Diesel Heater for Back-up heat during long grid failures?

Xringer · 11-10-21, 07:44 PM

I've been watching a bunch of YouTube videos about RV, Truck and Car heaters
https://www.amazon.com/Wayska-Muffle...dp/B08LDV7L1B/
Video: https://youtu.be/BRLgBq8njuY
If it was really an 8KWh, that's 27,297 BTUh
My question is to those people who have also been studying these heaters.
I think this kind of heater might be useful for emergency home heating,
in the event of a prolonged grid failure.

My oil burner uses a lot of electrical power, too much. I have enough back-power to burn oil for about a week, if it's not too cold. (Back-up is a 6 Kwh battery & a gasoline generator). If it was really cold, I would be out of power within a few days.

The 'Chinese Diesel Heater' only uses a small amount of fuel and 12VDC power. My large 12V LA battery bank could run the heater for at least a week, and the 12Vdc battery bank is fed by a 200W PV. (in case of sunny days).
(Main 48 volt 144 AH pack is wired to sump pumps and other critical stuff)

My crazy idea is to feed the Diesel exhaust into the burner's air-input vent. Which is located at the bottom right side of the HS Tarm wood-coal firebox.
Why? Because I suspect the diesel exhaust contains 30% to 50% of the Real heat output of the heater. (Am I wrong?)

If the exhaust contained 8,000 to 13,000 BTUh, it would be able to provide warm water for washing & some space heating using the baseboards in the house. (Hot water heat in free-flow mode uses no circulating pumps).
What we need to avoid at all costs, is deep cold inside the house, that freezes and bursts the baseboard heating pipes.

The normal hot air output of the Diesel heater would be ducted up to the living room, using a (new) floor vent. (I have CO & smoke detectors galore).

My question, is using this heater a bad idea?
Plus, I wonder if it can burn #2 heating oil?

I can also burn wood to get by, but wood is also a limited supply.
Now that I'm about to turn 76, I'm thinking of not using wood for heat, unless things get really grim.

Thanks,
Rich

11-10-21, 07:44 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Diesel Heater for Back-up heat during long grid failures? I've been watching a bunch of YouTube videos about RV, Truck and Car heaters https://www.amazon.com/Wayska-Muffle...dp/B08LDV7L1B/ Video: https://youtu.be/BRLgBq8njuY If it was really an 8KWh, that's 27,297 BTUh My question is to those people who have also been studying these heaters. I think this kind of heater might be useful for emergency home heating, in the event of a prolonged grid failure. My oil burner uses a lot of electrical power, too much. I have enough back-power to burn oil for about a week, if it's not too cold. (Back-up is a 6 Kwh battery & a gasoline generator). If it was really cold, I would be out of power within a few days. The 'Chinese Diesel Heater' only uses a small amount of fuel and 12VDC power. My large 12V LA battery bank could run the heater for at least a week, and the 12Vdc battery bank is fed by a 200W PV. (in case of sunny days). (Main 48 volt 144 AH pack is wired to sump pumps and other critical stuff) My crazy idea is to feed the Diesel exhaust into the burner's air-input vent. Which is located at the bottom right side of the HS Tarm wood-coal firebox. Why? Because I suspect the diesel exhaust contains 30% to 50% of the Real heat output of the heater. (Am I wrong?) If the exhaust contained 8,000 to 13,000 BTUh, it would be able to provide warm water for washing & some space heating using the baseboards in the house. (Hot water heat in free-flow mode uses no circulating pumps). What we need to avoid at all costs, is deep cold inside the house, that freezes and bursts the baseboard heating pipes. The normal hot air output of the Diesel heater would be ducted up to the living room, using a (new) floor vent. (I have CO & smoke detectors galore). My question, is using this heater a bad idea? Plus, I wonder if it can burn #2 heating oil? I can also burn wood to get by, but wood is also a limited supply. Now that I'm about to turn 76, I'm thinking of not using wood for heat, unless things get really grim. Thanks, Rich __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..