Motorhomes - adding diesel-powered heating

Installing diesel-powered motorhome heating can be done yourself, or you can get a professional to do it.

MADE FOR MOTORHOMES
Diesel-powered heating is not a new concept, but it’s often had bad press for noise, smell and fuel consumption.
These are all points that Webasto has tried to address with its diesel-powered heating system, the Dual Top.
This is the first product from a dedicated design team at the company’s headquarters in Germany. All the other Webasto products suitable for motorhomes have merely been adapted from products available in other markets.

DUAL FUEL
There are three models of Dual Top:

• 100 works on diesel only offering 6kW of heating power
• the 101 works on diesel and 1kW electric and
• the 102 operates on diesel and up to 2kW electric. The system is available with a dial-operated control panel or a touch-screen digital system. Potentially, the system could also be operated remotely, by fob or by phone. It can offer heating on the move, too. The unit has an integrated 11-litre boiler, which can be mounted inside or outside the vehicle. The digital system allows you to program the heater to switch on and off at certain times and what power of heating is required, as you would with a home central heating system.

There is a cold mode to protect the water boiler from freezing and you can empty the boiler with a switch on the control panel.
The new Dual Top is being fitted by a selection of manufacturers, including Lunar, Auto-Trail, Murvi and Romahome, but can also be fitted after purchase. This unit can be fitted almost anywhere in or under the vehicle freeing up interior space for other things (in the new Lunar Roadstar 900, a larger fridge has been fitted where a standard gas-powered heater would have been).

This unit, as well as the other products in Webasto’s range, offers variable burner technology, meaning that the heater always starts at full power and as the temperature rises, the power is reduced.
Burners have been designed to withstand burning diesel (a relatively ‘dirty’ fuel) and provide a longer life. The use of electronic thermostats ensures that the temperature is accurately monitored and controlled.

Self-diagnostics is important to Webasto, allowing the customer or repairer to easily find out what the problem is if the heater stops working. This comes in the form of coloured flashing lights on the dial-operated systems and an error code and message on the systems with digital screens.

Another benefit of the system is the abovementioned heating on the move, ensuring that rear passengers are kept warm. This function will be even more important with the arrival of European whole vehicle type approval legislation.

DIESEL BENEFITS
Why go for diesel-powered heating? You need carry less gas, which can be of benefit, both in payload and when travelling on the Continent (less chance of running out, and no need for adaptors).

GAS-FREE MOTORHOMES – IS IT VIABLE?
We’ve all heard about the gas-free motorhome, but is it just an urban myth? Not according to Paul Gofton at Webasto. Paul is responsible for the UK motorhome market at Webasto UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the  German company.

And with Elnagh and a selection of other companies, Webasto has created the first gas-free production motorhome. Introduced as a concept two years ago, the motorhome is in production but there is no UK importer at present.

This is achieved with a combination of Dual Top heating, Webasto’s X100 diesel cooker, the EFOY fuel cell to keep the battery topped-up, and a Waeco compressor fridge.
Other products in Webasto’s portfolio include Air Top diesel-fired space heaters. There are plans to introduce a new version of this heater with a mountain setting. On this setting the burners compensate for lower air pressures found at altitudes over 2200m, suitable for ski lovers.

Nite Cool is an alternative to air-conditioning that works on 12V power. The evaporative system works by constantly pushing hot stale air out and introducing cool fresh air into the motorhome.

Webasto has added the EFOY unit, a fuel cell that can keep your battery charged up, to its range. Paul advises that you should never let your battery power drop below 40 per cent, as this shortens life. That’s the reason for supplying the EFOY fuel cell. The company can offer advice and more information on the units.

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
Where you see the abbreviation OE, this refers to equipment fitted as standard by the manufacturer and this is quite a large part of Webasto’s business. Manufacturers actually fit the Webasto products themselves, but the locations of the products are suggested by Webasto. The company can send out full units for direct installation or kits tailored to the individual manufacturer's needs.

SERVICE
There are over 5,000 service points around the world, located where Webasto sells its products. Although these dealers are approved to fit and repair all Webasto products, the UK now has a dedicated service network. Follow this link to find your nearest.

WEBASTO
Webasto is an international company manufacturing diesel-fired heaters, sunroofs and air cooling systems for a variety of markets like cars, trucks, boats and the military, as well as motorhomes.

The company was established in 1901 making simple components: the first engine dependent heater for cars was produced in 1935. There are now factories around the world from Germany to Japan, often producing components for local markets only, to reduce transport costs and the risks of goods being damaged or misplaced on long distance journeys.

Even though the motorhome market is relatively small for Webasto, there is a dedicated web forum for employees from all over the world to talk to each other. The company has also arranged motorhome holidays where dedicated staff can meet each other and actually use the products they are selling, designing or fixing.

WEBASTO IN THE UK
The company’s headquarters has been located at the current site in Doncaster since 1988, and Paul has been working for the company since 1993.

This location is mainly responsible for the design and production of military products, but there is a dedicated team in place for motorhomes that includes design, engineering, sales and after-support staff. The factory specialises in small volume applications from concept to delivery. I managed to take a look at a one-off design for a rather posh yacht while I was there.

The warehouse offers a variety of spares, even for the old HL range that was fitted in the eighties. When dealing with orders that require assembly, the engineering department creates pictorial guides individual to the customer requirements. These pictorial guides are kept consistent and any proposed changes to the system are run past the engineer to check they comply.

FIND OUT MORE
Alongside product information, Webasto’s web site contains a selection of easy to read calculators enabling you to see if diesel power is going to be economically viable for you (the company is actively trying to combat the perceived high cost of diesel for heating).

Contact
Webasto Product UK Ltd
Global Comfort Solutions, Webasto House, White Rose Way, Doncaster Carr, South Yorkshire DN4 5JH
Tel: 01302 322232
Web site: www.webasto-outdoors.com (Link opens in a new window/tab)

This feature was originally published in MMM magazine and if you've enjoyed it why not treat yourself to a copy of the magazine or order a subscription so you never miss an issue.

For more practical motorhoming advice, please read our other Get Practical articles.

Back to "Practical Advice" Category