Planar 2KW Diesel Heater

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BobbyD

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Hi, I know lots of threads on here re. Diesel Heaters but wanted to seek advice from those with a 2KW Planar heater specifically.

I recently installed the kit into the locker on a 28ft with one duct into the galley and fresh air intake. Whilst the air being expelled gets warm, it’s not particularly hot - appreciate this is subjective but I can hold my hand over the duct or on the ducting without any issues.. similarly, I can hold my hand over the exhaust outlet without being burnt! Cabin struggles to heat up. Perhaps this is how it’s supposed to work but am a little disappointed.

Having spoken to Planar support, they suggested air in the fuel line or poor fuel - I’ve bled the system and taken fresh fuel but no better. They’ve now advised that it should recirculate air from the cabin (along with the associated moisture issues). I‘ve checked the power setting and this is at 9 (I’ve seen some threads where this was set incorrectly).

My question is, how hot should these get as it would appear mine isn’t working correctly.

Thanks
 
BobbyD said:
Hi, I know lots of threads on here re. Diesel Heaters but wanted to seek advice from those with a 2KW Planar heater specifically.

I recently installed the kit into the locker on a 28ft with one duct into the galley and fresh air intake. Whilst the air being expelled gets warm, it’s not particularly hot - appreciate this is subjective but I can hold my hand over the duct or on the ducting without any issues.. similarly, I can hold my hand over the exhaust outlet without being burnt! Cabin struggles to heat up. Perhaps this is how it’s supposed to work but am a little disappointed.

Having spoken to Planar support, they suggested air in the fuel line or poor fuel - I’ve bled the system and taken fresh fuel but no better. They’ve now advised that it should recirculate air from the cabin (along with the associated moisture issues). I‘ve checked the power setting and this is at 9 (I’ve seen some threads where this was set incorrectly).

My question is, how hot should these get as it would appear mine isn’t working correctly.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Who did you speak to at Planar support ? What was the site you purchased from ?
 
PaulRainbow said:
Who did you speak to at Planar support ? What was the site you purchased from ?
Click to expand...
Came direct from Planar.. I’ve logged a tech support ticket but they didn’t really respond so I called them yesterday - spoke with the customer service agent who advised it needs recirculated air. That might make a small difference but it’s not going to make 80 degree difference!
 
ChromeDome said:
If for some reason the dosing pump doesn't deliver the right amount, it will not perform.

Did you follow the instructions when installing? The pipe from the dosing pump must be of the type provided and fitted correctly
Click to expand...
All the parts are original planar supplied, including pump and pipe. The total run from tank to heater is less than 1m with pump located around half way If that helps.
 
BobbyD said:
Came direct from Planar.. I’ve logged a tech support ticket but they didn’t really respond so I called them yesterday - spoke with the customer service agent who advised it needs recirculated air. That might make a small difference but it’s not going to make 80 degree difference!
Click to expand...

Can you give a link to the site you ordered from please.

Advice that it needs to recirculate is pure nonsense.
 
BobbyD said:
All the parts are original planar supplied, including pump and pipe. The total run from tank to heater is less than 1m with pump located around half way If that helps.
Click to expand...
Sounds good. And you followed the instructions?

Suppose you've checked everything.. - did you measure the ambient and output temps?
Edit: If the pipe from the pump has any hose that can flex, it may work as a damper, absorbing the pulse and not putting the full amount through
 
ChromeDome said:
Sounds good. And you followed the instructions?

Suppose you've checked everything.. - did you measure the ambient and output temps?
Edit: If the pipe from the pump has any hose that can flex, it may work as a damper, absorbing the pulse and not putting the full amount through
Click to expand...
I think all setup correctly - it runs, fuel pipe clicks but just not particularly hot.

I’ve not measured the input/output temps scientifically but outside would have been around 6-10 degrees over Easter - after an hour of running, the output at the duct was warm (probably liken to a car heater at about 20 degrees) but not hot. As such, cabin didn’t really warm up all that much. Also could hold my hand about 1 inch from the exhaust at back of boat with no issues - i would hvae expected this to be much hotter.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Can you give a link to the site you ordered from please.

Advice that it needs to recirculate is pure nonsense.
Click to expand...
www.autoterm.store

I also don’t believe the advice and certainly wasn’t the intention when i purchased it to have it recirculate. I don’t want a sauna in there but i would expect it to adequately heat a 28 ft boat (given they recommend the 2KW unit to 33ft).
 
BobbyD said:
Hi, I know lots of threads on here re. Diesel Heaters but wanted to seek advice from those with a 2KW Planar heater specifically.

I recently installed the kit into the locker on a 28ft with one duct into the galley and fresh air intake. Whilst the air being expelled gets warm, it’s not particularly hot - appreciate this is subjective but I can hold my hand over the duct or on the ducting without any issues.. similarly, I can hold my hand over the exhaust outlet without being burnt! Cabin struggles to heat up. Perhaps this is how it’s supposed to work but am a little disappointed.

Having spoken to Planar support, they suggested air in the fuel line or poor fuel - I’ve bled the system and taken fresh fuel but no better. They’ve now advised that it should recirculate air from the cabin (along with the associated moisture issues). I‘ve checked the power setting and this is at 9 (I’ve seen some threads where this was set incorrectly).

My question is, how hot should these get as it would appear mine isn’t working correctly.

Thanks
Click to expand...
The heated air should be around 100c,check for any fuel restriction in the pipe work as it could be fuel starvation or faulty fuel pump not supplying enough fuel.
 
BobbyD said:
www.autoterm.store

I also don’t believe the advice and certainly wasn’t the intention when i purchased it to have it recirculate. I don’t want a sauna in there but i would expect it to adequately heat a 28 ft boat (given they recommend the 2KW unit to 33ft).
Click to expand...
2 kw to 33'? Only if insulated completely and used in mild climate.

A have a roomy 30' moto with patio doors ("closed cabins") and two 2kw heaters,- and that works ok if not too freezing.
Like most boats not really insulated.
 
I have one running right now. Just had to turn it down to 18 as getting a bit toasty. Have you got it set correctly 30 in the cabin measuring from the stat.
 
Hi, as technical director of Autoterm in the UK I would like to ask the following question. is the fuel from your main tank? 99.99% of problems like this are poor quality fuel followed shortly by error 13 fault because the burner is sooted. The heated air out should be around 80C more than the air going in. Its in my view most likely poor fuel. The easy way to check this is to get some brand new road diesel in a can and draw directly from that. Then you can see for sure either way. These heaters always work straight from the box so its going to be a fault on the boat or the installation. If the exhaust is not hot it has to be poor flame temperature and this is almost always due to fuel.
 
ChromeDome said:
2 kw to 33'? Only if insulated completely and used in mild climate.

A have a roomy 30' moto with patio doors ("closed cabins") and two 2kw heaters,- and that works ok if not too freezing.
Like most boats not really insulated.
Click to expand...
It will do it fine as long as its left to run for a good while. We have done many boats of around this size. I installed in a sigma 33 very recently and it gets roasting within an hour or two.
 
owen-cox said:
Hi, as technical director of Autoterm in the UK I would like to ask the following question. is the fuel from your main tank? 99.99% of problems like this are poor quality fuel followed shortly by error 13 fault because the burner is sooted. The heated air out should be around 80C more than the air going in. Its in my view most likely poor fuel. The easy way to check this is to get some brand new road diesel in a can and draw directly from that. Then you can see for sure either way. These heaters always work straight from the box so its going to be a fault on the boat or the installation. If the exhaust is not hot it has to be poor flame temperature and this is almost always due to fuel.
Click to expand...
I initially ran the system from the auxiliary tank that came as part of the package - this would have had fresh fuel but it didn’t feel any different (certainly not 80 degrees hotter than) the ambient air temp. It is now taken direct from the main tank - it will run for hours with no errors but again, not hot (just warm)

I noticed on the video posted by ChromeDome earlier in the thread that the pump clicked very quickly when on high power (2-3 times per second). I know this is a Chinese knock off version but should the Autoterm one run the same fast clicking (mine clicks perhaps once per second)?
 
BobbyD said:
www.autoterm.store

I also don’t believe the advice and certainly wasn’t the intention when i purchased it to have it recirculate. I don’t want a sauna in there but i would expect it to adequately heat a 28 ft boat (given they recommend the 2KW unit to 33ft).
Click to expand...
I do always recommend recirculating the air as its far better control and a lot more economical on fuel, plus you avoid sucking your own exhaust fumes into the boat. But its not strictly necessary if you really don't want to. It should still get around 80C temperature differential from incoming to outgoing air.
 
BobbyD said:
I initially ran the system from the auxiliary tank that came as part of the package - this would have had fresh fuel but it didn’t feel any different (certainly not 80 degrees hotter than) the ambient air temp. It is now taken direct from the main tank - it will run for hours with no errors but again, not hot (just warm)

I noticed on the video posted by ChromeDome earlier in the thread that the pump clicked very quickly when on high power (2-3 times per second). I know this is a Chinese knock off version but should the Autoterm one run the same fast clicking (mine clicks perhaps once per second)?
Click to expand...
The pump should run at 1.5Hz at full power about half the frequency of the chinese ones. Which controller do you have?
 
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