Heater advice wanted

Lambeth Cali · Apr 13, 2022

We’re about to camp at Easter in the UK for the first time in years. We haven’t used the heater for at least 5 years. I have recollections of attempting to use it a couple of times more recently and it just pumping out cold air. It used to work fine.
Is there anything I should do? I think I’ve read here that it needs at least half a tank of diesel and fullish battery to function. Is that it!?
I’ll try and give it a go tomorrow before we go.

MattBW · Apr 13, 2022

Put the van on hookup, charge the battery to full if possible and if it pumps cold air you can reset via the control panel.

Below 1/4 a tank it will also not fire up I believe (although that may be the coolant heater Im thinking of) and low voltage will also not fire up. Checking on hookup will give you a good feel for if its all good. 5 years it may struggle to start up but should be possible.

Lambeth Cali · Apr 13, 2022

You can reset the heater from the control panel? I hadn’t noticed that. Will look tomorrow, thanks.

Ozzy Pete · Apr 13, 2022

We have had our van for 7 years and don’t think we have used it at all on site. I do try it now and again to make sure it’s working.We take advantage of the site electricity when we can. Although I can imagine that’s going to change with the new price of electricity going through the roof. But then Diesel is hardly cheap at the moment.

Sad · Apr 14, 2022

Advice and handbook is to run for 30 mins every month...

flying banana · Apr 15, 2022

Hook up. Full batts. Run it on level 10. Allow it to run for a while to give the heater time to initiate a burn. You should be able to hear the roar of the flame inside the tube. I suspect it will need a strip down if not used for 5 years. As for not running it to save diesel that's ridiculous, it burns 0.1 litres per hour. You won't even notice it on the fuel guage. Stay away from hook up and use your heater,it's cheaper and hotter

Lambeth Cali · Apr 16, 2022

Never had chance to check it.
Ran it last night as properly chilly. With 90% battery (not plugged in) and over half a tank of diesel, it worked great. Took 3 or 4 minutes to get hot. Ran it for ten minutes and after I turned it off it ran for what seemed like another ten minutes. It used to do that.
Really glad and impressed it works great after years of no use.

ClanTimmins · Apr 16, 2022

We love our diesel heater. Sitting overlooking the bay at Fortrose and have it set on 4 and we are enveloped in a gentle heat. Reminds me of my sister's kitchen with Aga on. Just popping out for fish and chips and will turn it down but it will be gorgeous when we come back.

Lambeth Cali · Apr 16, 2022

We were camping in the roof last night on our mattress pad and under our duvet. It was proper nippy. Put your toes out and they get very cold very quick. Socks on. Asked my wife if she wanted me to put our silver foil thingy on to keep the heat in tonight. She said no, said she was toasty under the duvet. She occasionally describes me as a bit “nesh”. I’m from West Yorkshire and have never heard this word. My wife comes from South Yorkshire, probably ten miles away where it means weak or weedy.
Our Easter UK camping has been a success. We normally go Airbnb in April. Good weather in the day but it’s always freezing in the night in the UK. Shame no fires allowed here.

flying banana · Apr 16, 2022

Lambeth Cali said:
We were camping in the roof last night on our mattress pad and under our duvet. It was proper nippy. Put your toes out and they get very cold very quick. Socks on. Asked my wife if she wanted me to put our silver foil thingy on to keep the heat in tonight. She said no, said she was toasty under the duvet. She occasionally describes me as a bit “nesh”. I’m from West Yorkshire and have never heard this word. My wife comes from South Yorkshire, probably ten miles away where it means weak or weedy.
Our Easter UK camping has been a success. We normally go Airbnb in April. Good weather in the day but it’s always freezing in the night in the UK. Shame no fires allowed here.

You are nesh, definitely. But you could have just put the heater on

Hawthorn37 · Apr 16, 2022

We had minus 2C for a couple of nights in the New Forest 3 weeks ago, and about 0C for a couple of nights in Norfolk a week ago. In the New Forest we ran a Kampa Diddy heater on the low setting with a stat - ran all night (so it seemed), it was just about keeping us comfortable. Ran with the diesel heater on 2 in Norfolk and it turned on maybe twice an hour, and it was comfortably warm.