PETER BRUCE - Eastchurch Gap

Hi again. They do not fit the unit I have show here but go for the less expensive kits which start on eBay for around £120 which includes everything required that you need. They tend to fit them under the passenger seat on the ones I’ve seen. Go and have a search and you will be surprised where they get fitted...

Hi Supertiger. If you read my very first entry you will see how I got to know about them... Since that time I have met a number of self employed couriers who have them and delivered to our home. Seems leaving the engine running while you walk to deliver the parcel is not ideal as your van could get nicked. Starting / stopping the engine doing the ridiculous amount of drops they have to do is also not ideal as it kills the battery. Perhaps you can understand why the courier drivers like them... I am pleased that so many have found this thread useful and if I had 100 in stock I am sure I could have sold them or if I was on commission I could have done very well however the reason I posted this thread was to inform people so that building and pottering around in the shed did not have to stop when it got cold and I feel the number of visitors to the thread would show lots have taken up this heating option. Stay warm. Peter

Hi flying Brian. If that’s what you want it’s not a suitable unit. After the temperature you set is reached they reduce heat output to around 2kW so that’s all the control you have. The way it works is more like a furnace and it needs to reach a certain heat level to maintain combustion. I tend to turn my heater off at LEAST half hour before I want to pack up and the wife is starting to do the same... These heaters keep you toasty, cheaply, easily. Regards Peter

Hi Renaldo. I do sympthersize with you about the energy companies and fully agree with you as it’s a licence to print money. Hope all goes well with your order... Regards Peter

Hi Martin. I’ve been in my shed✈️ and wife’s been in her craft cabin 👩🏻‍🦰 for over five hours and we have both been warm and toasty with our heaters on - so shortly you will be joining the “Toasty Club”.🔥🔥🔥 You will not regret your purchase and if you have the same unit as me then just get the case off to ensure nothings come loose in transit - including the fuse - if it’s got one internally fitted - then install & prime and away you go. You’ll then be warm 🔥and toasty too... Two things to beware of... (1) your wife may want a craft cabin to play - mine did and it’s BIGGER THAN MY SHED😂 (2) Wife brings you a cup of tea and feels the warmth in your shed then says 🤷‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️ “I want one of those” pointing to the heater. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ Hope you don’t have to wait too long and the tracking does work but only after Royal Mail have it... Regards Peter

Trouble is when it’s summer here it’s winter “down under” so production is still flat out so can’t win. Been a big rush on them this year as the courier drivers have cottoned on its a good way to keep warm... Can’t blame them.

There has been a massive rush on these heaters again so they all come from China. Hope it comes soon.

Hi Martin. Thanks for the post and your reply is exactly why I posted the video in the first place in the hope others would start to enjoy their winter shed... Honestly think the best compliment I have had so far - although a little expensive - was from my wife who brought a cup of tea up to me in the shed... After walking into the shed and feeling the warmth she just said... I want one of those. That said it all... Merry Christmas & may you always stay warm. Regards Peter

Wife has one in her craft cabin now - she loves being warm...

Hi Gary. Thanks for the reply and I honestly think the same as you that either the settings are wrong or been messed about with and also I do follow the on maximum heat for at least five minutes before I shut down which is around half an hour before I want to leave the shed. I have the baffled standard silencer that comes with most of the diesel air heater units and when my shed is warm and the heater is on it’s low setting the sound level in no more than any normal home gas central heating system so there is no noise issue. Mine and the wife’s unit are relatively new and we have only used red diesel so far and the heater is the best thing since sliced bread as far as I an concerned and I think Jan would say the same for her craft cabin. I do think it’s important to put them onto full power for a while before you shut them down to get rid of any soot that could have built up when they are ticking over. We will see how things go but they must be good as there are thousands fitted in lorries, boats, vans and the like.... Be interesting to see if we get any other replies th this post as it’s always people who moan you hear about so let’s see if any others are doing well with them with the baffled silencer fitted. Regards Peter

All we got to do now is await the authorities “ knee jerk reaction “ which could affect us all - except the ones who want to fly illegally and do such things and to them it will make no difference at all what rules and regs are there...

Update - and a question. I ordered an exhaust from two sellers - the pictures on eBay showed the sameidentical picture however there were major differences between the two silencers when they were delivered - mainly internally. It was also clear one seller had used the same picture to sell his useless exhaust silencer and the clue to this was that the input and exit holes in the exhaust were more central which was nothing like the original eBay picture the seller used... it was inside the silencer that it became clear this was a resonator and not a silencer. On my hobby shed unit I have used the baffled type which was installed with no issues to date so for them who are reading this I have a question. After seeing my video am I right installing the baffled exhaust on the diesel air heater unit in Jans craft cabin or will it cause my diesel heater soot up? There seems to be a conflict of opinion from some thinking that as the baffled type causes back pressure it will cause the diesel heater to soot up but as the baffled unit is supplied with the separate diesel heater units that are installed as a kit into motor homes and vans I can’t see it causing a problem because it’s a supplied manufactured item which is in the kit! Any comments. Regards Peter

Just for interest I made a very simple “at a glance” fuel gauge for the heater as it’s not that easy to see the fuel level if it’s in a snug area or not well lit so it’s obvious when you see it but it works. On the wife’s unit I have used a plastic “snake” used for the rudder / elevator run so nothing you won’t have in your shed...

Having had the heater running a while now I find that after the initial blast of super fast hot air and the whooosh from the impella as died down as the the unit starts to reach the set temperature (you put that in) it cuts back dramatically to a gentle breeze of hot air to maintain the set temperature to keep you toasty - recon its around 1.5 kW in the case of my shed when it’s around 3C outside. Fuel consumption is reduced considerably as you can hear the sound of the ticking of the fuel pump is dramatically reduced. Not a scientific explanation I know as I can’t give the fuel quantity used but since it’s been in I have filled the 5 litre tank only three times. The biggest advantage for me is to be able to hit the shed with 5kW of fast moving directable air which is able to get the ambient air temperature up very quickly and as you can direct the hot air towards you then you can start working almost straight away in the hot air stream. I have directed the hot air in the same way in my wife’s craft cabin so she gets the benefit straightaway while the rest of her larger than mine “shed” (said with jealousy) gets warmed up. So now I have two units fitted I can’t see any other real alternative to this type of heater in an isolated shed situation. The net result is l can now go up the the shed and “tinker” whenever I want to in the winter... I do hope others find this thread has been of help and I will answer any questions you may have if that helps. Regards Peter

5 pairs = Diesel heater... OK you can’t wear diesel heaters before anyone come back with that answer on here😀😀😀

I will stick with my nice warm diesel heater in my new man cave. Now even got my telly working up there... Any rows and I’m safe - summer or winter now. Regards Peter

Hi Piers. I going to go to Quickfit and see if I can get an old one they have taken out of a small car as this time of year it’s when the car won’t crank over but the battery is only an issue in the colder weather - that way it will cost me a lot less and I already have a smart charger for the wife’s unit so that’s the way I will go.Regards Peter

Hi Mike. The battery charger you have may just do it but I would not chance it myself as the maximum current draw is around 12+ Amps and that only at start up and shut down when the glow plug is on. Once the ignition is going the glow plug turns off and then it doesn’t draw much current. A 20 Amp switch mode power supply is only about £15 on eBay which does the trick. If you look at my video you can see I cut the outlet tubes and you then have 4 heat outlets you can direct individually so start at your tootsies and then another at your knees and the other two direct to the top half - job done. 5 kW of hot air soon warms you up and if you can get red diesel the cost is pennies to run and your warmer than you’ll ever be with your radiant fire... Regards Peter

Hi Gary. In your situation a power supply would be OK however in the unlikely event of a power failure the fan would stop so would the pump so the burning in the combustion chamber would stop but without the fan the heat would have to go somewhere and the close fitting case which channels the air would melt and I suspect so would the air impella. This is a situation that could not happen with a battery. Also for interest it takes about four minutes after you press the stop button to actually stop as the heater goes through a set process before it stops to ensure all the fuel is burnt and the fan keeps going till the case temperature has reduced to a safe level. They are extremely safe when installed correctly so I am now trying to get hold of a small old battery I can smart charge which may have to go outside the craft cabin such is the lack of space. Me and the wife are now even more convinced this is the way to go to heat a shed or outside building fast and efficiently in a cost effective way. Regards Peter

Hi Gary. In my shed currently using an old car battery and a smart charger but in the craft cabin I have reluctantly used a 20 Amp switch mode power supply. I say reluctantly because we do have power cuts where we are - most are only short together with more common blips of just a few seconds which could cause the diesel heater to go unto melt down as it has to cycle when it’s turned off. I hope to get hold of an old car battery shortly so I can dispense with the switch mode power supply and hence the possibility of a meltdown. Please be sure the meltdown I refer to is only of the plastic case as the combustion chamber is totally encased aluminium so never a chance or risk of fire. Hope this answers your question. Regards Peter

UPDATE FOR YOU ALL... Wife came into my shed a few weeks back to bring me a cup of tea - that was all it took and she said “l want one of those” That was that so yet another diesel heater was ordered and it came in at the weekend. Much harder to install into the wifes craft cabin even though it’s a lot bigger than my shed there is very little room as it’s chocker block with her craft gear gear. Managed to find a space and in it went and after it was fitted and fired up it got nice and cozy inside the 12x10 craft cabin. Wife came in and the smile was worth a 1000 words. Best thing I’ve done for ages. Regards Peter Wifes craft cabin 12x10     Edited By PETER BRUCE - Eastchurch Gap on 12/12/2018 21:44:20 Edited By PETER BRUCE - Eastchurch Gap on 12/12/2018 21:45:32

Hi Tim. So sorry to hear your dilemma but the only time you get any whiff of diesel is just after it fires up as that’s how it ignites the fuel with the gloplug but it’s nothing and it’s gone straight away as when the combustion has started they burn clean and you can smell nothing. I have to say again that they use them in boats, lorries, vans & sheds so I have to say I’m sorry Santa won’t be calling... Regards Peter

Always great to hear from you Josip. Short winters... wonderful. Regards Peter

My wife said there are some drawbacks with having a larger shed - bigger means more plane you can get to fill it. This was said with a sarcastic type smile - no mention that her craft cabin is bigger than my shed... Rough justice. Edited By PETER BRUCE - Eastchurch Gap on 01/12/2018 18:42:22