How much electricity does a parking diesel heater consume in one hour?
3 Answers
Parking diesel heaters do not require electricity. Introduction to Auto Hold: Auto Hold, also known as AUTO-HOLD, refers to an automatic braking function. When activated, such as when stopping at a traffic light, it eliminates the need to pull the handbrake, simplifying operations by avoiding the use of manual or electronic parking brakes. For automatic transmission models, it also prevents frequent switching between D to N or D to P. Working Principle of Auto Hold: The AUTO-HOLD function uses a slope sensor to provide precise parking force through the controller. During startup, the parking control unit calculates information from sensors such as the clutch distance sensor, clutch engagement speed sensor, and accelerator pedal sensor. When the driving force exceeds the running resistance, the parking brake is automatically released, allowing the vehicle to start smoothly.
Last time on a long trip to Tibet, my friend had a parking diesel heater installed in his car. He told me at the time that this thing consumes only about 200 watts per hour, which translates to roughly 0.2 kWh. The main power consumption comes from the fan and control circuit. For example, his 5 kW unit, when set to the third fan speed for sleeping overnight, uses less than 2 kWh in total, barely draining the battery. But the key factor is the battery condition. An old truck with a 70 Ah battery can last at most four to five hours—he ended up with a dead battery twice at service areas because he forgot to turn off the heater. Nowadays, many owners install auxiliary batteries or directly draw power from the cigarette lighter socket, allowing continuous use for seven to eight hours without stalling. That said, the fuel savings are real—running the heater at -10°C saves three times the fuel cost compared to idling for warmth.
I just tested the power meter on my vehicle's diesel heater. Under normal operation, it consumes between 0.15 to 0.3 kWh per hour, depending on the fan speed. Most mainstream parking diesel heaters have fan motors rated at 150-300 watts - at maximum setting, the power consumption is comparable to a household fan. However, it's risky to rely solely on the vehicle's battery when the engine is off. For example, my SUV's 80Ah battery only provides about 0.9 kWh of usable capacity, which won't last through a whole night of diesel heater operation. I recommend installing a separate power supply system or adding a 200W solar panel for supplemental charging. Also, don't overlook the initial current surge that can spike to 20 amps - older batteries might fail instantly under such load.
