Hcalory toolbox diesel heater - swapping IEC to XT60 - test/review - audio fixed

Another Hcalory heater with an IEC plug used for 12V. So let's fix it by swapping it over to use XT60 plugs.
The heater itself is a good little heater, just let down by the electrical power side.
It has been brought to my attention that the XT60 plugs are going the wrong way. So I'd use these instead - amzn.to/402ro41
hcalory.com/collections/heater
amzn.to/3Qg86DI
Gas Analyser - www.tpieurope.com/flue-gas-an...
Hcalory diesel heater: amzn.to/3sd1xtB
10% off coupon code: 10DavidML
#Hcalory #DieselHeater

[@robertminter3649]

Great video, many thanks. Would i be able to keep this outside my v small van with a vent into the car via a template in the side window, power via a power pack tucked underneath the body of the car to protect from any rain BUT would this unit be ok exposed to rain ? Thanks

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The box itself would be fine. The remote is the only thing I'd try to limit exposure to the elements.

[@Kiowan918]

Question for you as you play with these a lot, for the 24mm exhaust pipe, do you know where to get shorter ones? The standard Chinese pipe is too long for my application, I cut it and had a hell of a time trying to flare the corrugated cut end back out to 24mm, it also created a few holes along the seam. All replacement exhausts are too long at 70 inches or so. I looked at eberspacher exhaust pipe but there is no smooth end fitting on it so not sure how well it'd seal to the exhaust port.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Various lengths shortest being 60cm - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DD87M5N , or a very short elbow - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFNbdUB I've also had trouble flaring the end as none of the flaring tools I have go that small.

[@easypainterslondon]

thought that was mss Doubtfire dears lol, cool video that really insightful,

[@reubenk7331]

Wow, I'm really surprised it had that plug from the factory. It's not like other simple two wire power supply connections are expensive.... Ahh the struggle of components running away while you are trying to solder. Nice little compact unit though!

[@MrTexasDasher]

Is it possible to add an extension to the main led control. Im asking because I'm the description state you can run in thermostat mode. This would allow me to leave the unit outside while bringing the led control unit inside. Thanks in advance...Ken

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Should do. If I remember correctly it's only a three core cable.

[@jmallion]

Great video - Would these connections be suitable to use when powering diesel heater outside in rainy weather?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The correct ones in the description yes - amzn.to/402ro41 I think you can buy rubber plugs to put in them when not is use.

[@marcobrian1619]

Ha Dave I got some xt60 of amozon but didn't see the face mount ones ...I'll have another look. Quick question, IV a 5kw derv heater.... Now sometimes I have to pre prime it (after first attempt).... then other times it starts up as should.,.. any ideas???

[@DavidMcLuckie]

If there a chance the fuel is running out of the diesel pipe into the heater? That would mean sometimes it's starting 'dry' and needs re-priming. It shouldn't be able to run back through the pump as they are as good as a one way valve.

[@marcobrian1619]

@@DavidMcLuckie thanks for reply. The tank is higher than heater the pump is level with bottom of tank....... All fitting are tight and no leaks. The only place I can think of is the air release hole in pump .....hmmm

[@twocvbloke]

Yeah I'm watching this in full again cos why not... :P Also just noticed that "UK plug" has the infamous sleeved earth pin as well, which insulates it from being earthed properly as the contact in the socket is much closer to the base of the pin unlike the live & neutral, so all the more reason to go snippysnippy, but, that power supply, probably just as lethal inside anyways, so safer to just bin it...

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Might as well be sleeved to go with the lack of fuse. :)

[@twocvbloke]

@@DavidMcLuckie And from experience, rewiring it with a proper plug, the conductors inside won't necessarily be any good either, usually some paltry amount that would act more as a fuse than the non-existent one... :P

[@DavidMcLuckie]

How very bold to assume they would have an earth conductor in there. :)

[@twocvbloke]

@@DavidMcLuckie Never said there would be, but you never know, they just like to cut it off before it gets anywhere that it needed to go, could even have a fake conductor, just a length of empty insulation to pack out a round cable to make it look like it has three conductors, not that the other two for L & N really qualify as such knowing they put so little in the way of metal strands (usually aluminium too) in them anyway... :P

[@user-bo9kp9js6j]

Morning David, just reviewed you review of the Hcalory heater electrics; the 240v to 12v transformer supplied with the unit: if the two plug ends are changed do you see any reason this cannot be used. (Novice camper/user)

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Yes, this would greatly improve the safety rating.

[@diypunx]

Can this unit sit out in the rain while in use?

[@rorymax8233]

David, Couple of questions for you please. a) What app and\or attachment to your android phone are you using for thermal imaging? b) What is the UNI-T device sitting on the bench to the left and rear of the heater? Thank you.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

a) thermal imaging Android Phone - Doogee V20 Pro - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdWz8Ev b) two channel K-type thermocouple thermometer.

[@gbarhip]

I swapped mine for SAE connectors as I use these on so many other items

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I'm for whatever connector people are using, just not an IEC. :)

[@beachedbum8682]

Good vid- I would like to see a fuel run-time vid. How long will the 6 liters of fuel run on LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH. Can this just run on a 12 volt car battery or "solar generator"? Thanks, Tom.😁😁 PS, do you consider HCALORY to be the best Chinese diesel heater?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Car battery yes. 'Solar generator' depends on both the heater and power station. Hcalory while not the worst they are certainly not the best either.

[@YorkshireSteve907]

It works whats the problem?.

[@jasonpotts6490]

They are still shipping them with that connector??? I'm staying away from Hcallory from here on out.

[@glennclark762]

They look like big old cables. I though an xt60 could only take 2mm cable when I was looking at a Solar generators I could only find 12awk (2mm) pre wired which I though was a little close to limit for the 25amp port fitted.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

30A running, 60A surge over 2mm2 cable. In this application of 10-12A they should be fine.

[@troy7124]

Has anybody figured out how to get into the settings. Mine runs way too fast,it uses an excessive amount of fuel per day. My 3 year old vevor that's been put through hell and back will out perform this new model hands down. Any help on how to slow this thing down would be greatly appreciated before I end up throwing it in the trash

[@vanessahoey685]

Hey! I’m thinking of buying one and you comment on the electrical cord and outlet has me concerned. It looks like a normal household outlet to me. What’s dangerous about it? I didn’t understand what you were explaining in your video.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

It's not dangerous in itself. The danger comes if you were to plug a household outlet cord into it and plug it into the wall. Best case there is a loud bang, worst is fire and death.

[@vanessahoey685]

@@DavidMcLuckie I’m still confused. You’re saying that if you plug something else into the outlet while you’re using the heater plugged into the same outlet? I would be using an ecoflow battery power station to run the heater. Would this change the danger you’re suggesting?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

You can't plug this heater into a mains outlet directly that's the problem. If you do it will break. You either have to use the transformer or connect it to 12V. It's not supposed to run on mains voltage.

[@vanessahoey685]

@@DavidMcLuckie what's a mains outlet? would it work safely plugged into an ecoflow power station?

[@Lostsage01]

⁠@@vanessahoey685 maybe I can explain - this heater is 12v DC only, since originally it was designed to work with car electrical systems. However, they’ve included a transformer cable (the power brick) to allow you to plug it into a wall outlet (AC 120V in the US, 230V in the UK, also mains = electricity grid = wall outlet power). The problem is that the connection on the unit will accept a standard electrical cable (think typical monitor cable if you’re in the US like me), so if you lose the transformer cable, and find a monitor cable lying around and try to plug this into the wall, it will fry the unit, possibly resulting in fire, shock, etc. As long as you use the supplied cable with transformer it should be fine, but the risk is someone uses the wrong cable without knowing and supplies a 12V DC unit with 120v / 230v AC and everything goes to hell.

[@bobbjorkner7140]

are these safe to use indoors(exhaust piped outside of course)? I'm looking for a good heating solution when the power is out to run off of my caravans deep cycle batteries. following that, what reason do you have to use to diesel heater? is it for heating your living space or heating the inside of your vehicle? by-the-way, great videos

[@DavidMcLuckie]

As long as the exhaust is fully sealed until it gets outside they can be used indoors. This started as a simple heater installation for a camper, and just sort of ran away. :)

[@daltonsband]

Same questions from first video stand however: Plateau mode!? Power mode vs temp mode Can you get into settings :)

[@DavidMcLuckie]

If plateau mode works (which it might not), on the cheap heaters I've seen it with it just cuts the fueling by an amount. Not relative to any elevation, just by a fixed amount. Power mode vs temp on this one was just a press of the settings button (I think). Then the temperature is displayed and you can turn it up or down. In power mode the temperature isn't shown and turning it up or down changes the power level bar at the bottom. Haven't found any settings to change as yet.

[@daltonsband]

Thank you, mine showed up yesterday but I won't get to mess around with it til my next days off. Some controllers let you set your elevation, the correspondence from hcalory was simply the machine worked to 300 meters but not how to set it, when to set it, or if you could dial in any other parameters. I know I appreciate all the effort in your videos to provide accurate and well-thought-out conclusions. Thank you for contributing to the knowledge base for those who are willing to learn.@@DavidMcLuckie

[@daltonsband]

Round TWO! Fight! Lol

[@cic-jakevanddalgeemyers.2739]

Wow

[@manuelmetallica]

👍👍

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍

[@martinpanks992]

I agree the IEC plug 🔌 should be used for 240 voltage only and not for anything else.

[@intergrale4x4]

Subaru Pistons by any chance ;)

[@athertop]

David, if you compate the plug/socket arrangement as you have installed it with the xt60 plug on a lithium battery (I'm. Thinking LiPo here being a rc plane pilot) I think you'll find that the two genders are reversed. To explain better, the supply cable should have the female xt60 connector (talking conductors being female and not plug body/insulator), and the load side should have the xt60 with male pins. It seems odd why they would sell chassis mount sockets with wrong gender. So having the plugs swapped in your application would allow powering from say a LiPo battery.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Totally honest with you, this is the first time I've ever 'made' any connections with XT plugs. My only experience prior is on the portable power stations. But I understand what you mean. Should it be these then that are on the chassis? - amzn.to/3QljoI2

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Or rather these as a set? - amzn.to/3S5GvYG

[@athertop]

@@DavidMcLuckie yes, they look perfect. Like the waterproofing seal. Wonder how hard to plug/unplug. These definitely the correct orientation

[@ifell3]

No heat shrink to finish it off tut tut 😅😅😅

[@BerlietGBC]

Not just a un fused plug it’s not big enough to comply and it had a shielded earth pin

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Not that it would have an earth connected anyway. :)

[@BerlietGBC]

@@DavidMcLuckie Yes indeed , I’ve a number of these power supplies I just chop the plug off and put a proper on on .

[@TdrSld]

So the reason for the diesel being the lube in a diesel engine injector and pump is the working pressures. In the US (where I am) our trucks (not semis) can see up to 35,000psi at the injector, so all the parts having to move at those pressures are going to need the fuel to help lube them. This is why are new ultra low sulfur diesel as to have a ton of additives put into it because are GOV are idiots and took the main lube out of the fuel which is the sulfur.

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

Hi, how are the XT60 plugs going the wrong way ?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

They are a weird wrong plug. The correct ones to use are in the description.

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

@@DavidMcLuckie Thanks David. Love your channel by the way…………….just got a diesel heater this month and just trying to get my head around it all. Prior to setting up. Your channel is VERY informative, interesting and also funny 😄 All in the right blend. Just subscribed and have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year 👍 PS: rather than replacing that socket/plug. Think I might just stick one of those warning ⚠️ 12v DC only stickers on. That way I don’t have to carve up my heater case.