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Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:51 am

I have the Airtop 2000 STC from Heatsource and LOVE it. I put it into my sunroof syncro (tin top) last year and have used it down to about 20*, and it's been a true luxury. it fits perfectly underneath my Truckfridge TF65, placing it further away from me sleeping (for noise purposes) and out of the way of the usual blankets hanging over the edge of the bed situation.
Make sure you install the muffler, air intake muffler, and mount the fuel pump on rubber mounts!!

I genuinely love it, one of the best upgrades i've made in 15 years of many bus ownership- every bus will now get one.

I have installed both the digital and the rheostat thermostat- so i have the digital setup for day to day operation, and the rheostat inside a cabinet for recalibrating it or adjusting for altitude.
I do not like that the Russian Digital Thermostat is not the same as the usual webasto setup, so it does not throttle the fan speed- only turns it on and off.
It's still, quite nice.

I really, really like this upgrade.

Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:59 am

Lots of good info here. Thanks to all.

I'm leaning towards the Espar B4. I understand the diesel option - yes it is cheaper, and I like the idea of a high level of control with the afterburner. I'm not sure why the afterburner would not work with an espar - but I don't really understand how either controller works.

I spoke with heatso today, or rather "chatted" with them online.

They do not sell the Digimax 1000, so could not comment on it. They said the easy start pro timer will " Comes with automated altitude adjustment in addition to rheostat and fault diagnostic capabilities up to 10000ft"

When I asked if it provided full diagnostic capabilities, they said that would be stretching it. Here is a link to the manual on the timer - https://tawk.link/5b2bd5d6d0b5a54796820c30/a/5e57d..._-_NEW.pdf

I'm not sure if that link is only good for me or if it is public?

I've got a call into Espar themselves (didn't think of that initially). I'll let you know if I get more info on the difference between teh Easy Start Pro timer and the Digimax 1000.

I've also got to decide on the mounting plates, I can't quite tell if this is really needed? Does it help with mounting, or sound? Is it necessary, or can you just mount to the floor?

Thu Sep 10, 2020 6:50 am

Re mounting plates... If they are what I remember on my install I'm surprised they are an option rather than included (I got a kit that had them). I used a mounting plate and the corrugated floor of the vanagon would make that plate necessary I believe.... All the above from memory and "thinking" I know what the plates you are mentioning are.

Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:25 am

I used the mounting plate (modified) for mounting mine underneath the Bus.

Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:16 am

fxr wrote: Unless you really have money to burn - NEITHER.

Get a 2kW cheapo Chinese diesel heater (run it on Kleen-Heat though, no smell) and have an Afterburner control unit to run it via your phone or whatever (Wifi, Bluetooth or MQTT) - with frost mode, linear temperature control rather than just 'ON-OFF', several timer controls, etc, etc.

The control options on Webasto and Espar units are medieval in comparison.

Yes, the Afterburner will cost almost as much as the heater, but in the end you'll still have only spent $300 in total.

^2.

I don't know your install location. 2k heater is smaller and I feel OPTIMAL for our size van. However, like Vanis here, is able to camp in below freezing temps and have the van 80 inside.

I'd highly recommending trying the chinese diesel heater out, without afterburner. It is only $100 and you can easily sell/relocate to a garage. I'm pretty sure they all use the same mounting plate. whatever you do, don't spill diesel/kerosene in your van. I'm in process of making an aux diesel tank for my westy.

I'm going to buy a 4k unit JUST for my ARB add a room! It was very cool to have a 'hot box' inside my add a room last Halloween!

Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:31 am

vanis13 wrote:
You simply use this remote switch to connect the yellow and red wire the D5wz (which is the case with any modern eberspacher heater).

https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/53837/

the wiring diagram on the bottom part of this has it seem that any wired of RF switch could activate the heater.

http://www.esparofmichigan.com/cms/uploads/remote.pdf
vwwestyman wrote:
I control it remotely. I have a Digimax controller mounted on the back Westy cabinet for easy adjustments from bed. I then tied a wire into the yellow wire that was mentioned, and ran that up to the front. If I give that wire 12v, it will tell the heater to come on and run up to and maintain whatever temperature the Digimax is set to. (Some info I found when doing this mod, indicated that it would only run at full blast, but that has not been my experience. After testing, it is clear that it is running to the set temperature and then maintaining it.)

This is awesome info. Thank you both! I'll test it out and get it wired up to a switch this weekend if it works.

Thu Sep 10, 2020 11:00 am

Ok - some more info from Espar.

The digimax controller is not compatible with the new B42 heater. The new heater using a CAN communication (not sure what that means), but either way the Digimax cannot be used with it.

They strongly recommend the Easy Start Pro Timer, best features, will provide fault codes etc. It is the latest and greatest...

I get the argument for the diesel heaters - but it is not something I want - I don't want another fuel source. I don't want to start figuring out where I'm going to put another fuel tank I worry about diesel getting spilled inside - if I put the tank inside. I know it is incredibly cheap, and I love the ideas presented with the afterburner control - I wish they made a controller that ran on gas...or if the afterburner was compatible with the Espar...

Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:40 pm

kguarnotta wrote: Ok - some more info from Espar.

The digimax controller is not compatible with the new B42 heater. The new heater using a CAN communication (not sure what that means), but either way the Digimax cannot be used with it.

They strongly recommend the Easy Start Pro Timer, best features, will provide fault codes etc. It is the latest and greatest.....

From my B4 / B4L inquiry:

What are the different versions of the B4 heater? Seems like there may be one with a M designation and possibly a B42? Please advise or point me to a reference for citation.

Also, if there are different versions, is the Digimax 100 compatible with all of them?

Thank you
Andy Vanis

Hi Andy,

There are two series of B4 heaters. The series 1 Airtronic B4 heater commonly referred to as a B4. There is also the series 2 Airtronic B4 heater which is called an AM2 B4L or simply B4L.

The series 2 heater (B4L) has a longer motor life than the series 1 in addition to being Can compatible.

Here is what the different letter mean:

B – Benzene

A – Airtronic

M - Medium Size

L – Long Life

To answer your question about the Digi-Max D1000. It can be used for both series of heater but has limited functionality with the Series 2. Our recommended controller for the B4L is the EasyStart Pro controller (20 2800 70 22 00).

I have attached the technical manual for both the series 1 B4 heater and series B4L heater.

If you need anything else just let us know.

Regards,

David Daniel

______________________________

Eberspaecher Climate Control Systems Canada Inc.

David Daniel

Engineering Tech Support

Climate Control Systems

6099A Vipond Drive

Mississauga, ON L5T 2B2

CANADA

Phone: +1 905 670-0960

Fax: +1 905 670-0728

[email protected]

www.eberspaecher-na.com