Diesel heaters

Has anyone tried these for greenhouse heating, I'd not seen these before but wonder if they would work in a greenhouse if there was a way of fitting a thermostat, the output looks pretty impressive.
Diesel Heaters for sale | eBay

 

I haven't but I hope someone who has will reply.

 

I used parafin back in the middle ages, just like you @shiney,
But the heat from it was pretty pathetic and todays prices for the stuff is astronomical.

These things seem to be around 8Kw which sounds quite massive to me.

 

If you look on ytube there are some videos showing how to use and set its temperature by the remote controller module /app etc and there is this short installation video on amazon which shows that it needs a mains electricity / to power pack 12 v supply or a big 12v car type battery.
Watch How to install GEARZAAR diesel heater into your home on Amazon Live

It you do have electricity in your greenhouse think we would stick to an electic heater and some good insulation.

 

A couple years back Muddyboots was talking about using one in his greenhouse . Youtube. A couple others too from memory.

Really cheap especially if using kerosene. 58p ltr atm.

(Thinking of using one to heat our lounge next year. Ventilation hole was drilled into wall when cavity wall insulation was fitted so might use this for heaater heat to enter the building.)

 

@pete 8kW is huge, but how fast does it go through diesel when running at full power? That means you've got to find somewhere secure to keep a jerry can full.
I use my (theoretically 2kW) electric heater in my heated section of greenhouse (8 feet square). Despite celotex insulation all along the bottom 2 foot of the walls, and thin double walled polycarb on roof and sides, the heater struggled to keep the temperature at the thermostat setting during the recent cold snap. So you'd definitely do better with 8kW!

 

So basically you would have the heater outside and pipe the heat in.

Yes @CarolineL 8kw appears massive along with the price of fuel sounds good.
There has to be a massive drawback.

 

Seems they are intended to be used Inside and have a little flexible pipe to take Out the Exhaust.
If you google "gearzaar heater" you will find lots of ytubes about these heaters.

Some reviewers saying they are cheaper to run than an electric heater.
They also show how to set the timer and thermostat etc etc.

 

It would concern me as regards the safety and reliability; you are dependent on a cheap thermostat to control a huge 8 kw heater (3 times a domestic gas fire in 1/3 volume of a typical lounge !) Too much heat as destructive as too little.

 

Bit surprised your 2kw heater could not heat your 8 sq ft area ?

Wonder what temperatures you are trying to achieve ?

We replaced the glass (footlballs!) for 10mm twinwall polycarb some years ago and it does great at keeping things above freezing.
Was expensive at the time but worth it in the long run.

We have a 4x2 x 3ft h enclosure for our Orchids kept at 15c with 3ft 200w tubular heater and last week, typically -7c at night, was the first time the 1kw greenhouse heater came on for a little bit to keep the rest of the greenhouse at 3c.

 

But they seem to be designed to heat caravans and lorry cabs, both smallish spaces.

 

How big is your greenhouse and what temperature are you trying to keep ?
We aim for just frost free at 3c in our 8x6.

Yes, electric heating can seem expensive but with a good electronic thermostat and some insulation or partitioning it can be acceptable.

Would equally be a bit cautious about using one of the diesel heaters, plus you have got to repeatedly go any buy and top up with the diesel to ensure you do not run out overnight etc.

However seems a few folk do use them in their greenhouses etc.

 

@ricky101 I am only aiming at about 3-4 C, but I think the heater is actually not anywhere near 2kW! I will have to get a new one some time - even though it's rated for damp (ip67 I think) I suspect it is suffering due to age - a bit like me