Webasto / Espar knockoffs

[localboy]

Here is how I look at it. German engineering or Chinese engineering. Hmmm. Let me think about that.

Ever used Harbor Freight tools? Ever drive a German car?

Nuff said.

[hardee]

Mark, I love your logic.



Harvey
SleepyC

[pcg]

[ssobol]

The reliability of cars has been demonstrated to be inversely proportional to their list price.

Some Chinese and Eastern European products may be kind of crude compared to some Western European products. But generally speaking almost anyone can repair them with common tools. Your fine German automobile might be nice when it runs, but when it doesn't you need a highly skilled technician with a room full of computer equipment to tell you which expensive custom part needs to be replaced.

In the example video of the Chinese Webasco knock off, the point is made that the control module of the Webasco is potted and sealed where as the Chinese one is not and has exposed components. The conclusion is that the Webasco must be better. However, if the control module of the Webasco fails due some individual component failure, the whole control module must be replaced. On the Chinese on you can simply replace the defect part for maybe a buck or two and carry on. The Webasco control module probably costs at least a $100. So which one is actually better? Depends on your point of view.

Diesel heaters are not rocket science. The principle of operation is well known and they are pretty easy to make. Given that the Chinese are world leaders in some types of technology, building a reliable and robust heater should be no big deal for them.

[thataway]

[ssobol]

[localboy]

[Pandion]

Do any of you remember back in the '50s when the words, "Made in Japan" were a joke, synonymous with cheaply made junk? When, for example, if you couldn't afford an American-made baseball, you could buy a Japanese thing-that-looked-like-a-hardball for a quarter? And how the first solid contact with a Louisville Slugger bat would literally knock the stuffing out of it?

Times sure have changed. Japanese products got better and better over the years, to the point where they are frequently more reliable (I loved my old Toyota Tercel and only retired it after I could see pavement through the floorboards) than the American and European competition.

Chinese-manufactured products are undoubtedly on the same path. The Apple products I own (iPhone, iPad and MacBook) are reliable examples of superior manufacturing quality control. My MacBook Pro is ten years old and still running strong.

Still, whenever I consider buying something made in that totalitarian country, I have to ignore my conscience. Chances are my shiny new toy will have been built in something resembling a slave labor camp.

[AKMel]

The heater arrived. It's been an interesting journey. 1) the Chinese gave me the wrong tracking number. That package went to someone in Indiana. 2) I filed a dispute 3) the seller got back to me with the correct tracking number, which showed the package had been at our post office for two weeks. 4) I got a message from the seller that I should get right down there or the USPS would send it back to China. 5) The next correspondence from them was to wait another ten days. (??? a little contradiction there). I had no post office notification of a package waiting, but went down this morning and to my surprise the heater was there.

I did a quick unbox and everything seems in order. It comes with a 30 page manual (typical poor translation into English, but I expected that).

Page 29 is a copy of the CE certification. I talked to my son-in-law about that (He's European) and he said it can't be sold in Europe without that, and added that CE is a tough safety standard. That makes me feel better about the product. That, and the fact I haven't seen any safety complaints in reviews. That is for my comfort. Draw your own conclusions.

The actual unit seems only slightly different dimensions than the Espar I put on the boat. It measures 13.5" x 4.5" x 4.5", not including the combustion and exhaust air portals, which add another 1.25".

The sticker states this one is what I ordered, 1KW - 2KW. That should be about the output of my Espar. The ducts are similar in diameter to the Espar also.

This unit also comes with a number of things the Espar didn't have. 1) a 10 liter fuel tank. 2) electronic control panel, which issues fault codes for troubleshooting. 3) remote control. 4). an exhaust muffler. 5) an intake filter for combustion air.

So far I'm pleased. ASAP I'll set it up on the bench and give it at test, and let you know how that went.

[ssobol]

How much did your heater cost?

[AKMel]

$158. But there seems to have been a Paypal surcharge added, bringing the total to $163. That's for the 2KW.

[lloyds]

I watched the you tube videos of those Chinese heaters and compared to my wallas 1300 they are extremely loud. That would be a problem for me. Sitting next to an operating 1300 you can barely hear it.

[tsturm]

[tsturm]

[colbysmith]

My webasto sounds like a little jet engine when it's running. But the warmth is great!!! And a little white noise when the waves aren't doing much is good also! Colby