Electric auxiliary heater ?

[Swaz]

Does anyone have an auxiliary electric air heater factory installed in their van ?
Cars have them and they normally slide up into the heater matrix giving you almost instant warm air in the winter.
Below is a screen shot from this forum and it shows a 150amp fuse for such a heater.
Any help would be great.
I’m keen to explore electric heating before going down the webasto route.
Thanks

 

[Lebowski]

This heater only works when the engine is running, and retrofitting is more work compared to installing an aftermarket air or water heater for the household section on the vehicle.

Also, you want the electrical sides to be decoupled as you want to have 100% certainty when you crank the starter that the engine fires up. You might want to state whether you want to heat the vehicle while driving (as extra heat exchanger is for the passenger versions with outlets in the ceiling) or whilst stationary with the engine turned off.

 

[Swaz]

Thanks for your reply !
Wasn’t sure if I’d get one.
These heaters do only come on when the engine is running and only when engine coolant temperature is low, also outside air temperature is cold. They are controlled by the vans ECU. They are installed in many common cars and vans giving you warm air on your frosty windscreen.
I added one to my Mercedes sprinter 2008 and has worked for years as it’s an OEM part.
I was lucky with the sprinter as the CAN wires were just hanging there ready and all I had to install was the big 12v wires back to the existing 150amp fuse.
So when I saw the fuse in that pic attached I got excited. My guess is these electric heating elements are an option at build.
I’ll attach a pic of one from a different vehicle…

 

[Lebowski]

How about you answer the following question first: "Which problem are you trying to solve?"

Then we can talk solutions.

 

[Swaz]

A cold cab with a frosty windscreen.
I hate having to wait for the heaters to warm up, I want instant heat. Yes I can install a heated screen but that won’t warm the cab. I love diesel heaters but then I’d have use a timer etc.

 

[Swaz]

I my mind there is an OEM part out there that I can install into my existing matrix.

 

[rod_vw]

I'm interested to hear what @Lebowski says.

I know what my solution would be but I'll keep my powder dry for now.

@Swaz , what is your vehicle, van with partition, open Kombi or camper?

 

[Swaz]

LWB 2018 works panel van with metal bulkhead. Van does have a/c but no auxiliary heating.
What’s your thoughts on this ?

 

[Swaz]

Last winter I used a 1-2kw household heater attached to an inverter which worked but it’s just sloppy. I do have a hair dryer at the ready for this winter but there has to be a better more factory option here.

 

[Lebowski]

Ok, you want comfort in the cab at startup. In that case the easiest is to add the electric heater you mentioned earlier. In the sales configurator this item is descibed as "Electric auxiliary heater (air) (1,400 W). Optimal driving comfort, even on the coldest days of the year – at icy temperatures, the electric auxiliary air heater provides more comfort while driving. If the regular heating reaches its limits at extreme sub-zero temperatures, the electric heating element is automatically activated. With 100 percent heating power in less than a minute, it helps bring the cabin to a pleasant temperature in a short time. The extra heating power also helps to defrost frozen windows from frost." and has option code 9M5 ZUH.

Besides this core heater you can also order several combinations of air- and water heaters from Webasto that will come with programmable settings and a remote control. If you feel inclined you can also add a module to control the heater from your phone, but this needs to be done with a Webasto part not offered during the configuration process.

In terms of lowest cost and not a lot of labour I'd choose the option you mentioned in the start post as pictured in post #3.

I am wondering what you will do to the metal bulkhead though, will it stay? What will you do the the rear of the vehicle?

===
The option I was talking about in my first reply is the second heat exchanger mounted in the roof section used to heat up the back end of the vehicle, only usable during engine state =on.
===
I chose the water heater (as part of the winter pack) as I want to always drive away with a prewarmed engine in the winter.

 

[Swaz]

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. I did wonder if such an option was available on the crafter and now it know !

If anyone has seen a pic of one or has a VAG or MAN part number that would be ace.

This van is my work van so won’t be doing anything with the back and the bulkhead will be staying. The rear of the van has no heaters it’s just a panel van.

I’m new to the crafter world and love it.
Next year I intend to get an XLWB automatic for a Motorhome conversion so will be going down the diesel heater route for that one.

I currently have an old sprinter 2008 automatic van converted into a basic camper, which was great until I got this crafter and now I’m sold on them. Worlds apart from the sprinters.

 

[Lebowski]

I don't have access to VW and MAN databases as they're paid systems, but you can get a quote from the dealer nearest your place of residence. VW and MAN use identical parts but VW is priced higher, also they use different part ID's due to using their own back end systems. And, verify that YOUR van has the cabling in place before you order to be sure.

 

[Swaz]

Mint ! Thanks for that much appreciated

 

[rod_vw]

Now I will put in my two pence worth.

My resolution to your problem @Swaz would be to fit a diesel blown air heater under the floor in the OEM position with its outlet brought up under the driver's seat. A 2kW heater with either a timer / remote control or just thermostatic control would provide heating in the cab for any period or all of the day albeit with a longer heat up time.

Personally I am an Eberspacher fan but there are others with certification and warranty that will do the job a little cheaper. These things are remarkably efficient using minimal diesel and 12v power. Autotherm is an example but there are others.

I have a 4kW Eberspacher in a LWB TGE Camper with external thermostat which in colder weather we switch on and set to about 16 degrees when we leave home for whatever period of days and don't switch it off until we return home. Temperature setting varied just as we and when need it. Admittedly we have lithium and solar to support that for extended periods but that doesn't sound to be a requirement for your use.

Good luck which ever route you decide to take, please let us know how you get on.

 

[Lebowski]

That's a nicer solution compared to a core heater and in case of an Autotherm or Nordkapp it may cost as much as a new core, but I have the feeling TS is going to the breakers and purchase a used part for beer money.

The trouble with the core heater is that it uses insane amounts of power and this means it's an engine =on solution only. Using a diesel heater brings more flexibility but may also be more than TS needs.

Problem with a diesel heater is that once you're used to the comfort you never want to live without one.

 

[rod_vw]

Problem with a diesel heater is that once you're used to the comfort you never want to live without one.

Absolutely!

I've had one in my vehicles since owning a Volkswagen Type 4 Variant with a gasoline burning Eberspacher! In fact I owned three Type 4s over the years including one with the timer mechanism in the dashboard clock which was quite rare.

 

[Lebowski]

I have driven a T4 Westfalia VR6 with this system, that was a magic vehicle!!