diesel heater choice

[paulga]

My Espar doesn't work that way. It shuts off when it reaches the set temp without the fuel pump continuing to run. But then when it fires up again, it needs to heat the glow plug for a minute at 9 amps, run at full tilt for a few minutes, then settles down to under 2A when running. Turns out that it is much more practical to just have my Chinese heater run at idle (and open a window if necessary). Because of the increased cycling and battery use of the Espar, I would have to run the main engine more often (or install a generator). Using logic similar to above, a generator would cost me $6,000, plus installation costs and diesel fuel to run my $1,000 Espar. My monthly heating cost for the Espar would be $680. My Chinese heater is the more practical and better engineered, assuming one can open a window.

When I purchased the Espar I looked online at the reviews and problems. One common problem was the unit coking up after running at low heat for extended periods. The best practices was to always crank the heat up and run it at full blast for a minute before shutting down. Otherwise, the reported removal and repair would be costly (more than the cost of my Chinese heater). My Chinese heater does this automatically when shut down, including heating the glow plug to make sure that the burn chamber is cleaned out every time. Has Espar copied the Chinese yet? Sounds like the European guys added a return line, electric solenoid, and other unnecessary stuff (for which they charge top dollar). Good for them.

This reminds me what John mck described in his videos.
Is there a concern on exhaust when idling so you need open a window?

 

[paulga]

Understanding that the market that these heaters are designed to serve is the Truck, RV and Marine markets you have to wonder why these heaters object to the the typical voltage variations found in these vehicles. Could it be a poor design or are they actually tolerant of the typical voltages?
I see that the current Hcalory F Series heater with it's 2025 upgraded motherboard touts 12 & 24 V input and over voltage protection. I wonder if there is any tight voltage regulation built in?

I firmly sit on the skeptical side when you read that "Fuel consumption is reduced to 0.04 gal/hour - 0.11 gal/hour, maximizing fuel performance and reducing energy wastage." and then in the very next sentence you read that "Equipped with a large 10L fuel tank for 10 hours of continuous heating."

As always, buyer beware.

The ecu says 12-24v input, but the fan and pump both require 12v.

For voltage regulation, it needs to have something such as in post 50. This ecu is sealed tight, its cover is not easily separated, so I don't have a view of the inside circuit. But from the harness to the ecu, I don't see enough space to accommodate such a regulator. How does it regulate the voltage?

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Is there a concern on exhaust when idling so you need open a window?

No, opening the window was to get rid of excess heat if necessary at idle.

 

[Davidl13]

Id go with Espar, made in Germany, over Chinese brands

 

[SeaDogAK]

Id go with Espar, made in Germany, over Chinese brands

Ordinarily I’d agree, but I priced an Espar at something like $2,000 a couple of years ago. I bought a Chinese knockoff for less than $200, and its worked perfectly for two years now. I figured if it works for a while and fails I could buy ten more for the price of the Espar.

 

[Davidl13]

Disposable society… disposable boat

 

[tiltrider1]

Disposable society… disposable boat

Are you insulting SeadogAK because he is a value shopper?

 

[CharlieO.]

Disposable society… disposable boat

Actually, more likely I'd save the old one for parts.

 

[Bmarler]

The ecu says 12-24v input, but the fan and pump both require 12v.

For voltage regulation, it needs to have something such as in post 50. This ecu is sealed tight, its cover is not easily separated, so I don't have a view of the inside circuit. But from the harness to the ecu, I don't see enough space to accommodate such a regulator. How does it regulate the voltage?


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jay,
i just realized nobody responded to your question regarding voltage regulation.
the components required for this are quite small. just a couple of resistors or something to drop the 24 volts down to 12, and a volt sensing input to let the ecu where to route the power. if it says 12-24 volt input, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Davidl13]

Are you insulting SeadogAK because he is a value shopper?

I have an uncle that said I could buy a stereo for my car for a fraction of the price, he knew of ones that fell off a truck… that is china knock offs…. fell off a truck… stolen intellectual property, copies of designs and imprisoned people… mixed with crooked US politicians….but hey, it’s a bargain…

Value shopper… hahaha…

 

[Caballero II]

This reminds me what John mck described in his videos.
Is there a concern on exhaust when idling so you need open a window?

My Espar is recent (probably 2021 D4), and does not require glow plugs to light, but has an electronic spark to light. If I understand right, it does not have to relight to work, but just turns down low when it hits the thermostat setting. I do not have to open windows, just turn down the thermostat setting if I want less heat. It seems to idle where ever you set the thermostat. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that this minimizes maintenance because it doesn't "coke-up", and you don't need to replace glow plugs. As far as I can tell, it needs no maintenance. One of the best improvements I've made to my boat. We use it all winter long.

 

[tiltrider1]

I have an uncle that said I could buy a stereo for my car for a fraction of the price, he knew of ones that fell off a truck… that is china knock offs…. fell off a truck… stolen intellectual property, copies of designs and imprisoned people… mixed with crooked US politicians….but hey, it’s a bargain…

Value shopper… hahaha…

Your statement is full of deflection. The only part that was relevant was in fact false. While I won't deny that the Chinese steal intellectual property no one can claim a diesel furnace that was introduced well after all possible patents have run out is stolen intellectual property.

 

[tiltrider1]

My Espar is recent (probably 2021 D4), and does not require glow plugs to light, but has an electronic spark to light. If I understand right, it does not have to relight to work, but just turns down low when it hits the thermostat setting. I do not have to open windows, just turn down the thermostat setting if I want less heat. It seems to idle where ever you set the thermostat. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that this minimizes maintenance because it doesn't "coke-up", and you don't need to replace glow plugs. As far as I can tell, it needs no maintenance. One of the best improvements I've made to my boat. We use it all winter long.

I have had Espar heaters, Dickerson, Wallace, Webasto and Hurricane. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. My favorite is the Hurricane, I can perform all the maintenance my self. None of these model are inexpensive.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

My Espar is recent (probably 2021 D4), and does not require glow plugs to light, but has an electronic spark to light. If I understand right, it does not have to relight to work, but just turns down low when it hits the thermostat setting. I do not have to open windows, just turn down the thermostat setting if I want less heat. It seems to idle where ever you set the thermostat. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that this minimizes maintenance because it doesn't "coke-up", and you don't need to replace glow plugs. As far as I can tell, it needs no maintenance. One of the best improvements I've made to my boat. We use it all winter long.

Yeah, it looks like Espar may have copied the recent "Chinese" improvements. I understand the claim that nothing should ever be improved as it constitutes intellectual property theft (based on race), but it makes sense that Espar would be following the improvements.

My older Espar D2 can be turned down, but at a certain point, as it is in a small space, it sometimes can't be turned down enough, so it shuts off. I can open a window and keep it going (not cycling), just like I do with my Chinese heater. So the main difference for me is paying an additional $1,000 for another Espar. The race thing doesn't concern me.

What eliminates coking-up the glow plug in my Chinese heater is that when the heater is shut off the glow plug ignites again and the fan speed increases for a minute without additional fuel. My Espar doesn't do that. Various posts about troubleshooting the Espar claim that running full blast for a couple minutes and then shutting down helps. Also, you can't heat up the glow plug when shutting down the Espar. My Chinese heater has a program that does both of those.

Maybe the new Espars have copied the Chinese? When an Espar does coke up, glow plugs are really expensive ($100) but it looks like the Chinese glow plugs ($14) might be a direct replacement. It could be that's where Espar sources them. Made in Germany with some Chinese parts? I'm not sure how a race-based intellectual property claim would treat this.

My Chinese heater is also one of the best things I've done to my boat. We use it all year 'round. And being that I have an Espar D2 in my other boat, I can evaluate them in a side-by-side comparison. The Chinese heater wins the heater aspect. The political and racial contest is subjective. The Chinese seem to be addressing this as ruthless capitalists. The Espar business model is that there's one born every minute. That's what keeps them in business. But for how long?