Portable Diesel Heater

[longtimecoming]

He's done 3 Nordic winter trips (and is probably there right now for round 4). Lapland, Lofoten islands, Nordkapp, the Russia/Finland/Norway border etc etc etc.

Thanks - will check it out!

Remember if you are piping warm air "in" from the outside you also need to think about where the cold air already inside can get out - otherwise you have a fan that's designed mostly to blow against little resistance trying to pressurise the van to push the cold air out. That's another thing that isn't an issue when installing conventionally as you are taking the air from the van and putting it back so zero sum pressure wise.

Also take great care that your exhaust isn't going to get drawn in to the intake. That's easier to keep a good distance apart in a fixed install, but easy to miss in a portable.

Yes, I was wondering about the air getting out. I don't know what others have done. I'll have to search I guess. I was thinking that the vans probably aren't perfectly sealed so would probably be okay but I don't know. Maybe I could create a pressure chamber or switch it into reverse for some altitude training ;-)

 

[TallPaul_S]

Thanks - will check it out!


Yes, I was wondering about the air getting out. I don't know what others have done. I'll have to search I guess. I was thinking that the vans probably aren't perfectly sealed so would probably be okay but I don't know. Maybe I could create a pressure chamber or switch it into reverse for some altitude training ;-)

They're sealed pretty well, it's why you don't open or close a pop top without a door or window open!

 

[drinfinity]

The price of the van-mount option is up to you. You can spend £1000+ on the Erbespacher, or £130 on a Veevor to mount under the van which will be the same heater unit as in your portable one.

 

[longtimecoming]

They're sealed pretty well, it's why you don't open or close a pop top without a door or window open!

Ah, not being a pop-top person I did not know that! makes perfect sense though.

The price of the van-mount option is up to you. You can spend £1000+ on the Erbespacher, or £130 on a Veevor to mount under the van which will be the same heater unit as in your portable one.

Yeah that's a fair point, I image installation costs would be similar though somewhere IRO £600? because I still wouldn't fancy installing it myself.

 

[Johnod17]

looking at putting a stand alone diesel heater in my T6 work van to dry my work gear.
I have the underslung unit on my T5.1 mounted in the correct external position but don't want to do this on the T6 as it is site work that I do in this van and go through deep water/mud.
So I am looking at putting

in the van and exhausting it through the floor and using heat sleeve on the pipe to stop the heat doing any damage,can anyone see a problem with this ?

Thanks in advance

 

[longtimecoming]

I saw a YT vid where someone had done this too. Seemed okay but I didn’t watch to the end because I’m putting mine outside

 

[Johnod17]

I saw a YT vid where someone had done this too. Seemed okay but I didn’t watch to the end because I’m putting mine outside

I agree outside is the best like I have done on my T5.1 but it would get flooded in the T6 due to where I have to drive it.
Have had the heater fired up in the garage for 2 hours on max output and have had a bit of perspex under to see the heat that will be coming out of the exhaust and no distortion on the perspex, so hopefully if the exhaust is passed through the floor in side another tube and exhaust lagging it will be OK.

 

[Green Giant]

in my van the heater is mounted inside the van, under drivers seat, it doesn’t cause a problem and heats the van very quickly, would of preferred it underneath the van so i would have more space available for leisure electrics etc,

 

[drinfinity]

I agree outside is the best like I have done on my T5.1 but it would get flooded in the T6 due to where I have to drive it.
Have had the heater fired up in the garage for 2 hours on max output and have had a bit of perspex under to see the heat that will be coming out of the exhaust and no distortion on the perspex, so hopefully if the exhaust is passed through the floor in side another tube and exhaust lagging it will be OK.

A regular diesel heater comes with a through the floor plate, so the combustion intake/exhaust is sealed outside. It would be a smaller box than the portable one (which presumably includes a fuel tank). It would go easily under the drivers seat.