Jacgood Diesel Heater for Campervan 12V 5KW-8KW Diesel Air Heater | Remote Control LCD Monitor Low Noise Fast Heating Parking Heater For Car Trucks Boat Bus RV and Trailer

How much heat does it really give out and what size space can it warm?

The listing gives the power as 5-8KW and the description says it heats about 15m². That is roughly a large van, a motorhome cab or a small shed.

The power figure needs a caveat. The title says 5KW-8KW, the first bullet says 8KW and the description says 5-8KW. Two reviewers think the real output is lower. One estimated it at no more than 4KW. Another said the unit is labelled 8KW but is clearly a 5KW unit going by its size. Both still said it worked. Other buyers reported hot air within a few minutes in a long-wheelbase Ford Transit. Another said it puts out plenty of heat even on the lowest setting.

How much diesel does it use and can it run all night?

Fuel use is listed as 0.1 to 0.64 litres per hour. Low settings sit near the bottom of that range and full power sits at the top. The mother board controls the mix of combustion air and diesel to save fuel. One page section gives a starting value of 0.14-0.64 L/h, so the exact low end varies between listings.

Can it run overnight? Yes. The listing states continuous heat supply of up to 48 hours. At 0.64 L/h, 48 hours would use about 30 litres on full power. A 20 litre tank would last much longer on low. One buyer said it burns more fuel on the higher settings, but the extra airflow does not add much warmth. Running it lower is usually better value.

How much battery power does it draw?

The listing gives a rated current of 3A and a startup current of 15A. Power consumption is listed at 0.036KW/H. The high draw comes only while the glow plug heats up. After that the heater needs very little.

The startup draw matters. One reviewer found the circuit checks battery voltage. If the supply cannot hold 10-11V while the glow plug heats, the heater shows an error and will not start. His motorhome supply could not hold the voltage. Connected straight to the battery on thicker cables, it started after some priming. Another reviewer said to expect to buy battery cables. Use short and thick cable runs.

How loud is it?

The listing says the heater is low noise because the blower speed is controlled. Reviews are split. Of 15 noise comments, 7 were positive and 8 were negative.

The fuel pump is the usual source. It makes a ticking sound. One buyer said extra cover and sound proofing made it undetectable. Others found the heater quieter than the one it replaced. A few called it loud, including one who said it was much noisier than their other heater. Where you mount the pump and tank makes a big difference.

Is it difficult to install and what do I need to know first?

The heater comes with a complete installation kit and all the mounting screws. Reviewers said it can be done DIY with basic tools. One said finding a good spot took longer than the work itself. Another suggested watching YouTube installation videos first. A reviewer who fitted it under the passenger seat of a Ford Transit said it fitted well there.

Some points need care:

The fuel pump must be mounted tilted between 40 and 90 degrees. The listing says it must be kept up at that angle.

The exhaust gets very hot. One reviewer warned that the supplied mounting plate leaves no clearance from wooden floors or insulation. He recommended a separate turret plate for a ply floor.

The instructions are hard to follow. One buyer found the supplied exhaust pipe too small for a campervan install. Another said it melted onto the exhaust at first test.

One reviewer measured the diesel inlet pipe as about 20mm shorter than on his old heater. With the rubber seal and a 2mm plate fitted, only about 5mm was left to attach the hose. Check this and secure the fuel hose well.

How does the remote control work?

The remote has a range of up to 30 metres. You can set the temperature from the remote or the panel. You can warm a vehicle before you get in on a cold morning. One buyer turns it on without getting out of bed. The unit also has an on/off timer and the controller has a pump button that makes priming easier.

Two things to watch. The remote may need pairing first. One reviewer did not know this, but the seller's customer service helped. Another reviewer said their unit arrived without a remote. Check the contents on arrival.

What conditions will it work in?

The heater works from -40℃ to +50℃. The oil pump works from -40℃ to +40℃. It works up to 3,500 metres above sea level. That covers most mountain passes in Europe.

It works without the engine running. Combustion air is drawn from outside and diesel is drawn from the tank. They burn in the combustion chamber. The heat passes through the aluminium shell and a fan blows warm air into the space. The outlet is 76mm (7.6cm) across and the inlet is 26mm (2.6cm). It suits cars, vans, buses, RVs, trucks, boats and trailers. One buyer fitted it in a shed on a 12V battery with a standby charger.

How reliable and safe is it?

The rating is 4.1 out of 5 from 217 ratings. 63% gave 5 stars and 10% gave 1 star. Of 38 reliability comments, 29 were positive and 9 were negative. Quality scored 26 positive and 13 negative from 39 comments.

The negative reports are serious. One buyer said it broke 3 times in 3 weeks with a failed fuel pump. That buyer then said it caught fire. Another said it failed after 2 hours and damaged the control unit. A third could not get it to fire up and returned it. They said the return was easy. All 6 durability comments were negative.

Many buyers had no problems. One said the exhaust was very clean on diesel with no smell. Another said they detected no CO or CO2. Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any living space. Use a proper turret plate and check all fuel connections. Another reviewer suggested a silicone mounting gasket to stop a hot rubbery smell.