy fitting this particular boat had its outlet fitting too low so the exhaust from the starboard engine blew sea water at the heater exhaust and the owner had fitted a camper style silencer with a condensation drain which allowed fumes straight into the heater fan inlet filling the boat with fumes and smoke on start up , it also had no lagging and no swan neck , Nick Vass has posted photos on Solent boating facebook page , whilst the foreign junk is dangerous it's also the diy brigade that are there own victims in many cases .

The only thing worth keeping in these kits is the heater, pump and controller only the rest is junk for a boat set up.
Then there is the install - Plan , Plan and plan - look at youtube videos and do the research. if you are going to do it yourself

 

[NormanS]

Old thread this but I was with a well known surveyor this week him doing his bit and myself doing the green bits , this heater business is more dangerous with diy fitting this particular boat had its outlet fitting too low so the exhaust from the starboard engine blew sea water at the heater exhaust and the owner had fitted a camper style silencer with a condensation drain which allowed fumes straight into the heater fan inlet filling the boat with fumes and smoke on start up , it also had no lagging and no swan neck , Nick Vass has posted photos on Solent boating facebook page , whilst the foreign junk is dangerous it's also the diy brigade that are there own victims in many cases .

"Foreign junk", eh? Maybe you can suggest a heater of this type that isn't foreign made.

 

[Greg2]

I guess it is an element of human nature, perhaps more pronounced in some (thankfully few on here), to exhort the benefits of their particular choice whilst at the same time criticising, or implying criticism of others for not doing what they did.

If people want to install cheap heaters on the primary basis of cost without the associated safeguards that come with mainstream manufacture meeting relevant standards etc then crack on as far as I am concerned. Each to their own but with the caveat that potentially endangering others is inexcusable. That said, thankfully most on here seem to appreciate that some elements of the cheap heater kit are junk and could be downright dangerous so bin those bits and use pukka kit instead.

Sure, the mainstream manufacturers often apply ridiculous pricing structures and they can be a bit of a rip off but my personal view is that with something that is getting hot and emitting noxious fumes in what is usually a confined space I want to have some degree of surety so our choice is to replace our ageing Ebersplutter with a new Webasto system. I am waiting for the quote but I know it will cost several times what a cheap copy would off eBay.

Perhaps some might say I am being a little risk averse and might also say that I am wasting money and perhaps I am, but having spent many years in a line of work that involved investigating fatalities in various scenarios I am acutely aware of what can go wrong and the kind of thinking that can contribute to it. So my choice is not to go cheap.

Others will make different choices and some have explained quite cogently on here why they have done so and what they have done to mitigate the risks, which is all good stuff for discussion on a forum.
.