I’ve just failed to find the Topic mentioned by Harry!   He’s right though, and I remember the Topic was started by stevegtr, who I can’t find either.  Now I have to go out.

As I remember the suggestion was controversial.  On the one hand, Team JFDI seeing these units as a cheap easy way of heating a workshop in hot debate with the “Is that wise Captain Mainwaring?” brigade.

Cause for concern: the existence of ‘too cheap’ units;  them being designed to fit into an easily ventilated vehicle rather than in a building; fire hazard, including having a tank of diesel in the workshop; home insurance being unlikely to cover the installation if it burns the house down; and some practical issues like the need for an external vent and for the heat output to be directed by ducting.  And whilst Team JFDI are happy to burn illegally sourced diesel in these things, others prefer not to annoy the law.  Your choice!

Not clear how effective they are.  Web reports almost always contain generalities rather than figures, making it impossible to compare them with any of the various forms of electric heating available.   In theory, diesel is cheaper, but I think it would be necessary to burn a lot of it to cover the installation cost.   Much depends on the space being heated.  I suspect, but can’t prove, that electric heating has the edge in most circumstances.  A man in a poorly insulated shed at the end of the garden powered by a 13A spur might well be better off with a diesel heater, which absolutely isn’t a good solution in my indoor workshop.

Dave

As someone who has used one I will speak ! The first is that there seem to be many options as to what you buy. I think the one we used was a 5Kw one in a 20 x 8 container. They range from the selfcontained unit with the fuel tank on top to a kit of bits to make up as you wish, then there is a choice of fittings and ducting. The system has 2 sides – fuel side and the fresh air side. The fuel side burns the fuel in an alloy chamber that is finned and has a VERY HOT exhaust that MUST be taken to the open air, this needs some thought as it will be hot enough to ignite wood etc so the opening must be lined with non inflammable material and buy a silencer, one of the parts options, though not noisy it can irritate some . The fresh air side blows air over the alloy chamber to draw the heat and depending on which model as to the ducting options. A 12v supply is needed, this can be an old 12v battery and a small battery charger ( you will need 240v mains)- it worked for us. The fuel was red diesel or 32 sec heating oil and consumption was about 2/3 L a day. There should be instructions which any intelligent person can follow. The fuel tank held about 4l . At about £120 for a warm winter it was a bargain and it’s still going. Good Luck. Noel.