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Old 12-26-2019, 08:56 AM   #1
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Off brand diesel coolant heaters

Does anyone know ANYTHING about these guys (retailer or manufacturer)? This is a 12K (41k BTU) diesel coolant heater. for $550. Name brands are double that. Kinda nervous about buying from something that looks so shady. Would rather order from something that looks more like a store front but was told Alibada is legit at least.


https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...4b9e5a8c4zWiYB

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Old 12-26-2019, 09:03 AM   #2
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For sure there is a lot less info out there about the off brand coolant heaters vs the air heaters... People are installing the air heaters in everything from skoolies and boats to pickups and vans to garages and cottages. I saw an initial review video of a combo air+water heater the other day but you can't really compare a 5KW air+water unit to a 12KW water one.

Alibaba is a legit marketplace just like Amazon is a legit marketplace... but that doesn't imply anything about the quality of the product you're buying. I'm not aware of anyone with a coolant heater that isn't a name brand unit.
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Old 12-26-2019, 09:14 AM   #3
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Looks similar to a webasto unit I just fixed for a guy. I'm sure it's just a stolen design that some place in china is mass producing, screwing over a legitimate company.

The one I fixed had a control unit in the cab that operates the heater, so make sure it has that or it's no more then a paper weight.
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Old 12-26-2019, 10:54 AM   #4
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I've been using a 5kw unit for about two months and it has worked like a champ! I think that I paid around $130 for mine.

Mine is not being used for living space heating, but is being used to warm my FLA house battery. I had been having problems with capacity due to the cold weather. Problem solved!

Also, it is very efficient on fuel usage.
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Old 12-26-2019, 11:08 AM   #5
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I've been using a 5kw unit for about two months and it has worked like a champ! I think that I paid around $130 for mine.

Mine is not being used for living space heating, but is being used to warm my FLA house battery. I had been having problems with capacity due to the cold weather. Problem solved!

Also, it is very efficient on fuel usage.
$130 is either one hell of a used deal or air.
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Old 12-26-2019, 11:36 AM   #6
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I recently picked up an air heater for $110 with all the accessories.. but it's an air heater, not a coolant heater. They're a dime a dozen.
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Old 12-26-2019, 11:55 AM   #7
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I recently picked up an air heater for $110 with all the accessories.. but it's an air heater, not a coolant heater. They're a dime a dozen.
Yeah, before I went this route I figured the coolant would be 2x the air. So much for that idea.
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Old 12-26-2019, 12:01 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jofred99 View Post
I've been using a 5kw unit for about two months and it has worked like a champ! I think that I paid around $130 for mine.

Mine is not being used for living space heating, but is being used to warm my FLA house battery. I had been having problems with capacity due to the cold weather. Problem solved!

Also, it is very efficient on fuel usage.
Sounds like what you describe is a diesel AIR heater. This thread is about diesel COOLANT heater. Huge price difference between the 2.
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Old 12-26-2019, 01:12 PM   #9
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Yep, I've had a problem with being full of hot air before...
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:06 PM   #10
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Water Heater

Ive been looking at one of these also but I was planning on using it in conjunction with a marine style water heater. Use the diesel heater to heat up the water heater tank. Eliminate the on demand unit i have installed. The goal would be to try to only need one fuel.

Next would be a Wallas or Wabesto diesel cook top.
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:12 PM   #11
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There are dozens of forums hundreds of threads, facebook support groups etc on these, GIYF
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:17 PM   #12
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The goal would be to try to only need one fuel.

Next would be a Wallas or Wabesto diesel cook top.
That's the plan.
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:18 PM   #13
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There are dozens of forums hundreds of threads, facebook support groups etc on these, GIYF
For the air heaters, yes. For the name brand coolant heater, yes. For the knock off coolant heaters, NO.
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:39 PM   #14
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Good point.

Check out this supposed 5kW does both

https://m.alibaba.com/product/608715...er-heater.html

https://youtu.be/vtvy2MwbArQ
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:43 PM   #15
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Thx, checking now. I'm not sure 5k will do tho I could add a diesel air to the line up.
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Old 12-26-2019, 02:49 PM   #16
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And hard to make suitable for HWS-only in summer.

But redundancy is good, all the diesel ones really like running flat out not throttled down.

My desire to fuel with gasoline is an even bigger challenge
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Old 12-26-2019, 03:09 PM   #17
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And hard to make suitable for HWS-only in summer.
Yeah, I'll probably do a smaller loop for that.

Quote:
all the diesel ones really like running flat out not throttled down.
I've read that too.

Quote:
My desire to fuel with gasoline is an even bigger challenge
Pretty sure I saw a gasoline one on this same site.
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Old 12-26-2019, 03:16 PM   #18
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yes excellent, thanks!

https://yusenn.m.en.alibaba.com/prod...06.wapshop.0.0
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Old 01-01-2020, 08:38 PM   #19
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Yeah, I'll probably do a smaller loop for that.

I've read that too.

Pretty sure I saw a gasoline one on this same site.
My Corvair had a gasoline heater.

The gas heater on Ricky Nelsons C-47 airplane killed him.
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Old 01-02-2020, 05:53 AM   #20
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all the diesel ones really like running flat out not throttled down.
I don't know about the knock offs. My genuine Espar has four heat levels. The knock off looks exactly like it.
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