Planar cost vs chinese

S

steve yates

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 Oct 2014
Messages
4,113
Location
Benfleet, Essex/Keswick, Cumbria
Visit site
I am wondering if by the time you parts from one of the better chinese heaters (around the £150 mark) with all the required marine accessories, if the price is not getting similar to an off the shelf planar? Or do they need other parts added or replaced too? The autoterm 2kw is about £429 with the supplied exhaust, does that need changing for a marine version too? Obviously there is the cost of a skin fitting as that wouldnt be usual in a truck. Anyone like to share the final cost of their planar installation or chinese installaion for comparison?
 
The 2kw Planar boat kit costs £515 and comes with everything you need, except a fuel filter. I don't like the exhaust lagging, but they will supply a better version for £6.99 per metre. I've fitted a few of these (and the 4kw versions) for customers and they work very well, never had a problem with one.
 
Have you considered the smallest of the diesel drip, or paraffin heaters? None of the pump noise as they cycle on and off, no need for electrics. I'm sure there are many other factors both for & against but seems worth a look. I'm trying to find plans & schematics to build a tiny one as the ones I've seen all look a bit large for an 18' boat.
 
Steve, I have a 2kw Planar, it works okay though I never got on with the 7day controller and changed it. but with hindsight I would spend a few quid more for the 4kw. Insulating the 3 outlet ductwork might have helped.

Planars do not like the electric supply to the controller being turned off and will huff for quite a while after you switch it back on but this probably applies to the others too.
 
Last edited:
Quandary said:
Steve, I have a 2kw Planar, it works okay though I never got on with the 7day controller and changed it. but with hindsight I would spend a few quid more for the 4kw. Insulating the 3 outlet ductwork might have helped.

Planars do not like the electric supply to the controller being turned off and will huff for quite a while after you switch it back on but this probably applies to the others too.
Click to expand...

The power supply should not be cut on any of the air heaters. The heater has to go through a cool down sequence, then you can turn the power off. For this reason, it is usual not to connect the heater to the battery isolator switch.

The Planar 7 day timer was not very intuitive, i usually just fit the basic controller. There is a new controller now, which looks interesting, although i've not yet fitted one.
 
I bought a Chinese 5kw and it has given a years trouble free service so far.

Heater £89
Skin fitting £40
Exhaust hose £18
Exhaust wrap £12
Total cost £159

I fabricated a bracket from a scrap piece of aluminium for bulkhead mounting and needed to run electrical cabling of which I already had. I do not have a silencer and to be honest dont think it needs one.
 
I have seen this asked so many times and i will be going with he Planer on mine at a cost of around £850 for the kit i want and extras. Thats even though a Chinese with all the extras to be safe and good of around £450..I am still not convinced on these cheapo Chinese things.

this chap, i actuaally know him has looked into all these an dis well up on them chinese heaters and i still wont have one ha ha.

he has a few more i think aswell with better pricing and fittings needed.

 
waynes world said:
I have seen this asked so many times and i will be going with he Planer on mine at a cost of around £850 for the kit i want and extras. Thats even though a Chinese with all the extras to be safe and good of around £450..I am still not convinced on these cheapo Chinese things.

this chap, i actuaally know him has looked into all these an dis well up on them chinese heaters and i still wont have one ha ha.

he has a few more i think aswell with better pricing and fittings needed.

Click to expand...
Where are you getting the £450 figure from?
 
mrangry said:
Ah ok, so no links to costs, as I did it for under £160 thats all
Click to expand...
Cost is in the link i sent on the YT video. or one of his other videos. i priced it up myself a couple of year back and then it was over £350, i dont keep my pricing of things on file as see no reason to.
 
waynes world said:
Cost is in the link i sent on the YT video. or one of his other videos. i priced it up myself a couple of year back and then it was over £350, i dont keep my pricing of things on file as see no reason to.
Click to expand...
Ah ok, his video was fitting to a standard for inland waterways
 
The same could be said for lpg fittings and cookers. I could have renewed my LPG installation myself but decided to pay someone, many dont
 
mrangry said:
Yes there should be but there isnt
Click to expand...

Actually there is, if you fit it to inland specs. Why fit to inferior standards just because no-one will come and check it ?

There are no regulated minimum standards for pretty much everything in used boats in tidal waters. None of the electrical installations i do have to comply with any regulations, but it would be pretty silly of me not to follow the same safety requirements that new boats are subject to.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Actually there is, if you fit it to inland specs. Why fit to inferior standards just because no-one will come and check it ?

There are no regulated minimum standards for pretty much everything in used boats in tidal waters. None of the electrical installations i do have to comply with any regulations, but it would be pretty silly of me not to follow the same safety requirements that new boats are subject to.
Click to expand...
I haven't suggested anyone should, merely pointing out there are no regulated standards outwith inland use. Also that I have fitted a perfectly safe diesel heater installation for £159 give or take a few short lengths of fuel pipe and clips.
 
mrangry said:
Ah ok, his video was fitting to a standard for inland waterways
Click to expand...

Yes and it is a safe and proper way to do so, i would never advice or tell some one to save a few quid to do it in a way its not as safe as it should and can be.

I have fitted boats otu for folk for years and know that none inland boats are fitted worse than some inland and they are regulated BSC standards. Not a bad thing. can be a pain but then its make things safer and better all round.
 
Without getting bogged down on a debate about inland waterway standards and indeed any other standards, the original poster was asking about Planar heaters v Chinese heaters. I have no experiences with the Planar units so cannot comment, but have a Chinese unit which is safely fitted for £159.
 
If you can get away with the 60cm exhaust hose (and similar hot air tube) and not bother with a silencer, mount the heater high so no need for the condensation drain then all you'll need is a skin fitting if you can fabricate a mount.

From what I can gather with the Planar kit the only thing that makes it a marine kit is the skin fitting... you'll still need extra length hoses (if require), mounting bracket and gas tight marine silencer on top (Although I have seen the standard silencers seam welded to make them gas tight so the planar one might come like this). Plus any other stuff like insulation/exhaust heat shield, condensation drain etc.

Pm me if you want me to let you know what I've just bought for my Lavaner install.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top