TheSamba.com :: View topic - The official Chinese Diesel Heater thread (Webasto Knockoff)

Thu Dec 12, 2024 1:35 pm

Phishman068,

Are you able to find the smaller 2KW size CDH? Seems all I can find in the CDH the is the 5KW size derated for 2KW so the physically larger version.

I had ordered a 2kW but when I received it I realized it was a 5KW derated to 2KW, so I had to fit it under the rear seat because it was too big for the glovebox area.

Thanks

mathieu

Thu Dec 12, 2024 1:45 pm

There are tons and tons of true 2kw CDH on the market. You do need to do your research though- there’s a very very active Facebook group for Chinese diesel heaters.

I’ve bought four separate ones that were marked 2kw that all ended up being 2kw without doing any research on “which to buy” (at least in regards to 2kw size- definitely do your research on which board and controller you want!). I ultimately have settled on the current model vevor with Bluetooth, and it DOES work, currently. But my number of unreliable days still far outweighs the current reliability days.

While I know it’s common for the 8kw units to be 5kw- yours is the first I’ve heard of a 2kw being ordered and getting the very physically different 5kw size.

Thu Dec 12, 2024 1:53 pm

mathieu (and others who are interested)

If you intend to use Ray Jones' AfterBurner (so awesome) he has confirmed that:

Yes, the Lavaner Pro is the only unit (and it's cheaper companion the Standard) that I can say yes, good to go, sight unseen.

This was mentioned some time ago on this thread, and I got one to replace a failing CDH that had been in service just three Winters. They are a bit more cost up front, but I have been told they last much longer, mine is doing well thus far in its' second Winter season.

-bobby

Thu Dec 12, 2024 2:04 pm

There is a huge difference in quality going with Lavaner. It's worth the extra money.

Fri Dec 20, 2024 2:52 pm

Phishman068 wrote: ...the B4 is known to be way over capacity for a Westy and will actually carbon up from lots of start and stop cycles rather then a consistent burn from a smaller heater working harder. Being as your located in the cascades- it may be an asset and you may actually need that bigger heat capacity.
Phishman, Thanks for your reply. Your honest opinion is welcome...

Slightly off topic in regards to diesel heaters... but still relevant for the forum... (Espar B4 & B2 is Gasoline. B=Benzin, German for gasoline. D=Diesel, still Diesel in German aka D4 & D2).

You got me thinking about downgrading to the B2 gasoline heater now, (just slightly thinking about it). When we sleep at night in the Westfalia in winter, our pop top is always up as that is where we store our "luggage", and we like to sleep in the cold with down comforters, so my current diesel heater is always set to low as we sleep if it is below freezing, and this is perfect to take the chill off.

Anyone aware if the two physical heaters (B2, B4) are interchangeable in regards to wiring loom and floor mount? I will call Espar after the holidays if no one here knows.

Any other opinions of the Espar B2 Vs B4?

Older Beta testing my external Diesel heater from a few years ago... Still going strong after taking it apart and fixing some solder joints that were shoddy from the PRC factory. (looking to get away from this setup and all compact in the van).

Sun Dec 22, 2024 9:06 am

Love the data Afterburner gathers. Not sure if the “glow plug” run time is correct. I don’t recall if I did something in the software.

Last camp trip, our temperature sensor went out. The van was probably 70 inside when it happened. Afterburner defaulted the sensor to 32’F so the heater was running full blast.

I logged into Afterburner, saw the sensor input was super low, changed it to linear HZ mode for the night.

Going to pickup a replacement sensor and a spare for backup.

Sun Dec 22, 2024 10:32 am

Neato. I'm a late laggard and got my first CDH (an 8kW unit) two days ago. I'm experimenting with it to see how it warms a garage and/or another small room (the Propex is still adequate in the van down to the 20s).

Does the fuel use displayed by your Afterburner sound about right?

57 days of heater / 35 gallons of fuel = 39 hours per gallon? That sounds way more efficient than the websites claim but that maybe at very low heat most of the time?

Thu Jan 02, 2025 8:13 am

Nah that doesn't sound right. I'd say at some point something was reset... maybe the heater timer? Numbers don't matter if it isn't right!

I need to update the firmware and see if I can reset the heater timer and the gallons consumed timer.

I found two temp sensors with 15ft/5m wire - https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZ8L7XJB

I am considering installing the temp sensor on/near the headbanger speaker.

Update: Before placing the order for the new temp sensor, I decided to go out to my van and try restarting the heater. I used my phone to disable discharge on my aux battery. When it came back on the temp is now reading correctly.

I still plan on buying the temp sensors with long leads in hopes to have a more accurate temperature.

Tue Jan 07, 2025 8:42 pm

I’m new to the Westfalia life and interested in putting in a heater. I really like the idea of a gas heater behind the dash since I gave a gas van and there is so little space in these things. Where can I find more info on installing behind the dash? I have been looking but not had much success finding stuff.

Tue Jan 07, 2025 8:56 pm

Srcook wrote: I’m new to the Westfalia life and interested in putting in a heater. I really like the idea of a gas heater behind the dash since I gave a gas van and there is so little space in these things. Where can I find more info on installing behind the dash? I have been looking but not had much success finding stuff.

I like gas too....Espar is my choice...some folks like Webasto

behind the dash - look here - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10305752&highlight=#10305752

Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:19 am

the_benjamin_effect wrote:
Any other opinions of the Espar B2 Vs B4?

Older Beta testing my external Diesel heater from a few years ago... Still going strong after taking it apart and fixing some solder joints that were shoddy from the PRC factory. (looking to get away from this setup and all compact in the van).

The B2 and B4 are different physical sizes and consume different amounts of space- I do not believe they have interchangeable mounting profiles. The B4 will NOT fit behind the dash where I like to put them. For your top-up use, it sounds like you're definitely into the B4, the B2 will keep up down to about 20* with the top DOWN, so you definitely have some reason for a B4.

The modern AS3 heaters are such a wild leap in tech that anything else is just really, really antiquated. You'll be very very happy you did that. Not having to worry about a small diesel tank and fuel levels is a godsend (but camping trip gas mileage is now intrinsically very very inaccurate, especially if it's cold and I've been parked for a few days).

Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:23 am

Srcook wrote: I’m new to the Westfalia life and interested in putting in a heater. I really like the idea of a gas heater behind the dash since I gave a gas van and there is so little space in these things. Where can I find more info on installing behind the dash? I have been looking but not had much success finding stuff.

You won't find much. I spent a longggg time looking a while back and found about 4 pictures from the 90s of factory VW installs back there (with antiquated furnaces that no long exist) so I took it upon myself to try it. First one I put there was an Espar B1LCC, then I did that one again, then a webasto airtop 2000, then a series of Chinese diesel heaters, two Espar AS3 B2L's, and at this point.... I feel like I've got it down pretty well.
You can see some general discussion and mounting of it in my "Heidi" YouTube series, and I plan to make a dedicated furnace video at some point, but who knows when that will happen.

Wed Jan 08, 2025 12:29 pm

Phishman068 wrote:

The B2 and B4 are different physical sizes and consume different amounts of space- I do not believe they have interchangeable mounting profiles. The B4 will NOT fit behind the dash where I like to put them. For your top-up use, it sounds like you're definitely into the B4, the B2 will keep up down to about 20* with the top DOWN, so you definitely have some reason for a B4.

If the/any heater is mounted in the dash, I think it would be fantastic for driving and boosting the stock heat and such (and, certainly, it is out of the way) but seems like it would be difficult to have it be super-useful for camping use. Especially with the top up.

I have a D2 in my '78 Westy. It is installed under the Bus, feeding heat into the back seat/bed vent and the vent between the walkthrough. (I use a Vanagon rear heater in the back seat too; the vent is split with the diesel heater blowing into one half of the vent to the cabin, the Vanagon heater blows into the other half.) Cold air return is cut into the very back of the pedestal cubby on of the front passenger seat. I'm sure one could be installed in a Vanagon very similarly.

This works really very well for camping and provides some additional warmth when driving in really cold temps.

In colder temps with the top up and just curtains closed, I'm sure it would struggle to keep the Bus warm and I might want a bigger heater.

However, I use Refletix panels I made on all the glass, and when it is colder will also hang a blanket up to exclude the front seating area.

With that setup, it is able to keep the Bus quite warm and toasty no problem. Wife and I even went camping during the Polar Vortex that came through in early 2021 and were warm in negative to 0 F temps.

It also does fine with the top up and Reflectix panels along the inside of the pop top, though perhaps it would struggle a bit in 0 degree temps. I'm sure it would easily be warm enough that only a few blankets would be necessary. Sometimes I have wished the heat could get up there a little more easily; the unfolded bed does block it some. But not enough to try to do something like run ducts up there.

Wed Jan 08, 2025 12:34 pm

I love my heat output through the Westy stove face. I have a cab curtain that blocks off heat from going into the cab.

It was 20'F outside this past weekend and 2k heater kept my girls 70'F with the top up.

However, up top, it was pretty cold - even with reflectix insulation. I plan on making a metal vent with a hose adapter to redirect some of that heat up top.

Thu Jan 09, 2025 4:20 pm

I have a bunch of different offerings for both replacing the stock rear heater vent for use with a diesel heater, and for furnace control mounting. :-)

Cheers
Chris

https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/chinese-heater-vents/

Fri Jan 10, 2025 11:58 pm

unibagel wrote: I have a bunch of different offerings for both replacing the stock rear heater vent for use with a diesel heater, and for furnace control mounting. :-)

Cheers
Chris

https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/chinese-heater-vents/

I bought your Eberspächer control mount to replace the ash tray in the rear passenger bench/bed. Controller fit is very nice inside the 3D piece, but, I've yet to mount the plate in the van until I get everything with the B4 or B2 situated, and I expect nothing but a perfect fit, as I bought other items from Chris at uniWerks Design, LLC, and they are always top notch quality, service, and communication with Chris. Keep up the great work Chris, we rely on thoughtful innovations such as yours!

Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:52 am

I pulled out the tank and now installing the heater in the drain hole. I had to do a bit of manipulating to the "all in one " case. I will reinstall the cabinets with a shelf over top of the heater and vent out the access door.
I am removing the power cord and I will shorten it. I will be using an extension cord to the side of the van.
I will post more use of the water tank cabinet area

Let me know what you think.

Sun Jan 12, 2025 1:30 pm

Dono Be wrote: I pulled out the tank and now installing the heater in the drain hole. I had to do a bit of manipulating to the "all in one " case. I will reinstall the cabinets with a shelf over top of the heater and vent out the access door.
I am removing the power cord and I will shorten it. I will be using an extension cord to the side of the van.
I will post more use of the water tank cabinet area

Let me know what you think.

I think I like my water tank so I installed mine in next to the water tank in the small lower cubby.... There's pictures on here somewhere.

Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:58 pm

[/quote] I think I like my water tank so I installed mine in next to the water tank in the small lower cubby.... There's pictures on here somewhere.[/quote]

I planned to do that but I usually have a 5gal jug of water on the picnic table....

Did you change your power cable set up?

Mon Jan 13, 2025 4:04 am

Dono Be wrote: I think I like my water tank so I installed mine in next to the water tank in the small lower cubby.... There's pictures on here somewhere.[/quote]

I planned to do that but I usually have a 5gal jug of water on the picnic table....

Did you change your power cable set up?[/quote]

I took often travel with driving water jugs and still LOVE the sink faucet for washing dishes etc. since the wear tank is to integral to the westy, I can't see getting rid of it.

IDK what you mean by "change your power cable set up?".... No I didn't and can't envision why that would have to be done.... Please restate/clarify your question and I'll take another run at the answer.