happybuy diesel air heater

[luvrbus]

Not on high nor in the mid to upper heat range but seems it will run forever on low to minimum heat and very quiet almost silent. At $120 a unit it would cost more than double that for all the serviceable parts to repair a unit. Can't purchase the fan motor alone, only as a unit including motor, fan, and end casting. Cheapest I seen that part is $50 to over $100. I know a bus nut that's on the fourth year full timing with only a CDH and no issues.

On low they put out about much heat as a Bic lighter they are quite on low ,but you can hear one on high 63 dba ,the specs say 65dba 

[dtcerrato]

I like the remote control feature. Our current CDH is in front living room, BR at rear. Remote control for on, off, & temp adjust is convenient.

[luvrbus]

I like the remote control feature. Our current CDH is in front living room, BR at rear. Remote control for on, off, & temp adjust is convenient.

Mine has the remote too it works good up to 30ft after that forget it

[DoubleEagle]

For slightly more money than the regular CDHs one can buy a Lavaner which is essentially the same quality as the German brands.

John

I just received a Lavaner 5kw heater from their warehouse in California, shipped by UPS Ground. It looks really good, and complete. The manual is very detailed and is written in excellent English. One thing I noted in the manual is that they state that it has a ten year life span once it starts to be used due to thermal expansion and contraction. If so, that might beat the cheaper brands.

[chessie4905]

Yeah, some of the cheap ones are lucky to last one tank of fuel, before throwing parts at it.

[luvrbus]

There is no doubt the Chinese can make stuff cheaper since they just copy while others have spent millions on R and D and paying big bucks for manufactures insurance for years lol ever see the Chinese sued for defected products no because they carry no insurance  and lawyers don't want to waste their time knowing they cannot collect a dime

[windtrader]

That is a great point. As much as avoiding R&D cost to bring new product to market, China avoids all the ongoing overhead of carrying loads of insurance. That can be a huge burden depending on the potential risks with the product.


Until there is a global system to set tariffs based on comparable costs of doing business it is always going to be buy the cheapest. Obviously, it is nearly impossible to implement but something that adjusts a "score" that accounts for the differences such as cost of labor, insurance, materials, R&D, etc. More penalty for low or no insurance for example. Credit for very strict IP and patent laws, etc. So, cost to consumer is much closer no matter where it comes from.

[Jim Blackwood]

This is always an issue with developing companies. As wholesalers scour the globe for less expensive products, manufactures who do not have 1st world infrastructure will happily provide. China upsets the balance simply because it is so large but they are doing their very best to achieve 1st world status, as they feel culturally at least that they deserve to be the world's leading people. So as they elevate themselves we will see those bargains go away, much the same as it has with Japan after the war and Korea later. In the meantime the American economy has just seen a wholesale shift to the remote workforce and we have yet to see what that will do but there's no going back.

The good old days were never really as good as they are remembered to be. Far better to make the best of things and move on.

Jim

[windtrader]

In the meantime the American economy has just seen a wholesale shift to the remote workforce and we have yet to see what that will do but there's no going back.

My background, 40 years in enterprise IT, has offered those in the field to lead new tech and work modes. My experience is 95% with Indian IT specialists. Starting in the late 80's, I worked with a large insurance company that onshored talent, brining them to the USA from overseas. The cost and networks were just not to the point to do remote. And there were still laws that prohibited foreign companies from obtaining some tech such as mainframe computers.

Once the networks became more capable and the tech advanced and became cheaper, offshoring became viable. So work was now remote but done in silos or compartmentalized or divided such the work could be done with less interaction, integrated in stages.

The next major advancement was integrating remote work teams across the globe. My last contract was with eBay and PayPal and there were only a very small number of American citizens. The teams were largely made up of Indian foreign nationals here on work visas and the remote teams were living in India. We were connected all the time with tools and daily conference calls. It works.

Now with COVID, it has indeed, demonstrated business goes on in a remote connected workforce. There are pros/cons for sure. Long winded but here is my take on what the future holds. Nothing smart just obvious and logical.

Like call centers being offshore and high teams working virtually and now so many other fields running back office ops virtually, we will see continued distribution of work out of large metro centers to lower cost, less densely populated areas. Lower cost of living, lower wages - great for the bottom line. So far salary adjusments are not made for a IT worker who lived in San Jose on $150k, then moves to Reno where costs of living is half. There are rare instances where companies are starting this salary adjustment. This will grow, it only makes sense for both parties.

This is fine as it keeps the US business competitive and the paid workforce fully employed and living well due lower costs of living. The second big shift will be a major bomb and threat. That is when the next step is to offshore the white collar jobs offshore, following the massive manufacturing movements the past couple decades.

This is where we all have to think long and hard how the USA keeps from losing ground in a global market. Hard to say where it all ends but unless the bickering stops in DC and all hands get on deck to figure this ..hit out, more and rougher seas ahead.

This back to chinese heaters. Remember if one blows up you are on your own, no US company backing it up or to chase down. Good deal until you suffer a loss more than what you saved. We all make these decisions everyday.

[chessie4905]

Chump change on these heaters. At least, tons of help and parts available. Let's talk about Automobiles when warranties expire and paying hundreds or thousands to repair something that wasn't  designed or manufactured decently.
Webastos are decent units,but I've  seen posts over the years on the issues and costs of maintaining them.

[Bearmtnmartin]

My company like many others is moving production to Vietnam, partially due to a more favorable political climate, but also due to the economic advantages. As China modernises the standard and cost of living go up, and they lose their competitive advantage. A Chinese factory workers income is now over double that of a Vietnamese worker doing the same job. ($300 vs $150 per month)

[luvrbus]

Chump change on these heaters. At least, tons of help and parts available. Let's talk about Automobiles when warranties expire and paying hundreds or thousands to repair something that wasn't  designed or manufactured decently.
Webastos are decent units,but I've  seen posts over the years on the issues and costs of maintaining them.

Webasto has been around for over 80 years the problems they had was to do with Aqua/Hot hydronic mostly with the crazy valving and pumps.FWIW you will never find any unit other than the Webasto in schools buses the Webasto air heater has been around for long time. I like the Pro/Heat that is made in Canada it uses a low pressure fuel system and parts are not as costly as a Webasto.I have the newer AquaHot and love it, I'll have Lloyd service it this year since it been 2 years for $195.00 long hot showers are tough to beat 

[chessie4905]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vanlifeuksurvivorsguide.co.uk/post/fitting-your-own-chinese-diesel-heater-everything-you-need-to-know&ved=2ahUKEwjGs9CivbL0AhWZoHIEHSymBvkQFnoECAcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3zh_8CBsTRBo0p-e3v7zYy

Info here should be helpful for some getting into these

[chessie4905]

Here is a list of recommended parts possibly needed for installations.

https://www.vanlifeuksurvivorsguide.co.uk/post/chinese-diesel-heater-spare-parts-added-extras-upgrades-2-0

[Jim Blackwood]

long hot showers are tough to beat

Maybe I should revisit my plumbing plans. I still want the propane/electric water heater with pilot but some sort of a heat exchanger with the
Eiberspacher first might be sensible.

Jim