How Many Amps Does a Diesel Heater Use? (Heater Fuel Usage)
Power is always a concern. Not only do you need power to heat your RV, but you also need to make sure the heater’s power draw does not break the bank. Watching your power usage is one way to save money and when it works, you can save big.
How many amps does a diesel heater use? The good news is that the heater uses the most amps on start-up. That can be anywhere up to 8 or 10 amps depending on the size of the heater. Running time is a lot lower with the heater barely drawing over 2 amps. Sometimes it is a lot less than that.
To learn more about the different amp use of these good heaters, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need for you to make a good buying decision. The amount of heat you get from one of these small heaters will surprise you.
Diesel Heater Usage 101
How Much Electricity Does a Diesel Heater Use?
The biggest amount of electricity you will use will be on startup. The heater needs lots of power to get going but once it does, your power drain is minimal. There are two types of these heaters, a 12 volt and a 24-volt model.
But since their primary fuel source is diesel fuel, they do not use a lot of electricity. The major need for current is for the fan and other duties. The multi-speed fans will consume most of the electricity when you have it at higher speeds.
The sizes these heaters come in are generally 2kW, 4kW, 5kW, and 8 kW which means they are not going to use a lot of electricity. Then with the added fuel source, you probably will be using more diesel fuel than electricity.
You would need about 100 ml of diesel fuel for every hour or kW hour of operation. That is a good trade-off as you can conserve electricity while still staying warm all night. Your electrical use will depend on several factors which include how long you run the device. But figure on about 14 watts.
How Many Amps Does a Diesel Heater Use?
There are 2 amp figures you need to be concerned about. The first is start-up amps and the second is run time amps. The good news is that more power is always needed at start-up and since that function doesn’t take long, you shouldn’t use a lot of power.
On average you are looking at using anywhere between 6 to 10 amps to start your heater. Once it gets going the average drops to 1 amp and sometimes 2 depending on some factors.
These are very efficient devices and rely more on diesel fuel than electricity. If you are counting pennies, you should focus more on how much diesel you have to buy as the fuel tanks are not always that large.
Of course, the number of amps you do use will depend on the size of the heater, as well as how fast you run the fan. More fan speed means more power use. Also, the longer you use it, and you can use them as you drive, you will consume more amps.
Monitor your use and you should be able to cut your electrical use down to size and not drain your batteries.
Diesel Heater Fuel Usage
This too will be determined by how much you use the heater. If you limit the use to nighttime only, you may not use more than a gallon a night. If you use it a lot and throughout your driving time, then you can expect to use up a lot of fuel.
Then another factor will be the size of the heater. The smaller size should use less diesel than the larger sizes. Your per-hour use is the best gauge of how much diesel you will use.
One estimate is that you will use 0.12 l to 0.24 l per hour for the small model. The next size up may cost you about 0.18 l to 0.49 l per hour and the larger size will run about 0.18 l to 0.676 l per hour.
Those figures are given just to give you an idea of how much diesel you will use. if you leave the heater on for 8 hours just multiply those numbers by 8 to get your total usage.
That amount of usage may have you looking around to buy a larger fuel tank to connect to this device. You should monitor this carefully so you do not run out in the middle of the night.
2kw Chinese Diesel Heater
If you do not like Chinese products, you may be in for a tough time finding one. There are about 6 European manufacturers of this type of heater and they restrict their sales to specified dealers only. You may not have any other choice but to go with a Chinese option.
The price difference will be an attractive influence. The European models can sell for $1000+ while the Chinese go for under $200. Their low price is also an indication of their low power use.
This model does not use a lot of electricity but the fuel tank may be too small for some people’s situation. They are easy to install as their small size allows them to be placed anywhere you have room.
The operating temperature ranges between -40 degrees C to + 20 degrees 7. That would equal to -40 degrees F and about 72 degrees F. Another plus would be the low noise level it puts out. You should be able to conduct other activities while this heater is on.
5kw Diesel Heater BTU
On average, you are looking at receiving up to 17,000 BTUs which equals about 3 1/2 space heaters working at 1500 watts. The device comes with sturdy aluminum construction, an energy-efficient pump, and the noise level should be next to nothing.
In addition to those features, there is also an LCD monitor that lets you adjust the temperature levels. Also, it should work even when the temperatures get down to -40 degrees on either temperature scale.
To install the heater in your vehicle, the kit comes with all the parts you need. Your toughest task will be finding the right location. The right location is essential if you want to spread the heat around evenly.
The fan and the oil pump are supposed to be silent making sure your family and you can sleep through the night. Then, this heater can be placed inside any number of vehicles to ensure you stay warm even if the vehicle is one you use for work. Its small size also lets you find the ideal location to install it.
8kw Chinese Diesel Heater
This is the most powerful diesel heater option you can get from Chinese factories. Its 8ooo watt output makes sure your vehicle heats up nice and quick. The good thing about this model and the other ones is that it puts out dry heat. You do not have to worry about condensation or excess moisture gathering in your RV.
Along with RVs, this device works well in buses, boats, vans, cars, and more vehicles. No matter which vehicle you drive, you will be able to stay warm with this heater as your traveling companion.
Some of the features include an LCD, remote control, and a 10-liter tank. That may or may not be large enough for your purposes. But that is something you will have to figure out for yourself. Nothing is stopping you from getting a larger tank if you need one.
All the installation components are included in the kit. Its 15 by 6 by 6-inch size still has it small enough to fit any tight nook, cranny, or corner you have available. On top of all this, it is easy to operate so you never run out of heat when you need it.
Chinese Diesel Heater 2kw vs 5kw
There is little difference between these two heaters. The biggest difference will be their size. Not physical size but their performance size. The 5kW heater will use more electricity and more diesel fuel than the 2 kW device.
Another difference will be in the fact that the 2 kW option does not come with an LCD control. The 5 kW heater does. Both are rated for the same temperature range and they have similar fuel tanks.
They also have the same vehicle application, however, the 5 kW model would work best in those larger RVs and boats. the 2 kW heater may not have the power or heat output needed to keep those spaces nice and warm.
But that is not all as both heaters are said to be very quiet even with the fans on. Higher speeds will produce more noise but that may not be by much. Their size is similar making sure that you can upgrade to the 5 kW model if the 2 kW option does not work out for you.
You can use the same space to install the larger performing diesel heater saving you a lot of time and trouble.
Diesel Heater in a House
These heaters may not work too well for most traditional homes. The walls and floors may not accommodate the heating style very well. But for cabins and tiny homes, should be an excellent source of heat.
One reason for that is these heaters do not have any open flames to be worried about. Your wood cabin and tiny home are safe if the heater does get knocked over. Plus, the interior design of these homes leaves lots of open spaces and few walls.
The hot air can circulate easier making sure every portion of these structures is well heated. If that hasn’t convinced you, then you can be convinced by how easy it is to top up the tank and how fast the heater gets going.
Your cabin or tiny home should be heated in less time than it takes to start other heating sources. Then because you can place these heaters just about anywhere, you can block any odor they may produce from entering your home. All it takes is using the right exhaust hose and vent the odor and smoke outside.
Happybuy 8kw Diesel Air Heater
This model weighs about 10 pounds making it fairly light when you need to change its location. Its easy handling allows you to find a good spot for the heater without wearing yourself out.
Plus, it comes with a remote control, piping, and all the hardware to make installation a snap. The remote control allows you to control the heater from any part of your RV or tiny house.
Its aluminum body is strong and should hold up under normal use. Also, its 16-inch size should not make it that hard to find the right place for this heater. You can place it outside if you want, but the drawback to that location is that it can be stolen fairly easily.
The good news is that you can find this device at different locations other than Amazon. If it is not in stock at that marketplace, it will be in stock at other locations. The price you pay will be determined by the outlet you go to.
When it comes to Chinese brands, one is about as good as another. They may be made by the same company but given a different brand name.
Some Final Words
Staying warm is not going to be hard this year. All you need is a top diesel heater to take the burden off your RV's electrical and propane systems. With the dry heat, it produces you can avoid mold and mildew issues at the same time.
