Garage Lighting and Heating (China Diesel Heater?)

It's been over a week of running my diesel heater with it mounted outside and just blowing the hot air inside. Really pleased with it. The internal noise is very quiet with just a quiet constant pitch whoosh noise of the air being blown in. With a tv or radio on the noise isn't noticeable and would even ne quiet enough to sleep with it on.

However the external noise is obviously there. It's louder than my gas boiler for the house. On a deadly quiet frosty night the noise is really too much for neighbours in my opinion and I try and turn it off before 10pm. When the wind blows or raining the noise is there but less obvious.

My next plan is to buy another diesel heater but as a kit this time. They can be had for under £60. The prices really varies because of what you want the control panel to. If you want bluetooth, timers etc.... then that pushes the price up. I am happy with a key ring that turns it on and off from the house and the wall mounted control panel to just increase or decrease the temperature using the vent options. I usually turn the vent upto maximum (10 bars) and then when at 20c I turn it down to 2 bars and leave it on constant which maintains the temperature.

With this diesel heater kit I am going section off the end of the lean-to, as i want a small spray booth, and build a concrete block bench with a granite top. This will provide a little heat into the spray booth but will help to reduce the noise of the heater for everyone else. I can mount the diesel tank away from the heater to help reduce the fire risk.

What I love about the heater I currently have is that the fuel pump is extremely quiet. Once you watch youtubers with other diesel heaters you'll realise how noisy the clicking from the pump can be. I think I have found the fuel pump for sale on aliexpress which is installed in my current heater. So hopefully the new diesel heater kit, I am going to buy, if it doesn't have a silent fuel pump I can then replace it.

The sunster toolbox heater I bought is recommended for anyone that is looking for one for camping or other temporary heating purposes. It has the all singing all dancing control panel. Can run off a battery or with the included 240v to 12v adaptor but most importantly has the quiet fuel pump. So for £95 delivered it's quite good value.

Only downside is that it requires at least 12 amps for it to fire up which is too much for some portable battery units and for it to run from a cars 12v power socket. They are usually rated at 10 amps. Most diesel heaters need 10 amps to fire up but this one has a more powerful blower. Most diesel heaters have 8 bars you can select on the control panel but this one goes to 10. You would need to run it directly from a 12v battery.
 
Also, with mine setup outside, I am loosing the efficency of the heater.

Most of these are rated at 8kw but really they are only 5kw. From that 5kw you likely loose 2kw through the exhaust so it's really 3kw. I am likely loosing 1kw by having the unit outside so I'm really only getting 2kw of heat pumping into my room.

This is all worth considering depending on the size of the room you want to heat. My room is 4m by 3m and the 2kw is enough.

It takes an hour to go from 3c to 20c.

5 litres of fuel lasts me around 3 days (approx 15hrs use.)
 
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Usel said:
It's been over a week of running my diesel heater with it mounted outside and just blowing the hot air inside. Really pleased with it. The internal noise is very quiet with just a quiet constant pitch whoosh noise of the air being blown in. With a tv or radio on the noise isn't noticeable and would even ne quiet enough to sleep with it on.

However the external noise is obviously there. It's louder than my gas boiler for the house. On a deadly quiet frosty night the noise is really too much for neighbours in my opinion and I try and turn it off before 10pm. When the wind blows or raining the noise is there but less obvious.

My next plan is to buy another diesel heater but as a kit this time. They can be had for under £60. The prices really varies because of what you want the control panel to. If you want bluetooth, timers etc.... then that pushes the price up. I am happy with a key ring that turns it on and off from the house and the wall mounted control panel to just increase or decrease the temperature using the vent options. I usually turn the vent upto maximum (10 bars) and then when at 20c I turn it down to 2 bars and leave it on constant which maintains the temperature.

With this diesel heater kit I am going section off the end of the lean-to, as i want a small spray booth, and build a concrete block bench with a granite top. This will provide a little heat into the spray booth but will help to reduce the noise of the heater for everyone else. I can mount the diesel tank away from the heater to help reduce the fire risk.

What I love about the heater I currently have is that the fuel pump is extremely quiet. Once you watch youtubers with other diesel heaters you'll realise how noisy the clicking from the pump can be. I think I have found the fuel pump for sale on aliexpress which is installed in my current heater. So hopefully the new diesel heater kit, I am going to buy, if it doesn't have a silent fuel pump I can then replace it.

The sunster toolbox heater I bought is recommended for anyone that is looking for one for camping or other temporary heating purposes. It has the all singing all dancing control panel. Can run off a battery or with the included 240v to 12v adaptor but most importantly has the quiet fuel pump. So for £95 delivered it's quite good value.

Only downside is that it requires at least 12 amps for it to fire up which is too much for some portable battery units and for it to run from a cars 12v power socket. They are usually rated at 10 amps. Most diesel heaters need 10 amps to fire up but this one has a more powerful blower. Most diesel heaters have 8 bars you can select on the control panel but this one goes to 10. You would need to run it directly from a 12v battery.
Click to expand...

Could you share that pump link please? One of the things I dislike the most about my setup is the clicking of the pump. A quieter/silent pump would be very nice indeed.
 
In the youtube video I posted previously there is a link to Amazon for the pump:


However it's not available. So using the images I have found these on aliexpress:

a.aliexpress.com

12V/24V Diesel/Gasoline Heater Pump 1KW-5KW 4519/4518 Car Air Diesel Parking Oil Fuel Pump For Eberspacher Heater Truck - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

22ml 12V 24V Car Silent Fuel Pump Air Heater Diesel Metal Car Heater Fuel Pump Air Parking Heater Accessories - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com

No idea if the aliexpress ones will be anygood but I'll try them one day.

You can connect some pipe to either end and then wire them to a battery and try pumping some fuel to test them before fitting.

Would be horrible to fit them first and find they are no good or not quieter.
 
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dlockers said:
Just spotted they do exhausts specific to these things for about 20 quid. That's good news, can mount it through the wood now.

Edit: I may regret this but I have ordered:
12v 30A PSU

Exhaust Vent

This should get me up and running before I venture into modifications.
Click to expand...

Where are you planning to mount that vent? Reminder that it needs to be lower than the output from the heater itself to prevent condensation buildup issues... If you're going up to get to the vent you will need a drain hole at the lowest point, which obviously cannot be inside your building unless you want to die. FWIW I had mine initially venting into the path between my garage and house at about 4ft from the ground and the exhaust fumes hung around and made it basically unbearable. If you're venting into a larger area or where there's generally a breeze even on a still day then I'm sure you'll be fine.
 
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DRZ said:
Where are you planning to mount that vent? Reminder that it needs to be lower than the output from the heater itself to prevent condensation buildup issues... If you're going up to get to the vent you will need a drain hole at the lowest point, which obviously cannot be inside your building unless you want to die. FWIW I had mine initially venting into the path between my garage and house at about 4ft from the ground and the exhaust fumes hung around and made it basically unbearable. If you're venting into a larger area or where there's generally a breeze even on a still day then I'm sure you'll be fine.
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Thanks --- pic below:

kjoVtB2.png


I was thinking where it sits on the floor here (https://i.imgur.com/4EC9opj.jpeg) right hand side --- but then it might get in the way of a 6ft bar/putting weights on and off. So I could either offset the rack or mount the heater higher.

So plan is to mount it higher. That means it'll probably vent about in-line with the window, but on the rear. That's a good 10-14ft (no idea tbh) higher than a human. Green blob on image for reference. I have a lot of tolerance in height so could come a bit lower too I guess.

Actually the shelf above where the box is in that pic above (https://i.imgur.com/4EC9opj.jpeg) might be about right; albeit a bit flimsy.
 
Higher the better really, on a cold still day it'll 'pool' lower and it really isn't pleasant so giving it every chance to get dispersed is your friend. I don't see any reason why you'd be unhappy with locating it above the green dot inside and venting it out there, save for refuelling it. Given the fuel pipe from the tank to the heater will be pure chinesium (likely a thin green plastic pipe) which is in no way fuel rated and WILL leak you'll be buying fuel pipe anyway... so you might as well put the tank somewhere convenient. Or get a bigger one. Or... both. The ones that come in kit form give quite limiting requirements on how near the heater the tank needs to be for it to work. In my experience, tank placement doesn't seem to matter all that much. Except if you have a very long fuel line you'll spend a fair while priming it every time it runs out of fuel before you notice. I have around 3m of fuel line between the tank and the heater and I've had the tank at various heights relative to the heater and had precisely no issues. I've mentioned it before but the fuel smell from the vented tank is ever-present and unpleasant, moreso if you happen to spill it while refilling. I will eventually relocate my tank to somewhere outside the occupied space for this reason and it would make sense for you to plan to do the same from the beginning if you can, especially given you'll be wanting to separate the tank from the heater in any case.

BTW, the exhaust pipe between the heater and that vent is going to get extremely hot when it is running at full chat, 200C+ sort of hot. I have wrapped mine in some exhaust ceramic insulation cloth stuff (nasty, wear gloves!) to lessen the likelihood of fire and/or severe burns if I happen to touch it.
 
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DRZ said:
Higher the better really, on a cold still day it'll 'pool' lower and it really isn't pleasant so giving it every chance to get dispersed is your friend. I don't see any reason why you'd be unhappy with locating it above the green dot inside and venting it out there, save for refuelling it. Given the fuel pipe from the tank to the heater will be pure chinesium (likely a thin green plastic pipe) which is in no way fuel rated and WILL leak you'll be buying fuel pipe anyway... so you might as well put the tank somewhere convenient. Or get a bigger one. Or... both. The ones that come in kit form give quite limiting requirements on how near the heater the tank needs to be for it to work. In my experience, tank placement doesn't seem to matter all that much. Except if you have a very long fuel line you'll spend a fair while priming it every time it runs out of fuel before you notice. I have around 3m of fuel line between the tank and the heater and I've had the tank at various heights relative to the heater and had precisely no issues. I've mentioned it before but the fuel smell from the vented tank is ever-present and unpleasant, moreso if you happen to spill it while refilling. I will eventually relocate my tank to somewhere outside the occupied space for this reason and it would make sense for you to plan to do the same from the beginning if you can, especially given you'll be wanting to separate the tank from the heater in any case.

BTW, the exhaust pipe between the heater and that vent is going to get extremely hot when it is running at full chat, 200C+ sort of hot. I have wrapped mine in some exhaust ceramic insulation cloth stuff (nasty, wear gloves!) to lessen the likelihood of fire and/or severe burns if I happen to touch it.
Click to expand...
Yeah I mean theoretically I could mount it as high as possible within the eaves. I was considering how much of a faff it would be to refuel it. Are you saying the tank they come with is smelly, or a separate tank is smelly?

The more I hear about these things the less I am inclined to even bother - although I am quite far down the rabit hole now :cry:

Edit: I also measured up my lights - they are 5ft tubes. I don't think I can get LED replacements at a sensible budget, but I have since learnt they aren't all that inefficient (I was thinking they were 10x worse than even a regular halogen). I will stick until I do something grander I think.
 
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dlockers said:
Yeah I mean theoretically I could mount it as high as possible within the eaves. I was considering how much of a faff it would be to refuel it. Are you saying the tank they come with is smelly, or a separate tank is smelly?

The more I hear about these things the less I am inclined to even bother - although I am quite far down the rabit hole now :cry:

Edit: I also measured up my lights - they are 5ft tubes. I don't think I can get LED replacements at a sensible budget, but I have since learnt they aren't all that inefficient (I was thinking they were 10x worse than even a regular halogen). I will stick until I do something grander I think.
Click to expand...

The fuel tank has a vent in the top, which... vents. You'll see what I mean just by looking at it :)
 
DRZ said:
The fuel tank has a vent in the top, which... vents. You'll see what I mean just by looking at it :)
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Ah got you. So it'll be stinky even if it's used then - hmm.. Feels like I will be working out and vomming at the same time. I'll push it as high as I can, as the roof isn't sealed, maybe that'll give the fumes from the fuel a chance to exit.
 
dlockers said:
Just spotted they do exhausts specific to these things for about 20 quid. That's good news, can mount it through the wood now.

Edit: I may regret this but I have ordered:
12v 30A PSU

Exhaust Vent

This should get me up and running before I venture into modifications.
Click to expand...
I went with the 240w version of the same PSU for the one mounted outside of my garage/workshop in a box to keep it dry, etc. The 360w version has a fan active all the time, which failed on my first attempt; 240w/20A should be more than enough, I reckon. It is hard to see but boxed in with metal mesh across the bottom and a hole on the right side with a short length of tubing for the air intake to be heated. The top is hinged, and the front of the box sits on a small wooden lip at the bottom and is held on with magnetic catches used for cupboard doors so I can open the whole thing up

heater-Copy.jpg
 
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Macro said:
I went with the 240w version of the same PSU for the one mounted outside of my garage/workshop in a box to keep it dry, etc. The 360w version has a fan active all the time, which failed on my first attempt; 240w/20A should be more than enough, I reckon. It is hard to see but boxed in with metal mesh across the bottom and a hole on the right side with a short length of tubing for the air intake to be heated. The top is hinged, and the front of the box sits on a small wooden lip at the bottom and is held on with magnetic catches used for cupboard doors so I can open the whole thing up

heater-Copy.jpg
Click to expand...
Dammnit man you've got me thinking again. I can easily get access to the rear of the workshop, and I have some leftover roofing sheets I could repurpose as a lid. Maybe I will mount it to the rear of the workshop.....! Avoids losing space where it is quite critical too.
 
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I'd mount it outside as well to be honest. Build a large box round the whole thing and sound insulate it.

I'd duct the fresh air feed from outside the box and have it feeding from the opposite direction to the way you'd send the exhaust.
 
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dlockers said:
The only downside I can see is that the exhaust would be quite low to the ground.

@Macro I know it's "just a box" but any chance of more pics of your setup?
Click to expand...

As long as the muffler is at lowest point, like in Macro's photo, then the rest of the exhaust can go as long and high as you want.

P.s The muffler really wants to be outside the box.
 
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The muffler has a drain hole in it at the bottom. This stops the exhaust filling up with its own fluids and suffocating itself.
 
I'll take a couple of quick pictures. I only managed to slap a brown base layer and then a single layer of yellow Cuprinol to preserve the wood before the weather changed, so it looks quite scruffy currently, it'l get another couple of coats eventually although as it's behind the garage no one can really see it anyway. The wood is just precut Marine Ply.

It's fundamentally a box, slightly shorter at the front so the lid can be a hinged flap at an angle sloping to the front. The bottom of the 'box" is just stainless steel close wire mesh used as a bug screen. That means I can have the air intake for the burner inside the box with plenty of airflow. The air intake for the heated air goes through a hole on the right-hand side to draw fresh air away from the exhaust, which goes through a hole in the mes at the bottom right.

I left the muffle inside the box with the drain hole above the mesh for neatness, and it helps warm the box up in winter to keep it dry inside from any condensation—I could extend the exhaust further away if I feel like I need it, I guess, I might try some other options at some point, but so far it seems to work well. The Bluetooth Android/Iphone app works brilliantly from inside the garage for setting temp/startup/switch off etc. The only thing I don't have is a battery inline to allow a cool down period if there's a powercut, but at 100 quid for the actual diesel heater there's a point where it stops making sense to keep spending money on contingency
 
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