Sunster 2KW Diesel Heater Split System with WiFi & Bluetooth APP

How much space can this heater warm?

The SH W2 is a 2KW unit made for small and medium spaces. The product description says it warms up to 20m². The specification sheet gives a slightly wider range of 20-25m². That covers a campervan, a small motorhome, a tent or a garden workshop.

Is 2KW enough? For a small space it is. A premium aluminium heat exchanger improves heating efficiency by 38%. One reviewer fitted it in an outhouse with concrete walls. It took the damp chill out of the room in about fifteen minutes. It did not overheat the room after an hour. Another reviewer said it warms gradually and does not cycle between too hot and off.

If you need to heat a much bigger area, Sunster also sells an 8KW model, the SH W8.

Does it run on 12V or 24V and can I use it at home?

It runs on both. The heater switches between 12V and 24V automatically, so you do not set anything by hand. The operating range is 10.5-16V for 12V systems and 21-32V for 24V systems. Startup current is 13A and the rated current is 3A. Power consumption is 0.036KW/H, so it puts little load on a leisure battery once running.

What about mains power? The Q&A section says it supports 110-240V AC through an adapter. But the Sunster comparison table shows no power adapter for the SH W2 (the TR B1 model does list one). The kit list also has no adapter. If you want to run it from the mains, you should buy a suitable 12V power supply separately and check the rating first.

What are the control methods and how far does the remote reach?

There are three ways to control it. You can use the LCD panel on the unit. You can use the remote control, which has a range of 80m. Or you can use the WiFi and Bluetooth app through the 2409PRO WiFi controller.

Why does the app matter? WiFi lets you start the heater from anywhere you have a signal. You can pre-heat a van or tent before you arrive. You can also set the temperature and timers and change heating modes. The adjustable range is 8-35°C. One reviewer starts their workshop heater from the sofa before walking outside. Another likes the app because the heater is fitted out of easy reach.

How much diesel does it use and how long does the tank last?

Fuel consumption is 0.1-0.26 L/h. The built-in tank holds 10L. Sunster states a run time of up to 80 hours. That is less than 4 litres per night in the listing's own comparison.

Will you really get 80 hours? Only at the low end of the range. At the top rate of 0.26 L/h a full tank lasts about 38 hours. At 0.1 L/h it would last about 100 hours. Your result depends on the heat setting and the outside temperature. Reviewers say the tank lasts ages at sensible settings. One said the fuel level barely dropped after a long afternoon of use.

How loud is it?

The oil pump runs at 35 dB. Sunster says this is 30% quieter than standard models. The pump has an internal bending design. The kit also includes a silencer for the exhaust.

Older diesel heaters have a sharp ticking from the pump. Does this one? Reviewers say no. One described it as a muted low thump that you forget once the fan is running. Another called it a big improvement over older diesel heaters they had used. Note that 35 dB is the pump figure. You will still hear the fan and the combustion air flow.

What safety features does it have?

The heater has overheat protection at 280°C or above. It also has short-circuit protection and low voltage protection. The low voltage cut-out is useful in a van because it can stop a flat leisure battery.

The heater and oil pump both work from -40°C to +20°C. An Adaptive Altitude Mode adjusts fuel delivery up to 5000m, so it still burns properly in the mountains.

It is not a plug-in room heater. A reviewer pointed out that the exhaust and combustion air intake need fitting correctly. The fuel line and wiring need the same care. Exhaust fumes must vent outside. One reviewer drilled through an exterior wall with a masonry bit and sealed the sleeve with high-temperature sealant.

Is it hard to install and what do I need to watch for?

It is a split system. You can place the heater body, the 10L tank and the controls where they suit your layout. Installation takes planning. One reviewer spent a full afternoon on it. Another found it easy and said everything worked as intended.

Two points came up in reviews. First, prime the fuel line properly. One reviewer had to run the manual priming cycle twice from the controller menu to clear air bubbles. If air stays in the line the glow plug tries to ignite on an empty line and shows an error code. Second, check the fixings. One reviewer found the burn chamber bolts, glow plug and fan housing bolts fairly loose. They stripped it down and retightened everything. Checking them before fitting costs little time.

The kit contains an LCD panel and remote control. It also has an oil filter and oil pump, an air outlet grid and air filter and a silencer. You also get a T connector, fuel pump, rubber clip, intake and exhaust pipe, air outlet pipe and wire harness. The rest is a fixed plate, 10L fuel tank, fixed cable, fuel hose and a fixture accessories set. The package measures 46 x 35 x 26.5 cm and weighs 5.6kg.

How does it differ from other Sunster models?

The Sunster 2KW diesel heater (SH W2) sits between a Bluetooth-only model and a larger one. The SH B2 is also 2KW. It only has Bluetooth control and uses a ZH controller board. The SH W2 adds WiFi control and uses a ZY board. The SH W8 is an 8KW model with WiFi and Bluetooth. Its listing gives a 40-hour run time on the 10L tank, half the SH W2's 80 hours. That is because it burns more fuel for more heat.

Which one suits you? A 2KW unit makes sense for a camper or a small enclosed space. An 8KW unit is for larger areas. All four models in the comparison have an oil filter, an air filter and altitude mode. The listing says this heater suits a motorhome, trailer, campervan, truck, tent, fishing trip and indoor use.