Does the Parking Diesel Heater Consume a Lot of Electricity?
3 Answers
Diesel heaters do not consume much power from the battery. How diesel heaters work: Diesel heaters primarily heat the engine's coolant by burning fuel, achieving the effect of warming up the engine before starting. During winter traffic jams or after parking, you can use the heater for warmth without starting the engine. Precautions for using diesel heaters: Modifying a vehicle to install a diesel heater involves altering the original fuel and electrical systems. It is essential to pay attention to installation standards and ensure safety compliance during installation; otherwise, various issues can easily arise. When using a diesel heater, maintain proper air circulation inside and outside the vehicle to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning due to excessive buildup.
I've been driving long-haul trucks for over a decade, and diesel heaters are actually quite worry-free in terms of electricity consumption. At startup, the fan runs at maximum power of just over 100 watts, then drops to 50-60 watts once heated. For someone like me who sleeps in the cab, running it for 7-8 hours overnight consumes less than half a kilowatt-hour - way more fuel-efficient than idling with the heater on. But you do need to watch your battery capacity. If an old battery only has 50% capacity left, running it all night might leave you unable to start the engine next morning. I've installed two auxiliary batteries in my truck plus a voltage protector that automatically cuts power when voltage drops below 11.8V, which makes for much more peaceful sleep.
Last year when I installed the diesel heater, I specifically measured the power consumption. The control panel plus the fan had a peak startup power of 130 watts, stabilizing around 80 watts afterwards. Running it overnight consumes about 0.6 kWh, which translates to less than two yuan in fuel costs. The main power draw comes from the blower—opting for a DC brushless motor can save one-third of the electricity. I recommend installing a coulomb meter to monitor power usage in real time. If the vehicle is parked for more than three days, it's best to start the engine to recharge the battery. In practice, it feels more energy-efficient than a household heater, but remember to clean the air intake monthly—dust buildup increases fan resistance and power consumption.
