Diesel heater for greenhouse

[rbstern]

An annual ritual in our yard is fall plant migration: Everything in the wife's garden that can't survive freezing temps moves to the house, or our greenhouse/potting shed. We've used an electric, thermostat-controlled heater in the shed the past couple of years, with mixed results and high electric bills. But the garden gets bigger every year. More space, or more moves into the house. We added a new, 8x14 greenhouse (kit built, nothing fancy) for winter storage. I just finished plumbing in heat from a 5kw diesel heater, complete with Bluetooth. The heater is very easy to use and pumps out a lot of heat, on not a lot of diesel. Should pay for itself in electricity savings in year 1.

 

[buellbrewer]

in for details on the heater

 

[rbstern]

in for details on the heater

Details here:

VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, 12V 5KW All-on-one Diesel Heater with Remote Control and LCD, 5L Fuel Tank Portable Diesel Parking Heater, Rapid Heating for RV Trailer Camper Van Boat And Indoors | VEVOR US

VEVOR Diesel Air Heater provides rapid, efficient heating with low fuel consumption, remote control, and reliable performance for your RV, boat, or indoor space.

www.vevor.com

Has a remote start dongle, and the little digital control panel on the front is Bluetooth capable with a phone app for control. Press the start button on the panel, remote or app, and the heater glow plug kicks off, and within about two minutes you're hearing a low roar as the fuel is igniting. Hot air blowing as soon as that ignition sequence is done. Fuel pump makes a pretty quiet clicking noise every second or two.

Somewhat generic product at this point. There are dozens of models on Amazon and elsewhere, with small variations in features, fuel capacity, heat output. Some variations in form factor, as well.

We have a little Govee remote, battery powered thermometer that hangs in the greenhouse and reports temperature to my wife's phone by network or Bluetooth. The app has alarms and temp tracking graphics so you can monitor what is happening over time. Should give us good data on how the heater does relative to outside temps.

A year ago, I was seriously considering an outdoor wood boiler furnace for both greenhouse and supplemental home heating, but this little heater, plus a small, split HVAC system in our master bedroom, are far more economical and far less work.

 

[buellbrewer]

thanks. my wife has those govee thingies in the camper fridge, bathroom, chicken coop, inside her tacoma......
looks like a good little gem to take winter camping.

 

[rbstern]

thanks. my wife has those govee thingies in the camper fridge, bathroom, chicken coop, inside her tacoma......
looks like a good little gem to take winter camping.

Heater is small and light. That unit, a 12v power source and a couple of gallons of diesel will keep you warm for days.

 

[rbstern]

Great info, I like it. Question, is the diesel-exhaust (fumes) combined with and actually part of the heat going into your greenhouse?

No. Look closely at the picture. Stainless steel exhaust tube is vented separately.

 

[BHPSteel]

Not so important down here, but I could have used one of those when I lived up north to keep the engine block on my truck warm during winter nights.

 

[buellbrewer]

the website has some little toolbox style ones. Might have to get one an try in camper.
rbstern , will you be using a regular ac charger or some type solar for the battery?

 

[rbstern]

the website has some little toolbox style ones. Might have to get one an try in camper.
rbstern , will you be using a regular ac charger or some type solar for the battery?

Haven't decided yet. That shed where the heater sits has a 120v outlet, so I may just put a low-amp battery maintainer on the battery. That battery is a spare at the moment, and the benefit of using the battery rather than a 12v power brick is the setup will still work if we lose power.

 

[fslc94]

These work great. Put one in a small she shed and it rocks