PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Not sure what bits will interchange, i think the pumps will, possibly a few other bits. I think Owen investigated the clones in some detail, perhaps he'll pop in and share what he found.
Heater fuel starvation
- Thread starter Graham_Wright
- Start date
Not sure what bits will interchange, i think the pumps will, possibly a few other bits. I think Owen investigated the clones in some detail, perhaps he'll pop in and share what he found.
owen-cox
Well-Known Member
There is something wrong with it then. We install genuine Autoterm (Planar) pumps pulling through fuel filters all the time. Even off a standard CAV filter that also supplies the engine but often with a plastic inline filter. They always work fine. Check the filter is airtight and the pipe connections.
owen-cox
Well-Known Member
The pumps are interchangeable mostly. That is a 2kW eberspacher pump works with pretty much all the chinese Eberspacher clones even the 2/5/8
kW large ones. The motors are as well interchangeable with 4kW Eberspacher ones if its a larger size clone. The burner tubes are also interchangeable. Basically the smaller ones are clones of the D2 and the 2/5/8 kw are copies of a D4. The main differences are the electronics are totally different, the dont go into standby once they reach temperature, the boards are a lot
Lower quality as are all the rest of the components. The main aluminium body, burners and pumps are similar but they tolerances are often way out on the original design. Always check the heat exchanger has no casting defects in it and also make sure the overheat protection works before installing or you could end up with a disaster. The main problem with the control system is I have seen them running the exhaust pipe cherry red when there is a fault or sooting in the burner. This I have never seen on a branded heater and is obviously a major concern on a boat where it is usually inside a locker out of sight. But back to the pumps. To make it reliable a 2kW Eberspacher pump will be the answer but it will cost more than the heater did for a genuine one.
owen-cox
Well-Known Member
Tye differences between a genuine planar and a chinese” Planar” are extensive. There is not a single component that is interchangeable. All the parts were independently engineered. The pumps are a different volume. 4.4ml and 6.8ml per click so half the frequency of Eberspachers usually, the burner is a newer design that does not soot anything like so readily, much quieter and economical brushless fan motor, far better control systems that have solid state sensors instead of mechanical switches for temperature sensors etc. This means the control can be a lot more intelligent than a mechanical switch. They now have overheat protection as standard. So if a grille is slightly covered by a bag or something the heater will ramp down to try and prevent overheating. I have seen this be so efficient that a heater will run with a very restricted ducting system and hide a poor installation for a year before finally sooting up due to never running at full power. They come as standard now with an automatic altitude sensor to prevent sooting at altitude (of course not much use on a boat but its there). There are also massive quality management and testing changes that are not immediately obvious but in all the hundreds I hve fitted I still have to find one that didnt work immediately out of the box. As we are now the UK sole distributor we see all the issues from all the dealers and have very very few.
lw395
Well-Known Member
Is that per 100 pulses?
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I agree, i've also fitted genuine Planars with the supply drawing through CAV filters, same as with Ebers.
owen-cox
Well-Known Member
Yes,
Rappey
Well-Known Member
Why not run the supplied 2mm plastic pipe inside copper pipe if your concerned about melting?
The exhaust does get very hot on a 5kw, but wrap it and it's not an issue?
I do like that chinese heaters display any faults making repair easy.
The exhaust does get very hot on a 5kw, but wrap it and it's not an issue?
I do like that chinese heaters display any faults making repair easy.
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
I thought of that. I need to visit the boat to see if it will fit. I would get the same level of mechanical protection which is what I sought.
Even the simple controllers with a "thermostat" knob indicate faults with the number of segments lit. I think that scores over the Eber.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Have you seen a recent Eberspacher? The controls incorporate diagnostics these days!
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
How much does a look cost?!
The Chinese versions do a series of checks before switch on and do indicate reasons for shut down. I don't understand how they recognise a flame out though as the sensors seems to be a disc clamped to the aluminium casting. Heat? Sound? Apparently not light.