Small Diesel Shop Heater

[JOEPRO]

wouldnt pulling the warm air from the room in to the combustion chamber eventually cause an over heat

No it won't cause an overheat.

The combustion chamber is min temp 125c and up to 180c range roughly.

If your room temp is 20C say surely this is not an issue but an efficiency of sorts.

 

[m_c]

I think there is one misunderstanding here which I was also guilty of.

Note that the air intake hose and filter are just for the combustion chamber. The 2 pipes coming out the bottom - 1x intake air and 1x exhaust are both into the same combustion side of the appliance. I think both could be routed outside but actually this risks intermixing of gases impacting performance.

The small intake duct for combustion doesn't draw alot of air either so just leave it indoors. I think the issue of air temperature isn't so huge considering it is only to serve combustion.

There is a risk combustion fumes can come out the intake, which is why it should be routed outside.
It should also be routed so the intake and exhaust pipes are suitably separated to avoid exhaust gases being drawn back in.

All these heaters are designed so the body can be sealed with a gasket against the floor/wall, so the combustion and heating air flows are completely isolated, and there are no exhaust joins within the heated area.

However there is a risk the gasket between the combustion chamber and heated air can fail, which is why CO monitors are highly recommended.

 

[JOEPRO]

There is a risk combustion fumes can come out the intake, which is why it should be routed outside.
It should also be routed so the intake and exhaust pipes are suitably separated to avoid exhaust gases being drawn back in.

All these heaters are designed so the body can be sealed with a gasket against the floor/wall, so the combustion and heating air flows are completely isolated, and there are no exhaust joins within the heated area.

However there is a risk the gasket between the combustion chamber and heated air can fail, which is why CO monitors are highly recommended.

Alot of risks there.

It depends on the intended use really. In a large garage ran at full power continuously and while supervised and with Co monitor = very little risk IMO. Hence why my intake is staying inside.

However

If you were installing this to a camper van and intended to sleep in it etc and the heater is ran on low then there is a potential under strong winds etc for fumes to come back in. In which case absolutely pipe the combustion intake to outside also. And I'd run 2no alarms incase one fails.

 

[fizzy]

I think there is one misunderstanding here which I was also guilty of.

Note that the air intake hose and filter are just for the combustion chamber. The 2 pipes coming out the bottom - 1x intake air and 1x exhaust are both into the same combustion side of the appliance. I think both could be routed outside but actually this risks intermixing of gases impacting performance.

The small intake duct for combustion doesn't draw alot of air either so just leave it indoors. I think the issue of air temperature isn't so huge considering it is only to serve combustion.

As for the "Room Side" of the heater air flow it has a fan intake on the rear of the housing. This pulls in air from your room and puts it over the cast alu heat exchanger which sends the heat out the front.

This means this room air flow is separated from the combustion air processes completely.

View attachment 388740

I think get the exhaust outside and well sealed is the critical part and in terms of safety they are superior to traditional Diesel space heaters which are sending you heat and gases with no separate exhaust. The heat is also the exaust in your room! So these China heaters are actually very safe in this regard considering all the size of them too.

Aka I have a 36KW Diesel space heater and it is fumey in the garage when running for a while. That is pure diesel fumes you inhale. Not so with the China heaters if maintained and installed correctly you should have ZERO exhaust gases in your garage.

View attachment 388737

I think it was the exhaust with silencer just above the bench that scared people
David McLuckie has tried one with the exhaust venting inside and as you say it is still a lot safer than a big space heater like that.
One of mine vents directly into the warehouse - it is so big and draughty it makes no difference at all. Much less so than a diesel or gas fired forklift that is for sure.
CO monitors are essential of course.

 

[JOEPRO]

I think it was the exhaust with silencer just above the bench that scared people
David McLuckie has tried one with the exhaust venting inside and as you say it is still a lot safer than a big space heater like that.
One of mine vents directly into the warehouse - it is so big and draughty it makes no difference at all. Much less so than a diesel or gas fired forklift that is for sure.
CO monitors are essential of course.

The facegriller 3000 is no more

 

[JOEPRO]

Update on this heater of mine:



It has been in use now since March and in more recent weeks I've put about 90L of Kerosene through it.

It's been totally faultless I have to say. Quite easy on Kerosene too. The internal tank on this one holds about 5L. That would allow it to run for about 8- 10 hours flat out before topping up again.

I find that it is not so powerful that it can truly heat my garage but my garage is a large masonry garage with single skin shutter etc. For example today it's 5c outside and this is as hot as my garage would get after it running for 6 hours:



This still feels warm though and the best part is there is no fuel vapour within the garage. (Intake and exhaust both out through wall in mine) It all goes to outside so its a great way to heat your garage. For example I have one of these heaters but they do put alot of moisture into the space:



Overall I am pleasantly surprised how good these little diesel heaters are.

 

[DAPPH]

Getting an insulated alu roller door that fits well is a tremendous heat saver . I've also skinned the inside of my garage with 3 inch x 9inch x 15 inch( ????) cinderblocks on a DPC having painted the wall inside for 2 foot up& 18 inches wide in bitumastic paint to seal it . and used screwed in ties to the outer wall to make & hold a 3 inch air cavity . Put a 100 mm Plastisol / Kingspan foam filled roof on as well and mortared the roof edges to the both walls & fitted finishing plastic on the outside ..

I can get the garage to 21 oC if it is 10 oC out side on just number three setting ..have not yet needed to use 4,5 & 6 in anger .
The heater hot air outlets are :- One half way down the garage facing towards the middle of the garage with the duct outlet pointing in the direction of 3/4 down so there is warm air over my lathe work area . The other is about 4 feet inside the workshop door a foot after the wall mounted heater with the duct set to push warmed air to the middle of the garage at breast bone height so it keeps my hands & face warmest . or my neck & back it I'm facing the other way at the welding / work table .

 

[gaz1]

or you build yourself an insulated door or vestibule area either sliding or a door

the inner doors can be built out of angle iron and box section keeping the weight down with 3-4" 8x4 insulation

 

[Danez]

just fitted me diesel heater and got it running

One thing i'm not sure about though is the big air pocket in the fuel line? is this normal?
I did bleed it so there was no air but it returned after a while and it's pulling in lots of little air bubbles just after the pump. is this normal? cheers

 

[fizzy]

just fitted me diesel heater and got it running
View attachment 480231

One thing i'm not sure about though is the big air pocket in the fuel line? is this normal?
I did bleed it so there was no air but it returned after a while and it's pulling in lots of little air bubbles just after the pump. is this normal? cheers

View attachment 480232

Air bubbles in the fuel pipe are common. Don't worry as long as it runs OK

 

[fizzy]

just fitted me diesel heater and got it running
View attachment 480231

One thing i'm not sure about though is the big air pocket in the fuel line? is this normal?
I did bleed it so there was no air but it returned after a while and it's pulling in lots of little air bubbles just after the pump. is this normal? cheers

View attachment 480232

What is the spec on that psu? Looks a bit small. They hardly use any current when running but a lot on startup.

 

[Kayos]

just fitted me diesel heater and got it running
View attachment 480231

One thing i'm not sure about though is the big air pocket in the fuel line? is this normal?
I did bleed it so there was no air but it returned after a while and it's pulling in lots of little air bubbles just after the pump. is this normal? cheers

View attachment 480232

Mine is the same, doesn't affect operation

 

[Danez]

Air bubbles in the fuel pipe are common. Don't worry as long as it runs OK

ah grand as owt, cheers

What is the spec on that psu? Looks a bit small. They hardly use any current when running but a lot on startup.

got it on ebay, it's specially for diesel heaters so hopefully that's ok?

some quality engrish on there

 

[JOEPRO]

ah grand as owt, cheers

View attachment 480257

got it on ebay, it's specially for diesel heaters so hopefully that's ok?

some quality engrish on there

They draw around 12 amp max during glow plug warmup cycle so that is more than capable of supplying your heater

 

[Danez]

garage is getting toasty now after 3 and a half hours of running, I'm very impressed especially with how many air gaps there are near the roof and top of the wall

next job is to insulate between the rafters, any recommendations on what to use? i was thinking kingspan or summet like that

 

[DAPPH]

Air bubbles in the fuel pipe are common. Don't worry as long as it runs OK

I think the bubbles actually act as springs and suspension to the peristaltic pump piston in the pump body without them you'd get a lot of wear & need a lot stronger electromagnetic coil, .
IIRC there is a microscopic vent hole in the inlet end of the pump body flange plastic this allows the piston to fall fairly freely , then when the electromagnetic coil gets a pulse it stops a vacuum being formed and retaining the piston . IE it is an essential breather device .

 

[Kayos]

Mine warms my office, even sub zero it gets too warm now it's insulated

 

[DAPPH]

View attachment 480259 garage is getting toasty now after 3 and a half hours of running, I'm very impressed especially with how many air gaps there are near the roof and top of the wall

next job is to insulate between the rafters, any recommendations on what to use? i was thinking kingspan or summet like that
View attachment 480260

To save a lot of effort but maybe a little costly how about top skinning the whole roof and side edge with Kingspan wriggly tin sprayed with 150 mm insulation that can be sealed along all edges then screw down with long TEC type screws to the joists . That would leave the inside full of places to add hooks in the joist .
I'd also seal the floor and a couple of feet up the walls to reduce condensation from ground moisture .
Go a bit further slip a cls 44x35 ( ???) frame all round the garage , between it and the walls add a thickness of tar paper as a vapour barrier then infill the frame with fibreglass. insulation batts after adding wiring for all desired / planned power points and electrical fittings . Then plaster board over the insulated frame roller on a one coat finish and add a skirting board .
T'is what I did to the garage at my previous home plus adding a quality 40 mm floor screed & floor boards . When it came to sell the place it increased the value by about 10 K and was a major factor in us getting our full asking price at the second viewing .

 

[DAPPH]

Mine warms my office, even sub zero it gets too warm now it's insulated

Minus six recorded inside my mancupboard the other morning and it zapped that to a nice 18 oC in just under three hours on setting six .

 

[Kayos]

Minus six recorded inside my mancupboard the other morning and it zapped that to a nice 18 oC in just under three hours on setting six .

I haven't yet sorted the remote confirmation but I turn it on 0730 and I'm usually in there for 0800-0830 depending on other family duties. It's still on full at that point but warm enough to work

By work I mean sit at a desk using my laptop, so nothing physical