Ducato, Boxer, Relay. Diesel heater under drivers seat

[wildebus]

The pump for my eberspacher ticks but unlike a lot of people it doesn’t bother me. I like to hear a clock tick though

Ticking clocks used to do me 'ed in I kind of got used to it now (or maybe just going a bit deaf?).

I'm am very tempted to fit a Chinese heater in my van - not as a replacement, but an alternative/backup to the Truma Ultraheat Gas/Electric. Three different ways to fuel heat seems a good idea.

Was thinking of the space under the fridge and tap into the heating ducting but 1) could be a water tank underneath just in the way and 2) even if not, would the heat generated within the heater body make the fridge work a lot harder?
Other option is under bench seat and have totally independent from existing heating, but not as good heat circulation to rear of motorhome.

 

[van Rix]

My Chinese diesel heater is a backup to my Truma 4E and is a good thing. It covers all options ! The heater is the best valued item I have bought for the van (of course, that is apart from the electric items from your shop )

My heater will eventually be enclosed at the bottom of one of the kitchen cabinets. From what I have seen so far, the body of the heater does not become hot and I can't see that it would make the fridge work that much harder provided that you already have good ventilation for the fridge waste heat. However, one thing that I am mindful of is if the heater has been in operation and the power was suddenly cut (fuse blow), the heater would not have a chance to go through it's normal cooldown cycle. There are pcb's inside and I doubt that the case is made from fire-proof plastic. Is there an increased chance of the lot catching fire? I have not seen any comments about this, so any extra info would be welcomed. I do plan to line the heater enclosure with thin aluminium sheet just in case...

 

[van Rix]

I just came across this emergency shutdown relay video.

(983) Emergency automatic switch from power supply to battery 12V module - YouTube