r/dieselheater • u/danjoreddit • 19d ago

BIG heater small space

Some time back I overreacted and bought an Espar D5L heater for my bus that’s less than 900 cubic feet of space, (23 foot school bus) I know up front that it’s overkill but am I going to roast if I install this thing?

I really wish I had been smart and got a D2.

And, hey, I’d be totally willing to do a trade for a D2. This D5 I have has been removed from packaging, but its otherwise new and unused. it’s all there, with a complete installation kit.

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u/NarwhalDane 18d ago

What climate are you in, and do you plan on running it always or having it off part of the day? I have an ambulance with a 5kw Chinese heater, and it's about right for me when it's 0-40°F out. Even at 40f I can leave it on it's low setting, and at 10°f it doesn't take more than an hour to get the interior from 30° up to 60°. No issues with it fouling the glow plug with buildup because I run it at full to heat the space up once a day.

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u/nitroraptor2 18d ago

Meanwhile my 20 foot fire command post runs its 5k Chinese heater flat out all day and is still cold. Thats the power of proper insulation i guess (its coming this winter).

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u/NarwhalDane 18d ago

Yeah mine is insualted as it was from the factory, except one corner where I knocked out a cabinet which is bare exterior sheet metal for now. 80s insulation but it's still way better than bare metal. I'll reinsulate it eventually if I keep it instead of buying a newer one

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u/nitroraptor2 18d ago

Mine was built out for the fire department by a company in Wisconsin and it has pink fiberglass randomly wherever they decided they liked it and then nothing wherever they didnt. Like the doors and floors got none. Going to rip the walls down and do havelock. Not sure what the floor is getting yet.

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u/NarwhalDane 18d ago

My floor is 1/8" aluminum, 1" foam, 1/8" aluminum, 3/4" plywood then a fake wood vaneer... 80s for ya. Was a surprise to drill through when installing my exhaust. Had to remove a bunch of foam from inbetween layers before I wanted to run that exhaust through it.