Eberspacher or Webasto

[marchhare]

Looking to buy one or the other of these units at the SIBS, Eberspacher seem to be the market leader but can anyone give an experience opinion on the Webasto units please.

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[rwoofer]

They are equally good with minor differences in electricity consumption, output etc.

I bought I Webasto because it was more economical that the equivalent Eber.


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[Talbot]

Eber has more fan settings, so uses less electricity than the web, and the 4kw version suited my boat better.

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[cpedw]

I chose a Webasto. Its main advantage I felt is that it can be started without needing the engine running, provided the batteries are reasonably healthy. From other Eber users, I hear that without the engine running they have no hope of starting the heater.
It will go for several hours before the battery is so flat that I'm anxious about it.
The installation was a significant undertaking, mainly because of the big ducts; the same for both types. I had difficulty getting it to work at first because I didn't engage the electrical plugs properly. The guy at BK marine was very helpful sorting that out by phone.
Derek

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[terryw]

I went through this process at London this year and chose the Webasto for the following reasons:
Has larger fuel jet opening which means it does not get blocked like the one on the Eber
It has self diagnostics and does not need an Engineer. With Eber if it does not fire after 3 attempts it needs Engineer reset. Wabasto sorts itself and if it really goes wrong you just disconnect the mains supply, leave 15 minutes and reconnect.
Has thermal ducting available as option which is very efficient.

I have been using it since April and no problems even at 25 knots

Hope this helps
Terry

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[joss]

Interested to see that engine is required to start heater. This is because of AMPs required for glow plug? Surely this is less than current required to turn the starter motor?

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[andyball]

afaik the newer webastos claims a ceramic glow plug ,rather than a wire wound one, that draws much less current....hence less voltage drop on start-up. Many users of diesel heaters report needing the engine running, perhaps due to undersized cable/bad connections to the heater dropping so many V that ignition doesn't happen or the heater shuts off, sensing low voltage.

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[alan]

Have you had a look also at Mikuni ?? They are considerably cheaper than Eber or Webasto. They also had some good offers at SIBS a couple of years ago. Search on this site for Eberspacher and you will find a lot of discussions last year .... which would have put me off buying one : particularly this nonsense of having to get a dealer to reset it after three failed start attempts, this for me is absolutely ridiculous and makes it unfit for general consumer use in my opinion!!

Alan.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Cloke

 

[ayms]

For whats it's worth my father does not need the engine running to start his Eberspacher.

<hr width=100% size=1>Doing the Arc ? Me to on <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.makathea.co.uk>http://www.makathea.co.uk</A>

 

[bedouin]

Have you intentionally ruled out the Mikumi unit?

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[longjohnsilver]

I've had a Mikuni for about 4 years and it's never let me down.

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[marchhare]

I think it is the least favourite at the moment, I know it is competitivley priced but my understanding is that it is not as efficient, more noisey, not as advanced as the others and requires an annual service, (unlike the webasto). The down side to the Eberspacher would appear to be the need for engineering support for failure to light. The point made about continual advances to heaters is noted.
I will however check out all three at the show, but the feedback has been interesting, as allways.

Bob

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