I'm a "buy once, cry once," buy quality, kind of guy. But man, it's reeeeally hard to justify $1400 when you can literally get 10 of the hcalory units for the same price. Quality and warranty, sure, I get it, but when you can order 5 or 6 "back-ups" and still be under half the cost, I have a hard time. I could see maybe if you're in the arctic, at the end of Trans-Taiga, or some other really really remote and freezing location on an expedition where your life would potentially be on the line, then yes, buy the $1400 heater, hell, buy 2. But for overlanding, ehhh, it's hard.
You nailed it man. If it was double the price, i'd be totally down. Hell, if it was 3x the price, I'd probably be in... but nearly 11x the cost is just greed.
I have a planar 2KW and it saved our butts one night. Would we have died? No, but we were very unprepared, other than having the heater. That thing ran on its lowest setting all night, used about 15-20% of my PLB40 battery which was also powering a fridge, and we didn’t hear one click of the fuel pump. Comparing these two is apples and oranges in every aspect. But I agree, if you have a proper sleep system, then save your money. If you are relying on a heater for warmth, get one of the big three: autoterm, espar, webasto.
Matt, I thought you were going to run a side by side test to compare. Your entire video sounded like an infomercial for the Planner Diesel Heater. I bought hcalory's 8k tool box heater for $169, free shipping, no tax. It comes with an ac/dc converter, wireless remote, Lcd bluetooth display, and it is rated to run in altitudes at 20,000 ft. You had one good observation, the fuel pump is noisy just like all Chinese diesel air heaters. Other than the noisy oil pump, I absolutely love the SS2 tool box diesel heater.
@GGGG_Off-The-Grid exactly. Sell outs for sure. I hardly watch his videos now because of this reason. I just wanted to see what he said about the hcalory and it's what I expected.
I've been running my POS Vevor red box CDH for 2 years with ZERO maintenance effort. I don't even drain the diesel after winter. Still fires up. Still cooks me in my RTT and ground tents. "Buy once cry once" is just corporate propaganda at this point.
I have the 8kw tool box style by Hcalory. I love it so far. Scored it for $189 shipped. No issues yet with the fuel tank inside. Easy to stack and store for travel. Great video Matt! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
I got that same one by hcalory, I’ve done some research before I bought it. Major inexpensive upgrades I’ve done was upgrade the fuel pump to a higher end one about 30 bucks. And the angle the pump is mounted matters too, if it’s too much or too little angle the pump can cavitate. Lastly I upgraded the fuel filter to high end diesel fuel filter/water separator. Less than 20 bucks on Amazon. And power cord to run ac or dc power from my solar generator. I’ve ran it for at least 200 - 250hrs total, many of the nights being 32 or below, and have had zero problems. If anyone is thinking about the hcalory upgrade the pump and fuel filter at which is very inexpensive and will last you a long time!
I purchased the Hcalary heater and had some issues. Kept getting an E9 error code (overheating) when I added a 16foot, 3 inch insulated hose. Amazon just refunded me for the purchase when I told them about the error code. Since it became a free unit I figured I’d try and trouble shoot it myself. I changed out the heat sensor to resolve the E9 code and kept getting the error message. Then I decided to connect a 16 foot, 4 inch duct extension to the provided 3 inch duct and the error code stopped coming up. For some reason the longer 3 inch hose made the unit overheat but the 4 inch doesn’t.
This is very helpful. The last thing I need to worry about is having my heater fail when it's freezing outside. That case is made by Nanuk, also located in Canada. So, if you need parts, look them up if Chad can't help you for whatever reason. Thanks
For the china heaters not working on battery it’s because they draw 13.2 volts at start up and shut down. I had to buy a dc-ac converter in order to bypass that issue. Other then that it works great
The heater units themselves are made in Latvia, which is in Europe. Planar in Canada assembles them into the portable unit and provides the service and warranty.
Ok if that's the case why don't we just go with the OG Wabesto and call it a day? The only reason these Chinese and Latvian/Canadian heaters are on the market is because the Wabesto patent ran out not too long ago. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
The reason you could run the Expensive one off the power station is because its a 2kw unit, you were trying to run a 5kw unit that uses up to 150 watts to ignite the glow plug. most power stations only support up to 120 watts if that. You are comparing apples to oranges if you are going beyond just "build quality"
Bought the vevor after you did the heater comparisons earlier. So far has worked great for $90. Planning on swapping the pump for a $30 upgraded pump thats supposed to be silent. Keep a buddy heater as backup but have not needed it. However if my life depended on the heater i might spend the bucks!
I ran Hcalory heater to keep my uncles pipes from freezing in his cellar in 0-5 degree f temps with -10 to -20 windchills. I ran it for a little over a week non stop. Kept running. I plumbed it to a 5 gal jerry can. On level 8 it would go about 40 hours before it was about out. Been using it for heat in our shop since then off and on. Seems to keep working. Don’t know how long it will last though. The case is not that strong.
You can purchase better quality hoses, pumps and mounts for the HCalary far less than $1400, I spend a total of $300 for materials that even surpass the $1400 one.
@@PatricksDIY I’m sure you can but most people don’t have the skills or desire for that kind of DIY project and if something goes wrong there is zero support.
@OzarkOverlandAdventures Yes exactly! We are struggling with this now. Chinese (throw away) roll the dice on working, vs throw $1,875 for a 2kw on one you can trust. I have no diy skills and would much rather pay someone to build me one right or pay retail for a good one.
The diesel heaters typically use more than the 10A, ~130W max at startup than the 12v plugs in a lot of the power stations out there. This is due to the power required by the glow plugs at start up of the diesel heater. Perhaps the lower output capacity (and lower consumption glow plugs) or quality of the components in the Planar model didn’t exceed the Bluetti’s max output for the 12v socket?
For the price of the Planar you could go Propex and use propane. Lots of maintenance and smell benefits from running the propane. Disclaimer - I run the HCalory... I couldn't justify the cost of the more expensive one yet.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures fair... but I haven't found the form factor of the portable one to be great. When I upgrade, I don't think portable will be a great selling point. With the tank mounted on the side it is just unwieldy and likes to fall over. Here's my video where I was running the heater the first time - the jeep should remind you something: ruclips.net/video/XWrbKAZoSHA/видео.html
Even my hCalory showed up the remote was broken. I emailed them and the responded within 24 hours and gave me enough to purchase another remote off Amazon.
Yeah, I had to buy a 12V 15Amp AC/DC power brick ($17)( to get it to run off of my Ecoflow Delta. Runs fine and does settle down in power consumption after start up. I think I got my HCalory for $109 on an Amazon deal. Assuming you're using a Carbon Monoxide detector...be curious what you're using Matt!
What sells me the most about this product is the triple power source in that it runs off diesel, k1 and or battery/110v... So solar generator at night!! How does switching from diesel to k1 get carried out? Is there an internal orifice change out? Looking very forward to your replies👍🏼👍🏼
LOL ...I prefer Matt having the Planar as well....soooo much quieter than the Chinese heaters he has used...sometimes they have drowned out the streams and rivers...but this last trip I was hammocking very close and I couldn't hear it over the water!
I have the Hcalory and have zero complaints. I could not justify $1,400 for this. I actually think the Planar over-priced for what you get as well. Just my .02.
I have the hcalory and so far so good. What did you do to seal the valve at the bottom to run the fuel line? Mine kept a little annoying leak so I just ran it from the top lol.
@jeffmorris739. 1000 bucks is a weeks work at slightly above minimum wage. That's totally worth many good nights of peaceful sleep so that you don't feel miserable. If you don't have trouble sleeping through it, great. I'm not being sarcastic. Get the cheaper ones with the ticking. I would. It's the smarter decision. But for anyone that the ticking would drive mad and ruin a good night's sleep....then the 1000 bucks doesn't look so bad.
Hi I have the same planar diesel heater. Does that small bluetti ac2a run it good? Like it will run the full startup and then the shutdown process? I'm having trouble finding a power source for it
More power stations need to come with high output DC ports. The Ugreen 2048Wh power station has a 300w Anderson plug that is perfect for diesel heaters.
Planar heaters are made in Russia are they not? It may be assembled in Canada but that heater is Russian. Matt, you should do a long term performance test. Let us know if there were any issues between the two. I got the Hcalory that comes in the cool tool box. Very nicely made for $200. Sturdy brackets can be added for another $10. 🙂 $1400 is just a hard sell for me. Does it refill itself? Offer back massages? Sing you a lullaby at night?
Very close! Latvia, which borders Russia to the West. If you ever call Planar you’ll be greeted with someone speaking English, but with a heavy Russian accent 😄
@@OverlandAddict Where did you get the information from? To my knowledge they were and are an russian company, trying to hide this fact by different ""sites"...
I really think you did a good job trying to sell the better quality one but I am just not buying that it is $1400.00 better. Had it been in a metal case, with metal latches, etc... maybe. It is still plastic and the same technology.
The chinese heater will keep you warm anyway. Theres an australian guy sellin a controller for thr chinese diesel heaters that beats the controller for the planar big time. And it costs like $90. A little heater diesel in a pelican box cant cost $1,400 no matter how much glitter you add to it.
I love it when people comment with zero experience with these. It’s awesome that we live in a world where you can buy your tshirts at Dollar General instead of Macy’s or you can buy a Kia instead of a Ferrari or tools from Harbor Freight instead of Snap On. 😂🤦🏼♂️
Noise levels are very important to me. My planar with a muffler is very quiet. Would never disturb anyone, including myself. I am a little perplexed that chinese heaters that claim to be espar clones would be so much louder. I am sure there will be comments of improper setup.
Great comparison, Matt! Thanks for the review. You really hit the nail on the head. There is a place in the market for both heaters, just like there is a place in the market for the Eberspaecher and Webasto units that cost twice as much as the Planar units. Happy to answer any questions on the Planar units if anyone has any.
I have an ecoflow power station, and you guys said you can’t run a 12V because it pulls around 14amps. I find it very difficult to have to shell out $1600+ for a bluetti power station that has an RV plug, that is also massive and heavy and overkill for most. There has to be a better solution for this, considering that it doesn’t pull that much power once it’s running and going, its excessive for someone to shell out almost $2k for a behemoth power station to power it, not have to buy bulky lithium batteries for the ring connectors. Someone would have to be shelling near $4k for a Planar heater plus tank sized power station. Even for someone that has a big budget like myself with no kids, the cost just to bring in some heat on a trip is bonkers.
There are more affordable options for power stations. The GoalZero Yeti 1000 Core is $649 right now. The Dometic PLB40 is $539.99. You could also just use a smaller power station paired with a $20 AC to DC converter. While that works, it’s not my favorite way to run one. Lastly, you could always just hook it straight to your vehicle battery if you wanted to go super cheap. It’s something every one of us already has. Just not the most convenient.
@@OverlandAddictIn case I did buy the Bluetti AC200L, they changed the RV plug specs vs the AC200MAX, the new RV plus is 48V / 8Amps, does that mean the RV plug you sell is no longer viable for the newer Bluetti model AC200L that replaced the AC200Max?
I have used my yellow planar for 2 cold camping seasons and so far no complaints. I didn’t have any issues but did call them re: some exhaust tweaking I was wanting to do and spoke with a live English speaking gentleman who helped me out. They are expensive but I’d probably buy again.
@OzarkOverlandAdventures thank you for the info. I'm running a webasto that I got from a wrecked semi truck. Repurposed a pelican case and made my own, been running it for 4 years without issue!!
There is a massive gap between these cheap Chinese versions and the legit ones out there. I’d be more than happy to pay 500-600 for an in between version that is more reliable, but not 1400. That’s just nuts. BUT I am contemplating a Planar, just for peace of mind. I camp with my little kids and if they are not comfortable, they don’t like going.
It’s obvious you don’t want the Chinese heater to look good. I own one of them, and yes, they are not the most expensive parts on the inside, but for short money, you can replace the fuel pump, the fuel filter on muffler and fuel line the thing works amazing. There cannot be $1400 into the Canadian one. And yes, that’s only my opinion.
Has anyone tried the 4x4 Colorado diesel heater? Its middle of the road and they do offer a military and first responders discount for around $450, $499 retail. I have really only seen RUclips videos from their RUclips page and no actual user videos.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Just ordered one. It looks like they have done some upgrades on this one since the last shipment. From their website; The new functionality and enhanced quality of internal components, along with previously optional parts now included, mark significant improvements. The flexible ducting has been extended to 15 feet. An AC adapter is now provided, allowing for connection to a power station or a 110V outlet. The upgraded sensor, featuring a ceramic coating, ensures optimal performance even in extreme cold conditions, down to -20°F. The fresh air intake and exhaust have been rerouted through new side ports on the units, and the lower portion of the unit's body has been redesigned for improved efficiency and functionality.
The guys at overlandaddict stated that you can’t use the 12volt plug with our power stations because it can pull up to 14amps, and the power stations go up to 10 or 12 I believe, but standard is 10amps, can you tell us what was your experience when powering it? Is it true, do I have to shell out $1600 for a massive a 200Max Bluetti that has the RV plug that they sell. I just think it’s overkill, there has to be better solution for this.
Power stations are hit or miss with Diesel heaters. Some work better than others. I've had good success with Bluetti and as you saw in this video I was just running it off a small AC2A.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresthat’s true it’s hit and miss, but certainly not everyone has the budget to run through a bunch of power stations, so this is helpful when you run these tests. I have the Ecoflow River 2 Pro, which has been a great power station with 768wh and up to 1800watt max. I would love to see if this thing would get it going so I don’t have to buy another power station. I wouldn’t mind getting a Bluetti as a second option. It’s just the 200Max Bluetti is not feasible for most of us in a Jeep Wrangler to be lugging around a massive power station to ensure the diesel heater works. Thank you
@@jpdrummer86the safest thing to do is go off the power station specs. 99% of them don’t provide a DC outlet that provides more than 10 amps as stated in their specs. Diesel heaters pull more than 10 amps at startup and shutdown. Some people are able to get away with a power station that only provides 10 amps. I personally think it has something to do with the power station allowing a temporary surge. Even people that get away with it seem to eventually run into a snag, just like Matt did with his. If you want reliable power for your heater that you can depend on, you need to have a source that provides more than 10 amps of DC current, preferably 15 to give yourself a bit of headroom. It’s really that black and white. Otherwise you’re just rolling the dice.
I have a Dometic PLB40 and it powers my planar 2KW easily. I shortened my power cable and made my own 12v plug adapter with a blue sea plug. It has a 10 amp fuse and hasn’t skipped a beat. Overland Addict is super helpful and I bought my heater from them. Try to compare PLB40 specs to yours.
Be careful with some of the Overland Heater fabricators out there. I shelled out $750 for a heater setup in a Frontrunner box, only to get excuses, broken promises, and ultimately ghosted.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresany thoughts on a DIY Pelican box, with high level components? Could we put this whole unit inside our truck, if the intake/exhaust are routed to the outside?
did he ever say what brand the diesel heater is? it looks like an Eberspecher. it is clearly in a Nanuk case. i dont believe that planar makes the heater they just put it together
Planar could have the Rolls-Royce of diesel heaters but I still couldn't justify it. Just buy 10 of the other ones and have tons of spare parts when one fails to fix it... Just my thoughts personally
No interest in a 1400 dollar diesel heater even if money was not an object and that's just pure logic. I could think of 100 things I'd rather spend that money on but if someone gave me one, well now that's a different story. This is what I would buy for $112 if I was going the diesel heater route. VEVOR 8KW Diesel Heater All in One, Diesel Air Heater with Remote Control and LCD Screen, Parking Heater Fast Heating Low Noise. Thanks for the review though.
Thanks for the info. Matt definitely looks like a quality unit. The one thing I’d have to consider is I have to do a heck of a lot more winter camping to justify it.
Don´t let them fool you: Planar = Autoterm => RUSSIAN company, NOT canadian! Beside that: 2kW is more than enough for most applications. In most cases the main problem is not to delivery more power, but less! Turning down a 5kW heater to e.g. half the power will lead to clogging on mid-long term. Neither the russian heater nor the chinese version meets any security regulation...
You need to go back to geography class. The heat exchanger is made it Latvia which is eastern european, not russian. The Planar is a Canadian company. Why do you need security regulations on a heater? Take off the tinfoil hat dude. LOLOL.
The more I see, the less I like. Inside the case, it looks very basic; I don't like that the return air (which isn't returned air) is not extended outside the box. You cannot run the return air into your heated area, making it much more efficient. Also, any kind of exhaust leak inside the box will get pushed through the heated air into your tent or vehicle.
How am I wrong? .Any leakage inside the case will get drawn into the intake and blown over the heat exchanger and into your heated space. I would never use this without a carbon monoxide monitor. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
@@timrek53 I'm sure you're way smarter than the engineers at Planar and know way more than they do since you've actually seen one of these in person and checked out the construction. LOLOL
With that big crack in the Planar I can only hope it fell off the Grand Canyon. I've had my Hcalory bounce out of the truck bed and no issues. I am all for buying and crying once but hell to tha naw.
So... a Latvian heater, in a Chinese box, with Chinese wiring, assembled by Canadians. For $1400. Or... a Chinese heater, in a Chinese box, with Chinese wiring, assembled by Chinese. For $200. The very definition of asinine.
@@jenniferbrown8295 I don’t know where Nanuk sources the resin they use in their molds but they are manufactured in Quebec and have a lifetime warranty. 🤷🏼♂️
It's obvious you are pushing the grossly overpriced Planar. We get it, it's built better and has some nicer features but for those of us who aren't going to take out a second mortgage for one...bottom line does the Hcalory give you $160 worth of heat for the occasional weekend outing?
Thank you captain obvious. I literally said the HCalory had worked well for me and it’s up to you to decide if the benefits of the Planar was worth the added cost for you. I also said the HCalary was the better option for the weekend warrior. 🤦🏼♂️ did you even watch the video?
It's a lot beefier? Way to much money my friend. Who could afford it.....oh you! They gave it to you.🤣 No offense meant but that's more than slightly ridiculous for the price.
Matt, I live in Tennessee and I love your channel. I'm just saying that for that amount of money, it doesn't fit the budget of most of the people I ride with. I'm sure it's a fine heater. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I use the 5kw Chinese Vevor diesle heater for the past 2 years and love it. Still didnt answer the question of who makes the heat chamber for the $ 1400 heater
I'm a "buy once, cry once," buy quality, kind of guy. But man, it's reeeeally hard to justify $1400 when you can literally get 10 of the hcalory units for the same price. Quality and warranty, sure, I get it, but when you can order 5 or 6 "back-ups" and still be under half the cost, I have a hard time.
I could see maybe if you're in the arctic, at the end of Trans-Taiga, or some other really really remote and freezing location on an expedition where your life would potentially be on the line, then yes, buy the $1400 heater, hell, buy 2. But for overlanding, ehhh, it's hard.
You nailed it man. If it was double the price, i'd be totally down. Hell, if it was 3x the price, I'd probably be in... but nearly 11x the cost is just greed.
I have a planar 2KW and it saved our butts one night. Would we have died? No, but we were very unprepared, other than having the heater. That thing ran on its lowest setting all night, used about 15-20% of my PLB40 battery which was also powering a fridge, and we didn’t hear one click of the fuel pump. Comparing these two is apples and oranges in every aspect. But I agree, if you have a proper sleep system, then save your money. If you are relying on a heater for warmth, get one of the big three: autoterm, espar, webasto.
Matt, I thought you were going to run a side by side test to compare. Your entire video sounded like an infomercial for the Planner Diesel Heater. I bought hcalory's 8k tool box heater for $169, free shipping, no tax. It comes with an ac/dc converter, wireless remote, Lcd bluetooth display, and it is rated to run in altitudes at 20,000 ft. You had one good observation, the fuel pump is noisy just like all Chinese diesel air heaters. Other than the noisy oil pump, I absolutely love the SS2 tool box diesel heater.
@GGGG_Off-The-Grid exactly. Sell outs for sure. I hardly watch his videos now because of this reason. I just wanted to see what he said about the hcalory and it's what I expected.
exactly. just bring backups and im sure it will be more reliable than just one planar
I've been running my POS Vevor red box CDH for 2 years with ZERO maintenance effort. I don't even drain the diesel after winter. Still fires up. Still cooks me in my RTT and ground tents. "Buy once cry once" is just corporate propaganda at this point.
I have the 8kw tool box style by Hcalory. I love it so far. Scored it for $189 shipped. No issues yet with the fuel tank inside. Easy to stack and store for travel. Great video Matt! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Same here. Works great! easy to set up and The new Hcalory is even better.
I just got the Ncalory for $75. Awesome deal, and it should be perfect for my need. For the price I just couldn’t beat it.
I got that same one by hcalory, I’ve done some research before I bought it. Major inexpensive upgrades I’ve done was upgrade the fuel pump to a higher end one about 30 bucks. And the angle the pump is mounted matters too, if it’s too much or too little angle the pump can cavitate. Lastly I upgraded the fuel filter to high end diesel fuel filter/water separator. Less than 20 bucks on Amazon. And power cord to run ac or dc power from my solar generator. I’ve ran it for at least 200 - 250hrs total, many of the nights being 32 or below, and have had zero problems. If anyone is thinking about the hcalory upgrade the pump and fuel filter at which is very inexpensive and will last you a long time!
Do you have amazon links for those upgrades you mention?
can u link the parts
Bought 2 vevor diesel heaters for less than $200. 1st one finally broke after 3 seasons, 15 minutes and 2nd up and running and 3rd arrives in 3 days.
I don’t have a Planar heater but I wouldn’t hesitate buying one for the helpline and the quietness.
I purchased the Hcalary heater and had some issues. Kept getting an E9 error code (overheating) when I added a 16foot, 3 inch insulated hose. Amazon just refunded me for the purchase when I told them about the error code. Since it became a free unit I figured I’d try and trouble shoot it myself. I changed out the heat sensor to resolve the E9 code and kept getting the error message. Then I decided to connect a 16 foot, 4 inch duct extension to the provided 3 inch duct and the error code stopped coming up. For some reason the longer 3 inch hose made the unit overheat but the 4 inch doesn’t.
Same experience with my HCalary. Hose size makes a big difference.
This is very helpful. The last thing I need to worry about is having my heater fail when it's freezing outside.
That case is made by Nanuk, also located in Canada. So, if you need parts, look them up if Chad can't help you for whatever reason.
Thanks
For the china heaters not working on battery it’s because they draw 13.2 volts at start up and shut down. I had to buy a dc-ac converter in order to bypass that issue. Other then that it works great
Planar may be a Canadian company but I'll go out on a limb and say I bet most of, if not all of those parts in the Planar are also made in China.
The heater units themselves are made in Latvia, which is in Europe. Planar in Canada assembles them into the portable unit and provides the service and warranty.
You would lose that bet. LOL
Ok if that's the case why don't we just go with the OG Wabesto and call it a day? The only reason these Chinese and Latvian/Canadian heaters are on the market is because the Wabesto patent ran out not too long ago. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
Made in Europe, no Chinese parts in it.
The reason you could run the Expensive one off the power station is because its a 2kw unit, you were trying to run a 5kw unit that uses up to 150 watts to ignite the glow plug. most power stations only support up to 120 watts if that. You are comparing apples to oranges if you are going beyond just "build quality"
The glow plug is the same for all of them. No extra power is required for 5 vs 2kw
My 2k planar diesel heater pulls 150 on startup then down to 10 while running and up to 185 for shutdown process
Bought the vevor after you did the heater comparisons earlier. So far has worked great for $90. Planning on swapping the pump for a $30 upgraded pump thats supposed to be silent. Keep a buddy heater as backup but have not needed it. However if my life depended on the heater i might spend the bucks!
I ran Hcalory heater to keep my uncles pipes from freezing in his cellar in 0-5 degree f temps with -10 to -20 windchills. I ran it for a little over a week non stop. Kept running. I plumbed it to a 5 gal jerry can. On level 8 it would go about 40 hours before it was about out. Been using it for heat in our shop since then off and on. Seems to keep working. Don’t know how long it will last though. The case is not that strong.
You can purchase better quality hoses, pumps and mounts for the HCalary far less than $1400, I spend a total of $300 for materials that even surpass the $1400 one.
@@PatricksDIY I’m sure you can but most people don’t have the skills or desire for that kind of DIY project and if something goes wrong there is zero support.
@OzarkOverlandAdventures
Yes exactly! We are struggling with this now.
Chinese (throw away) roll the dice on working, vs throw $1,875 for a 2kw on one you can trust. I have no diy skills and would much rather pay someone to build me one right or pay retail for a good one.
The problem with that Hcalory unit is that it doesn't have automatic altitude adjustment where their SS2 model does.
The diesel heaters typically use more than the 10A, ~130W max at startup than the 12v plugs in a lot of the power stations out there. This is due to the power required by the glow plugs at start up of the diesel heater. Perhaps the lower output capacity (and lower consumption glow plugs) or quality of the components in the Planar model didn’t exceed the Bluetti’s max output for the 12v socket?
For the price of the Planar you could go Propex and use propane. Lots of maintenance and smell benefits from running the propane. Disclaimer - I run the HCalory... I couldn't justify the cost of the more expensive one yet.
They don't make a portable Propex that I know of.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures fair... but I haven't found the form factor of the portable one to be great. When I upgrade, I don't think portable will be a great selling point. With the tank mounted on the side it is just unwieldy and likes to fall over. Here's my video where I was running the heater the first time - the jeep should remind you something: ruclips.net/video/XWrbKAZoSHA/видео.html
ok... maybe not the first time. But first time for a whole night.
Got my hcalory for under $100 a couple months ago
Diesel/K1=dry heat, propane=moist heat!
I'll do the dry heat in the deep-winter time when these products are used..
Even my hCalory showed up the remote was broken. I emailed them and the responded within 24 hours and gave me enough to purchase another remote off Amazon.
Yeah, I had to buy a 12V 15Amp AC/DC power brick ($17)( to get it to run off of my Ecoflow Delta. Runs fine and does settle down in power consumption after start up. I think I got my HCalory for $109 on an Amazon deal. Assuming you're using a Carbon Monoxide detector...be curious what you're using Matt!
I just got my Hcalory a week ago I'm going to play with it this weekend before I really have to use it
What sells me the most about this product is the triple power source in that it runs off diesel, k1 and or battery/110v... So solar generator at night!!
How does switching from diesel to k1 get carried out? Is there an internal orifice change out?
Looking very forward to your replies👍🏼👍🏼
Do they leak diesel when transporting?
LOL ...I prefer Matt having the Planar as well....soooo much quieter than the Chinese heaters he has used...sometimes they have drowned out the streams and rivers...but this last trip I was hammocking very close and I couldn't hear it over the water!
I have the Hcalory and have zero complaints. I could not justify $1,400 for this. I actually think the Planar over-priced for what you get as well. Just my .02.
I'll stick with my vevor
Cool
I have the hcalory and so far so good. What did you do to seal the valve at the bottom to run the fuel line? Mine kept a little annoying leak so I just ran it from the top lol.
You had me sold at no ticking sound. That sound would drive me crazy all night long.
I'll take the ticking thanks. +1k you got to be kidding.
@@jeffmorris739 I don’t camp enough for either of them. But options for everyone.
@jeffmorris739. 1000 bucks is a weeks work at slightly above minimum wage. That's totally worth many good nights of peaceful sleep so that you don't feel miserable.
If you don't have trouble sleeping through it, great. I'm not being sarcastic. Get the cheaper ones with the ticking. I would. It's the smarter decision. But for anyone that the ticking would drive mad and ruin a good night's sleep....then the 1000 bucks doesn't look so bad.
For under $100 you can make one pretty silent. I have videos on my channel showing how I did it.
You can buy a quite replacement pump for $100....which is better than $1400. :-)
Hi I have the same planar diesel heater. Does that small bluetti ac2a run it good? Like it will run the full startup and then the shutdown process? I'm having trouble finding a power source for it
If you just shorten the length of the power cord of the HCalory you won’t have trouble with startup using the Bluetti power station.
I will be keeping mine in the back of the Gladiator. Any tips on keeping a Chinese heater a bit protected from the rain while driving?
Trash bag over it.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Nice and simple! Can’t beat that! Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Hcalory every time very economical and reliable, Easy to repair with readily available parts .if ever needed .
In Europe Planar/Autoterm is known as a former Russian company, now based in Eastern Europe.
But they do not use the name Planar anymore in Europe.
To MY knowledge they are still a russian company but they try hard to hide this by different selling sites. No idea why..😉
More power stations need to come with high output DC ports. The Ugreen 2048Wh power station has a 300w Anderson plug that is perfect for diesel heaters.
Agreed!!!
Planar heaters are made in Russia are they not? It may be assembled in Canada but that heater is Russian. Matt, you should do a long term performance test. Let us know if there were any issues between the two. I got the Hcalory that comes in the cool tool box. Very nicely made for $200. Sturdy brackets can be added for another $10. 🙂 $1400 is just a hard sell for me. Does it refill itself? Offer back massages? Sing you a lullaby at night?
Very close! Latvia, which borders Russia to the West. If you ever call Planar you’ll be greeted with someone speaking English, but with a heavy Russian accent 😄
@@OverlandAddict Where did you get the information from? To my knowledge they were and are an russian company, trying to hide this fact by different ""sites"...
I really think you did a good job trying to sell the better quality one but I am just not buying that it is $1400.00 better. Had it been in a metal case, with metal latches, etc... maybe. It is still plastic and the same technology.
The chinese heater will keep you warm anyway. Theres an australian guy sellin a controller for thr chinese diesel heaters that beats the controller for the planar big time. And it costs like $90.
A little heater diesel in a pelican box cant cost $1,400 no matter how much glitter you add to it.
I love it when people comment with zero experience with these. It’s awesome that we live in a world where you can buy your tshirts at Dollar General instead of Macy’s or you can buy a Kia instead of a Ferrari or tools from Harbor Freight instead of Snap On. 😂🤦🏼♂️
So are they both noisy enough to disturb a neighbor if you were camping with a group of people or having trouble yourself falling asleep?
Noise levels are very important to me. My planar with a muffler is very quiet. Would never disturb anyone, including myself. I am a little perplexed that chinese heaters that claim to be espar clones would be so much louder. I am sure there will be comments of improper setup.
The Planar is MUCH quieter
Thank you for the information.
A large part of the cost is it is made in Canada.
I'll undoubtedly take 10 of the cheap ones for the same price. Crazy!
cool
Great comparison, Matt! Thanks for the review.
You really hit the nail on the head. There is a place in the market for both heaters, just like there is a place in the market for the Eberspaecher and Webasto units that cost twice as much as the Planar units.
Happy to answer any questions on the Planar units if anyone has any.
I have an ecoflow power station, and you guys said you can’t run a 12V because it pulls around 14amps. I find it very difficult to have to shell out $1600+ for a bluetti power station that has an RV plug, that is also massive and heavy and overkill for most. There has to be a better solution for this, considering that it doesn’t pull that much power once it’s running and going, its excessive for someone to shell out almost $2k for a behemoth power station to power it, not have to buy bulky lithium batteries for the ring connectors. Someone would have to be shelling near $4k for a Planar heater plus tank sized power station. Even for someone that has a big budget like myself with no kids, the cost just to bring in some heat on a trip is bonkers.
There are more affordable options for power stations. The GoalZero Yeti 1000 Core is $649 right now. The Dometic PLB40 is $539.99.
You could also just use a smaller power station paired with a $20 AC to DC converter. While that works, it’s not my favorite way to run one.
Lastly, you could always just hook it straight to your vehicle battery if you wanted to go super cheap. It’s something every one of us already has. Just not the most convenient.
@@OverlandAddictthank you, this feedback is very helpful
@@OverlandAddictIn case I did buy the Bluetti AC200L, they changed the RV plug specs vs the AC200MAX, the new RV plus is 48V / 8Amps, does that mean the RV plug you sell is no longer viable for the newer Bluetti model AC200L that replaced the AC200Max?
I have used my yellow planar for 2 cold camping seasons and so far no complaints. I didn’t have any issues but did call them re: some exhaust tweaking I was wanting to do and spoke with a live English speaking gentleman who helped me out. They are expensive but I’d probably buy again.
Like a lot of products these days, assembled here with domestic and imported parts. I'm sure it is better quality but not 1200 more.
Who makes the actual heat echanger in the case and where is it made?
I don't remember the actual name but I know it's made in Europe.
@OzarkOverlandAdventures thank you for the info. I'm running a webasto that I got from a wrecked semi truck. Repurposed a pelican case and made my own, been running it for 4 years without issue!!
@@YotatecherWebasto is a great unit!
Autoterm, made in Latvia.
@@OverlandAddict thank you!!
What collapsable hose are. you using on your Planar? The one that came with mine is 8' and non collapsable, takes up a lot of room!
Just a 3" one I got off amazon.
Can't see spending $1400. As long as it works I'm good with it. If it breaks I'll buy two more. Still ahead of the more expensive.
The reviews for the Hcalory on the Amazon are frightening. I wonder how many fires they have caused...
There is a massive gap between these cheap Chinese versions and the legit ones out there. I’d be more than happy to pay 500-600 for an in between version that is more reliable, but not 1400. That’s just nuts. BUT I am contemplating a Planar, just for peace of mind. I camp with my little kids and if they are not comfortable, they don’t like going.
2 kw vs 4 kw which one do u recommend for high altitude cold temps in a RTT? Thk u
2 is enough for an RTT.
It’s obvious you don’t want the Chinese heater to look good. I own one of them, and yes, they are not the most expensive parts on the inside, but for short money, you can replace the fuel pump, the fuel filter on muffler and fuel line the thing works amazing. There cannot be $1400 into the Canadian one. And yes, that’s only my opinion.
I was only stating facts. I literally said the Chinese heaters are great for most people.
Great review Brother!!
I appreciate it!
How do you even get error codes from the standard controller for the planer without a controller screen?
number of blinking lights = error code
Have you used the planer with h your uev 490?
Has anyone tried the 4x4 Colorado diesel heater? Its middle of the road and they do offer a military and first responders discount for around $450, $499 retail. I have really only seen RUclips videos from their RUclips page and no actual user videos.
@@ukcatsrul1 I have one to test very soon.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Just ordered one. It looks like they have done some upgrades on this one since the last shipment. From their website;
The new functionality and enhanced quality of internal components, along with previously optional parts now included, mark significant improvements. The flexible ducting has been extended to 15 feet. An AC adapter is now provided, allowing for connection to a power station or a 110V outlet. The upgraded sensor, featuring a ceramic coating, ensures optimal performance even in extreme cold conditions, down to -20°F. The fresh air intake and exhaust have been rerouted through new side ports on the units, and the lower portion of the unit's body has been redesigned for improved efficiency and functionality.
I have tye Halcor with 3 yr warenty from Amazon 27 extra
The guys at overlandaddict stated that you can’t use the 12volt plug with our power stations because it can pull up to 14amps, and the power stations go up to 10 or 12 I believe, but standard is 10amps, can you tell us what was your experience when powering it? Is it true, do I have to shell out $1600 for a massive a 200Max Bluetti that has the RV plug that they sell. I just think it’s overkill, there has to be better solution for this.
Power stations are hit or miss with Diesel heaters. Some work better than others. I've had good success with Bluetti and as you saw in this video I was just running it off a small AC2A.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresthat’s true it’s hit and miss, but certainly not everyone has the budget to run through a bunch of power stations, so this is helpful when you run these tests. I have the Ecoflow River 2 Pro, which has been a great power station with 768wh and up to 1800watt max. I would love to see if this thing would get it going so I don’t have to buy another power station. I wouldn’t mind getting a Bluetti as a second option. It’s just the 200Max Bluetti is not feasible for most of us in a Jeep Wrangler to be lugging around a massive power station to ensure the diesel heater works. Thank you
@@jpdrummer86the safest thing to do is go off the power station specs. 99% of them don’t provide a DC outlet that provides more than 10 amps as stated in their specs. Diesel heaters pull more than 10 amps at startup and shutdown.
Some people are able to get away with a power station that only provides 10 amps. I personally think it has something to do with the power station allowing a temporary surge.
Even people that get away with it seem to eventually run into a snag, just like Matt did with his.
If you want reliable power for your heater that you can depend on, you need to have a source that provides more than 10 amps of DC current, preferably 15 to give yourself a bit of headroom. It’s really that black and white. Otherwise you’re just rolling the dice.
I have a Dometic PLB40 and it powers my planar 2KW easily. I shortened my power cable and made my own 12v plug adapter with a blue sea plug. It has a 10 amp fuse and hasn’t skipped a beat. Overland Addict is super helpful and I bought my heater from them. Try to compare PLB40 specs to yours.
Be careful with some of the Overland Heater fabricators out there. I shelled out $750 for a heater setup in a Frontrunner box, only to get excuses, broken promises, and ultimately ghosted.
That’s not Planar.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Glad to see it done right.
99% of companies building those are just buying a $150 Chinese heater and putting it in their own case, charging a premium for it.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresany thoughts on a DIY Pelican box, with high level components? Could we put this whole unit inside our truck, if the intake/exhaust are routed to the outside?
What about the Vevor? any experience with those?
I've been running one for 2 years, no issue with the unit itself.
did he ever say what brand the diesel heater is? it looks like an Eberspecher. it is clearly in a Nanuk case. i dont believe that planar makes the heater they just put it together
You are correct. The case is a Nanuk, which is essentially the Canadian equivalent to Pelican.
The heater unit is an Autoterm, made in Latvia.
Planar could have the Rolls-Royce of diesel heaters but I still couldn't justify it. Just buy 10 of the other ones and have tons of spare parts when one fails to fix it... Just my thoughts personally
but if you're camping in single digits and the chinese one fails, you won't have the spare with you.
I will stick with my Hcalory. Can buy 10 to 1
i'm happy to take the $160 heater and save my caish for other things
Cant justify spending $1400 for the heater. I would spend the $160 and another $100 to upgrade the pump and fan in the Hcalory.
Super Review
Thanks!
No interest in a 1400 dollar diesel heater even if money was not an object and that's just pure logic. I could think of 100 things I'd rather spend that money on but if someone gave me one, well now that's a different story. This is what I would buy for $112 if I was going the diesel heater route. VEVOR 8KW Diesel Heater All in One, Diesel Air Heater with Remote Control and LCD Screen, Parking Heater Fast Heating Low Noise. Thanks for the review though.
Thanks for the info. Matt definitely looks like a quality unit. The one thing I’d have to consider is I have to do a heck of a lot more winter camping to justify it.
Or maybe a significant other that says, “the only way you’re getting me out camping with you is if I stay warm” 😉
Don´t let them fool you: Planar = Autoterm => RUSSIAN company, NOT canadian!
Beside that: 2kW is more than enough for most applications. In most cases the main problem is not to delivery more power, but less! Turning down a 5kW heater to e.g. half the power will lead to clogging on mid-long term.
Neither the russian heater nor the chinese version meets any security regulation...
You need to go back to geography class. The heat exchanger is made it Latvia which is eastern european, not russian. The Planar is a Canadian company. Why do you need security regulations on a heater? Take off the tinfoil hat dude. LOLOL.
The more I see, the less I like. Inside the case, it looks very basic; I don't like that the return air (which isn't returned air) is not extended outside the box. You cannot run the return air into your heated area, making it much more efficient. Also, any kind of exhaust leak inside the box will get pushed through the heated air into your tent or vehicle.
Nope that’s not how it works at all.
How am I wrong? .Any leakage inside the case will get drawn into the intake and blown over the heat exchanger and into your heated space. I would never use this without a carbon monoxide monitor. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
@@timrek53 I'm sure you're way smarter than the engineers at Planar and know way more than they do since you've actually seen one of these in person and checked out the construction. LOLOL
Ok, so you can't tell me how I'm wrong. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
Don't you think getting fresh air outside of the case would be safer?
With that big crack in the Planar I can only hope it fell off the Grand Canyon. I've had my Hcalory bounce out of the truck bed and no issues. I am all for buying and crying once but hell to tha naw.
There are no cracks in the Planar. Not sure what you’re seeing.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Oooo the lid piece by the hinge looks wonky as hell in a shot. 😂
@@happychefx it’s not
Looks like the Planar is built in Russia with a wait time of up to 6 weeks.
The heat exchanger is built in eastern Europe, not Russia.
They should correct their website then. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
So... a Latvian heater, in a Chinese box, with Chinese wiring, assembled by Canadians. For $1400.
Or... a Chinese heater, in a Chinese box, with Chinese wiring, assembled by Chinese. For $200.
The very definition of asinine.
Definitely not a Chinese box or wiring. But you’re the internet expert on things you’ve never seen before. 🤷🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😂
@@jenniferbrown8295 I don’t know where Nanuk sources the resin they use in their molds but they are manufactured in Quebec and have a lifetime warranty. 🤷🏼♂️
The hcalory is only $100 now. Planar has been beaten out the market. That unit should be more like $500. I would buy the planar at $500?
It's obvious you are pushing the grossly overpriced Planar. We get it, it's built better and has some nicer features but for those of us who aren't going to take out a second mortgage for one...bottom line does the Hcalory give you $160 worth of heat for the occasional weekend outing?
Thank you captain obvious. I literally said the HCalory had worked well for me and it’s up to you to decide if the benefits of the Planar was worth the added cost for you. I also said the HCalary was the better option for the weekend warrior. 🤦🏼♂️ did you even watch the video?
Hcalory has very poor ratings on Amazon
Ha ha…ain’t no way I’m paying 9x more. Come on…that is ridiculous. No need to try and justify that.
You don’t have to….
It's a lot beefier? Way to much money my friend. Who could afford it.....oh you! They gave it to you.🤣 No offense meant but that's more than slightly ridiculous for the price.
Lots of people can afford them. That’s why they sell out. 🤷🏼♂️
Matt, I live in Tennessee and I love your channel. I'm just saying that for that amount of money, it doesn't fit the budget of most of the people I ride with. I'm sure it's a fine heater. @@OzarkOverlandAdventures
This is not a review or comparison.
I literally compared the two and discussed their features/differences after using both of them. Not sure what else you call that. 😂😂🤦🏼♂️
Mr you're putting to much on it I'm at work watching your video cmon just tell us wassup wit the heaters
Who makes the heat chamber ?? Over priced plastic
Thank you for your well informed opinion having zero experience with either diesel heater. LOLOLOL!
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I use the 5kw Chinese Vevor diesle heater for the past 2 years and love it. Still didnt answer the question of who makes the heat chamber for the $ 1400 heater
@ they are made by Planar/Autoterm. Same caliber heater as a Wabasto.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Thank you for the info
Lol... No.
lol…. Ok