I’ve got a 36v to 12v (claims 20A @ 12V output) converter - Downsol brand from FleaBay. Makita batteries are quite happy in series, my big battery saw is 36v as it uses two of these (5Ah) and this converter is designed for 36v input, so not under running a 24v converter. It’s got a large die cast case that gets warm when running 8A output at 12V (100w) so maybe this is an option - but you would need two of the battery adapter “shoes”.
Hey David! I think these are actually rated 10A output current, you were measuring input current. Try and find a 20A buck converter with a fixed output voltage, should be potted and have a heatsink.
Basically divide the quoted power rating by 2 for any of the buck converter boards. They are good but always under heatsinked for even half the rating.
I make portable diesel heaters in pelican cases and sell a bunch with dewalt battery holders, the 12 amp work fantastic and can get between 7-10 hours of usage in a 5kw unit. I use those big aluminum buck converters and a low voltage alarm for the lithium batteries.
hi great video you can get model plane voltage controlers up to 20 plus amps also try a lipo battery either a big 4 cell or a large 3 cell both will do the job
Every diesel heater needs a tool batter option adaptor setup. Hopefully makita Milwaukee and other tool brands make a tool battery operated diesel heater
Hi David - thanks for all the interesting and informative films. Do you happen to know who supplies a quality exhaust and silencer for a Chinese diesel heater . One winter and the one on my van is looking very 😞😂😂
all devices are filled up with this magic Smoke in the factory.. the magic smoke of different smell, color, and density makes parts work differently.. when you let the magic smoke out by rupturing the part then it no longer workie :) :) ha!!
Can I request a video showing how to swap out the devil heater ecu for one that is compatible for use with the afterburner controller? Ihave the air/water heater version and need to do this mod but it's not quite a simple swapping of the boards as the connectors differ... Many thanks, great stuff as always!
I'd probably use 3 or 4 voltage converters in parallel. 3 amps a piece. What are they like a pound a piece? The other thing that can be done is using the power supply with a cheap lawnmower battery. Find the resting voltage. Hold the resting voltage with your power supply. Once the glow plug goes out the power supply will bring the battery back up to resting voltage
You could possibly use a solar power controller to out put those requirements Have a cheap one i purchased off evilbay For about 20.00 us. Takes 30v from my panel and outputs about 13v to charge my deep cycle with an inverter drain.? Not sure but drains for my diesel heater just fine.
That board I'd guess could peak a second at 10 amp but there is no heat sinking on it, heck even the 3amp buck/boost converters have heatsink of some kind. I use the Chinese rating of - advertising spec devide by half- I have a claimed 10amp board that gets pretty hot, 70v ish in and 17v out at 3.5amp. I have seen another TH-camr use bigger boards but not sure of the exact current
ha!!! i killed one of those little boards.. in my endless no-start fights with my VVKB water heater at one point I had thought if i gave my heater higher voltage that my glowpin would glow hotter and the heater would Light off.. (my heater doesnt like to light off when its colder than about -2c) I gave mine 24 volts in and pushed 15 volts out.. my board looked similar to yours.. and same result.. the heater didnt light and the board smelled like Cooked transistors.... I never measured the current with my meter. I never got the chance it burnt up too quick..
Watching a few of your vids - I have a 2 kw unit - looking to run off Aux house battery (100AH) pulling Diesel from the vehicle fuel tank - any thoughts on this?
Two resistors in series makes a voltage divider circuit. Online calculators for Voltage dividers will help you pick the two resistors you need to get the voltage you want. Add a zenor diode with the voltage desired for a cut off point to turn the battery off at a specific voltage. I'm sure someone here could draw you up a diagram for a simple circuit like I've described.
When the smoke was let out of the wee module, you were measuring ~7A. Am I right in thinking that was on the 18v lead to the module? If so, then the draw on the output side @ 14v would be a higher current - nearer 9A. Still should have been within the spec of the module right enough.
Agreed, if the battery was fully charged that would be 20V, so 10A at 14V, so technically within the limits of the device; however, the 8 pin MOSFET packages are not usually rated to that current, I would have expected to see a D2PAK style mosfet there.
Dave a question not a comment have you ever tried to run a diesel heater vertically Instead of horizontally with the inlet up and the discharge down thanks
Yes. But I can't remember which way up I had it. They do work but there is a possibilty of a small fuel leak from the burn chamber flame front hole next to the glow plug.
What happens if your diesel heater turns of while running full but the battery dies and it stops and can't cool down ? Or dose it turn of before the battery gets to low?
Could you use enough TECs to have a module that produces enough energy to make it that you only need a tiny battery but it can self sustain and not need a mains connection.
So that is something I'd like to try this year. I just need to do a shopping list of the parts I'll need. TEC modules (10 or 20), heatsinks for the cool side, square pipe to attach them to and something that will take the power they produce and make a useable voltage to charge a battery and run the heater.
Quite a few step down regulators on the internet with variable voltage you could use. I'd assume you wire them up in series to get the most sensitivity or om groups as you want a pair of them around the same temperature zone else their act as a resistance.
if one estimates 18.5v on the battery and an amp of 7.5. then the out current will be 10.2A at 14V on the output. this is above 10A :) they did not specify where it was max 10A
hi have 3 diesel heaters all not working one pump failed after a year the other 2 with in 3 weeks have one that pumps fuel downwards but when connected to the heater stops ,ticking nose ok can they be repaired they dont seem to last where do get yours from thanks
@@DavidMcLuckie cool, that converter thing ended up being quite the deal, other new ones were about 70 quid and it's more like a regulator it makes a steady output voltage when the drill battery went between near 19v down I let it drop to 16v( to be safe so it would still charge) and the output stayed the same
@@906MediaProductions while that makes sense in most cases what about a winter storm where the clouds and snow make solar not effective. I was thinking the exhaust might have enough heat and cold to make keeping the battery level up possible?
@@DavidMcLuckie my controller was on 24v setting when I first got it, just faulted out on low voltage as I was using 12v, it wouldn’t surprise me if the heaters can run on 12v or 24v
Put controller in 24 volt, technically 5x4.2v is 21volts is what almost every power tool battery is actually outputting it might trip the under-voltage in that mode but worth a shot!
@@DavidMcLuckie i am confused on my controller in the advanced settings there is an option for 12 or 24 volt input, if set to 24 volt wouldn’t the controller or ecu then be the regulator for motor and other i assume in 12 volt mode to control speed its lowering voltage to fan motor to say 8 volts, what is that setting for then?
You can set the ECU to 12v or 24v version. But the fuel pump, fan motor, and glow plug are all voltage dependent and need to be matched to the voltage you are using.
@@DavidMcLuckie Only the ECU, That makes no sense, i thought the whole system would be 24v once set that way So i need a 24v and a 12v to run it at 24v, you sure?
Hi everyone... thanks kindly for showing interest in UK design and manufacture of these battery adapters... with David’s permission I’ll pop a link to my eBay shop so you can take a look. I have DeWALT, Makita, Parkside, Worx and black a decker ... I’m always working on designing and making more! ...
Came for the "heloooooooo!"
Wasnt disapointed
Your vids are great no bullshit you tell it as it is , you’ve explained how these heaters work perfectly I’ve learned a lot thanks 👍👨🏻🏭🇬🇧
Between AvE and David McLuckie, this Yank is thoroughly edu-mah-cated and entertained.
I run my heater on 5ah 20v dewalt batterys with a 15a 12v step down converter and I've never had a problem👍
How long does the heater run on the 5AH battery
I’ve got a 36v to 12v (claims 20A @ 12V output) converter - Downsol brand from FleaBay. Makita batteries are quite happy in series, my big battery saw is 36v as it uses two of these (5Ah) and this converter is designed for 36v input, so not under running a 24v converter. It’s got a large die cast case that gets warm when running 8A output at 12V (100w) so maybe this is an option - but you would need two of the battery adapter “shoes”.
That was fun to try!
Cheers!
I've done it with a 30 amp converter. With a 12 amp hour n18 battery it run a long time on a 5kw at full power
Thanks Again For Sharing Your Life Travels
Hey David! I think these are actually rated 10A output current, you were measuring input current. Try and find a 20A buck converter with a fixed output voltage, should be potted and have a heatsink.
I am sourcing parts to do this very thing. Will likely run parallel batteries? Not sure yet.
Brilliant video thank you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Basically divide the quoted power rating by 2 for any of the buck converter boards. They are good but always under heatsinked for even half the rating.
I make portable diesel heaters in pelican cases and sell a bunch with dewalt battery holders, the 12 amp work fantastic and can get between 7-10 hours of usage in a 5kw unit. I use those big aluminum buck converters and a low voltage alarm for the lithium batteries.
Ooooh nice.
Have you tried to run two 5 amp hours in a parallel connection. Didn't want to purchase if it does work
hi great video you can get model plane voltage controlers up to 20 plus amps also try a lipo battery either a big 4 cell or a large 3 cell both will do the job
Hey I'm really into thinking about radiant floor heat from one of these.
Every diesel heater needs a tool batter option adaptor setup. Hopefully makita Milwaukee and other tool brands make a tool battery operated diesel heater
Hi David - thanks for all the interesting and informative films. Do you happen to know who supplies a quality exhaust and silencer for a Chinese diesel heater . One winter and the one on my van is looking very 😞😂😂
What if you had a small lead acid battery that was charged by the buck converter? Would the battery supply most of the current spike?
Brilliant man 👍😎❤️
Love your terminology “let the smoke out”, I’ll have to try that one. 😃
all devices are filled up with this magic Smoke in the factory.. the magic smoke of different smell, color, and density makes parts work differently.. when you let the magic smoke out by rupturing the part then it no longer workie :) :) ha!!
Can I request a video showing how to swap out the devil heater ecu for one that is compatible for use with the afterburner controller?
Ihave the air/water heater version and need to do this mod but it's not quite a simple swapping of the boards as the connectors differ...
Many thanks, great stuff as always!
Interesting vid.
I'd probably use 3 or 4 voltage converters in parallel. 3 amps a piece. What are they like a pound a piece?
The other thing that can be done is using the power supply with a cheap lawnmower battery. Find the resting voltage. Hold the resting voltage with your power supply. Once the glow plug goes out the power supply will bring the battery back up to resting voltage
You could possibly use a solar power controller to out put those requirements
Have a cheap one i purchased off evilbay
For about 20.00 us. Takes 30v from my panel and outputs about 13v to charge my deep cycle with an inverter drain.? Not sure but drains for my diesel heater just fine.
FYI: Voltage Range: 12V is 10.5-16, 24V is 21-32V. I've only tested 24V heater using a 7S li-ion at 29.9v.
as noted in other comments, get bigclive to help out on this, that would make for a very interesting video
That board I'd guess could peak a second at 10 amp but there is no heat sinking on it, heck even the 3amp buck/boost converters have heatsink of some kind.
I use the Chinese rating of - advertising spec devide by half-
I have a claimed 10amp board that gets pretty hot, 70v ish in and 17v out at 3.5amp.
I have seen another TH-camr use bigger boards but not sure of the exact current
ha!!! i killed one of those little boards.. in my endless no-start fights with my VVKB water heater at one point I had thought if i gave my heater higher voltage that my glowpin would glow hotter and the heater would Light off.. (my heater doesnt like to light off when its colder than about -2c) I gave mine 24 volts in and pushed 15 volts out.. my board looked similar to yours.. and same result.. the heater didnt light and the board smelled like Cooked transistors.... I never measured the current with my meter. I never got the chance it burnt up too quick..
If you access the hidden settings through the original controller it allows you to change the power from 12 to 24 volts
It does. But it throws are error for the glow plug as it expects it to the be the 24V version.
the 20 amp ones work to run heater from 24v on eBay
Watching a few of your vids - I have a 2 kw unit - looking to run off Aux house battery (100AH) pulling Diesel from the vehicle fuel tank - any thoughts on this?
Yes, exactly as I installed in the camper. The hardest part was dropping and refitting the tank. :)
Two resistors in series makes a voltage divider circuit. Online calculators for Voltage dividers will help you pick the two resistors you need to get the voltage you want.
Add a zenor diode with the voltage desired for a cut off point to turn the battery off at a specific voltage.
I'm sure someone here could draw you up a diagram for a simple circuit like I've described.
When the smoke was let out of the wee module, you were measuring ~7A. Am I right in thinking that was on the 18v lead to the module? If so, then the draw on the output side @ 14v would be a higher current - nearer 9A. Still should have been within the spec of the module right enough.
correct
Hes reading only 7 amps becuase hes on the battery side with is a hogher voltage so less cureent
Agreed, if the battery was fully charged that would be 20V, so 10A at 14V, so technically within the limits of the device; however, the 8 pin MOSFET packages are not usually rated to that current, I would have expected to see a D2PAK style mosfet there.
@@joshuabest100 Yes, that's the point I was making.
Have you thought about using a cheap solar charge controller to get the volts down to 14v
What a great idea,, do you think it will work?
also - whats the current draw on the pump in Amps..
I started my heater on a 12volt motorcycle battery but didn't run long because it was only 14 amp hours you do need a continous source
Dave a question not a comment have you ever tried to run a diesel heater vertically Instead of horizontally with the inlet up and the discharge down thanks
Yes. But I can't remember which way up I had it. They do work but there is a possibilty of a small fuel leak from the burn chamber flame front hole next to the glow plug.
Curiosity where do you get the afterburner control been looking all over looking for it the one that's made in Australia
afterburner.mrjones.id.au/
Ebay truck 24v to 12v DC-DC stepdown converter 240w 20A with handle an input voltage down to 18v and output 12v.
What happens if your diesel heater turns of while running full but the battery dies and it stops and can't cool down ? Or dose it turn of before the battery gets to low?
That's something I try and fix in another video. As it'll just run until the battery dies and the heater just stops.
Can you run 2 in parallel (2 of each sets)
You didnt factor in the Chinese amp factor of -divided by 2 lol
Could you use enough TECs to have a module that produces enough energy to make it that you only need a tiny battery but it can self sustain and not need a mains connection.
So that is something I'd like to try this year. I just need to do a shopping list of the parts I'll need. TEC modules (10 or 20), heatsinks for the cool side, square pipe to attach them to and something that will take the power they produce and make a useable voltage to charge a battery and run the heater.
Excellent to hear. :) Would be a bit of fun!
Quite a few step down regulators on the internet with variable voltage you could use. I'd assume you wire them up in series to get the most sensitivity or om groups as you want a pair of them around the same temperature zone else their act as a resistance.
if one estimates 18.5v on the battery and an amp of 7.5. then the out current will be 10.2A at 14V on the output. this is above 10A :) they did not specify where it was max 10A
I'd expect it to be an output spec.
hi have 3 diesel heaters all not working one pump failed after a year the other 2 with in 3 weeks have one that pumps fuel downwards but when connected to the heater stops ,ticking nose ok can they be repaired they dont seem to last where do get yours from thanks
I should have some new heaters in shortly for testing that are supposed to be much better than the really cheap ones.
Is running the heaters in altitude mode ok at normal elevation ? I find it a little cooler than on full normal mode ?
It'll just run it lean. No damage, just less heat.
@@DavidMcLuckie thanks David great videos 👍
How do i miss this...
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Such a great video, I'm sure van lifers have wanted to try this. What happens with two batteries to make the 10ah ?
You get double the run time
Series gives you higher voltage and parallel give you more run time
I tried a couple times to post a link to the voltage convertor I used but it keeps getting removed or at least I canny see it anymore
Links end up in the 'Held for review'. I can see them. :)
@@DavidMcLuckie cool, that converter thing ended up being quite the deal, other new ones were about 70 quid and it's more like a regulator it makes a steady output voltage when the drill battery went between near 19v down I let it drop to 16v( to be safe so it would still charge) and the output stayed the same
I want to see if you can charge up the battery using peltier plates???
I was legitimately researching this, you can but it's vastly easier to just use enough battery to last until sunrise and use solar.
@@906MediaProductions while that makes sense in most cases what about a winter storm where the clouds and snow make solar not effective.
I was thinking the exhaust might have enough heat and cold to make keeping the battery level up possible?
Hi why can't you get the afterburner in the UK thanks
Brexit.
My 12v 4ah Hercules batteries work great.
Hi David, if you ask nicely you can still get the Afterburner 😉
How? I thought they weren’t sending them to the UK at all?
@@timmo1710 Hi, I emailed Ray Jones directly.
@@KevinLee-ww3ny ah ok, I messaged him on Facebook a few weeks ago but he said he’s not sending them anymore.
for science!
Do a search either on eBay or AliExpress for DC-DC 300W 20A
AvE stylee?
I should do this with my Hercules 20 v 5ah battery
24v to 12v dropper out a wagon maybe?
Get yourself an ltc3780 module they run 10 amps all day long and only get a little warm ive tested the hell out of them modules
Yes you can.
but that's 200 ma at 18 volts,,, check the buck converters output
You can change the voltage on the original controller from 12v or 24v. Mine did anyway
I wonder if we change the controller to 24V will the fan still run at the same speed. Now you've got me thinking. :)
@@DavidMcLuckie my controller was on 24v setting when I first got it, just faulted out on low voltage as I was using 12v, it wouldn’t surprise me if the heaters can run on 12v or 24v
Well it didn't work. Set it to 24V. Turned it on, ran for about 3 seconds and gave a glow plug error.
@@DavidMcLuckie ahh the makita battery doesn’t have enough power me thinks
I think the heater is expecting a 24V glow plug. The fan, fuel pump and glowplug are the only parts that change on the 24V heaters. Shame.
Just use a 14.4 v battery pack for the test. 3 x 18650 batteries in series will give you 11.1 v.
Does anyone use them anymore? All the tool companies are going for even higher voltage battery packs now, 40 - 60V etc.
attatch a steel coil of wire to positive lead this will drop voltage
Put controller in 24 volt, technically 5x4.2v is 21volts is what almost every power tool battery is actually outputting it might trip the under-voltage in that mode but worth a shot!
It's the 12v fan motor, glow plug and fuel pump that would be unhappy with the higher voltage.
@@DavidMcLuckie i am confused on my controller in the advanced settings there is an option for 12 or 24 volt input, if set to 24 volt wouldn’t the controller or ecu then be the regulator for motor and other i assume in 12 volt mode to control speed its lowering voltage to fan motor to say 8 volts, what is that setting for then?
It's just so they have one controller for both 12 and 24V models. But there 12 and 24V versions of the blower motor, glow plug, and fuel pump.
@@DavidMcLuckie thank you!
Put 3 of those modules in parallel
You wont a truck converter that takes 24v down to 12v
or a 14v battery!
💅🏻 As Jim Lahey says ☟ ..Change it to 24v on the controller.
i think It will shut down for under voltage if it was set to 24v
12v or 24v you can set them, you know that
You can set the ECU to 12v or 24v version. But the fuel pump, fan motor, and glow plug are all voltage dependent and need to be matched to the voltage you are using.
@@DavidMcLuckie Only the ECU,
That makes no sense, i thought the whole system would be 24v once set that way
So i need a 24v and a 12v to run it at 24v, you sure?
If you want to run a heater on 24V it needs a 24V fuel pump, 24V glow plug, 24V fan motor. The ECU is the only part that doesn't mind 12V or 24V.
@@DavidMcLuckie OK, thanks i'll stick to 12v
not for long im gessing
30w DC motor speed controllers are cheap enough
Change the system to 24v
Tried that too. Throws a glow plug error as it expects it to be a 24V glow plug.
Put it through a cheap solar controller
Always divide Chinese Specifications by two 😃😃
Maybe 10. :)
Most solar charger controller would do it
it shit the bed.
I don't think that battery can handle it
I design make and sell those battery connectors :-). I can do a wayyyy better deal than the Chinese :-). Let me know if you want some!
Nice. These are becoming my favourite way of joining wires quickly.
I would like some of those cable connectors, how do I order some?
Thanks.
@@DavidMcLuckie Hi David, what do you call that type of cable connector you used, link to seller would be great if you don't mind. Cheers.
@Dubious Engineering, is there a link to your connectors?
Hi everyone... thanks kindly for showing interest in UK design and manufacture of these battery adapters... with David’s permission I’ll pop a link to my eBay shop so you can take a look. I have DeWALT, Makita, Parkside, Worx and black a decker ... I’m always working on designing and making more! ...
And it has fucking died lmfaooooo