BOBILVANS Referral Link: for everything - www.bobilvans.co.uk/product-page/new-bobil-air-hybrid?ref=MPA5 - www.bobilvans.co.uk/?ref=MPA5 BOBILVANS Discount Code: - 5% off or “MPA5” only for air-hybrid
Good for you for reviewing a product for more than one time as that’s what I find many creators do. It’s usually after a six month period do problems come to light. Appreciated
The Afterburner controller can also be used to control the water pump, it is by far the best controller of any air heater system and takes all the problems out of the Chinese diesel heaters
The blue color on your key fob, remote control is just a sticker it’s to protect the aluminum that that is so a lot of people like myself have peeled that blue sticker off in order to make it look nicer and not look like blue plastic.
Another great video! You're an absolute rock star! As someone who wants to incorporate 'redundancy' into my van, there is one negative about this system. This system would crap out if the Chinese diesel heater craps out. Correct? Thanks in advance. And please, keep putting out more amazing content. Kudos!
Thank you. The unit works with any diesel heater, Chinese, autoterm, Webasto, Espar. if the heater wasn’t working then yes. No hot water or hot air. The Smart controller is more stand alone than integrated into a heater. The thermostat part is however only for Chinese
You still have the option of the electric element though which could be powered by solar or having the engine on, so hot water can still be made but no hot air.
The bureck controller does the same thing except it doesn’t speed the heater up and down. It’s stays on the hz you set it at and the controller turns it off and on.
@@MispronouncedAdventures yes and you can set your temperature swing and a few other things, pretty cool really. ruclips.net/video/pHxhF8X4Sqo/видео.htmlsi=JiSXAvb-Kk-Szz-k
Great video Alex. I missed out on the discount code as I just purchased the new controller and servo driven diverter for my non pressurized system a couple of days ago! My main reason for wanting the thermostat is to prevent damp when I’m not using the van for extended periods over winter. The bowden cable on my current diverter is also hit and miss so having the servo do the work will also be nice (diverter is out of reach in the garage area and cable keeps detaching). It would be great if Ed could add MQTT for remote access and direct comms with the heater board so correct mixture settings could be set for a clean burn etc… it would definitely be an afterburner killer then.
It’s definitely an impressive system but how would that tank fair on a system like yours though, with it being a recirculating system? Main thing not being able to clean inside the tank and the possible build up of for the lack of a better work scum. Also you convinced me that a recirculating system is the way forward for many reasons. Just wondering how often do you have to clean your water tank and what is the state of the tank when you do or are the filters that good? Can’t wait for your next Nordic series. Love how informative your videos are
Awesome video. I have the OG bobil vans kit. That I've had for years but never ended up installing. I want to make a portable recirculating shower with it for my transit custom camper. Do you have your bobil vans kit online with the water tank or is there extra filters in do the dirty water in the tank doesn't go through the rads ?
I use my Bobilvans kit differently from most as it for my recirculating shower, although it seems like you’re on a similar thought. but I’ve never had issue with the rads clogging. generally the water going back into the tank is had most dirt filtered out of it
I’ve had been looking into ways of doing. as an extra for the afterburner you can have the radio controller. So in theory the smart controller should be able to give the same commands to the afternoon via radio
@leeblackbourn3062 the normal Chinese diesel heaters have a little radio remote control to use. The smart controller works by mimicking the signals from that radio Control. The particular version of the afterburner can also intercept those signals
@MispronouncedAdventures awesome I'm with you I think 🤔 so I should reconnect the original night heater control and turn on the bobil heater etc run through some cycles and then reconnect the afterburner?
I do like this system but could be done cheaper with a motorbike rad and a small 12v pump tbh, I recently had a problem with the temp sensor on a chinese diesel heater due to restricted air flow blowing back overheating the temp sensor hence the sensor turning the diesel heater off have you had issues with that?. My only other thought is the ducting with the servo mechanism surely that would dry out and stop working due to the heat that goes through it ie dry out the grease your temp sensor on the video shows how hot that part gets so would dry out the grease and stop it working
There is almost no air restriction caused by the rads on this. Since the original version of this kit used rads from the PC water cooling sector, they are designed to maximise airflow.
Thanks Alex for this great vid. This seems to be the set up I’m looking for. Question is; Can I get all that is needed into a Land Rover defender 110 build?
@@MispronouncedAdventures ahh I see, I’ve just made the leap from a 20yo eberspacher to a maxspeedingrods and I’m gutted I can’t upgrade the control unit, poor planning on my behalf, thanks for the reply
The new kit looks great. Do you need much extra hardware to enable solar dump load heating? Also, have you _seen_ the state of that lovely oak worktop? It's going to need a wee bit more than a bit of Danish oil rubbing into it! 🥺🤣
Very interesting unit. But I honestly think this is too complicated. Might be easier to go with Espar/Webasto hydronic heater route. A compact package to have both water heater and air heater (with a heater matrix).
Id disagree on a complicated point, hydronic / wet heating systems are far more complicated to fit and install. They definitely not compact at all. Webasto or espar heater packages are near double think price of this and then some. this is design for people already with air heater
Hi buddy so ive managed to get my Chinese heating work in situ with the smart controller now however when i do the same things with afterburner it all works while the 2 are connected together, as soon as i disconnected the Chinese controller the bobil kit wont turn on the diesel heater through the afterburner, i don't suppose you had any issues like this? Thanks again Lee
Hi, my Bobil tank came with a third cable (smaller, brown) alongside the black and red power cables with no reference to where this is routed in the wiring diagram - any ideas?
I dont personally rate exhaust heat recovering in a van setup. not as simple as many things it can be. EGR’s are popular or even widing copper pipe around the exhaust for trying do it but you shouldn’t be running water direct in them, in cold conditions you’ll crack the EGR when the water freezes if the heater isn’t on. It should be done with glycol / hydronic loop. Which needs its only pump, reservoir and second heat exchange inside the vehicle to turn hot glycol back to hot water.
I would love for you try out a side arm heat exchanger that is normally use to externally heat hot water tanks. If you can rig it to take heat from the exhause. I think it will be much more effective. The exhaust must be way hotter.
I personally don’t give merit to the use of heat recovery from the exhaust, but not because it doesn’t work. A lot more complicated than many think. mainly as you can’t run water in the heat exchangers, ( like EGR’s ) they should be using coolant. issue being if you have an external heat exchanger, if the heater is not on and it’s using water it will freeze and crack the first time it’s below zero. Using coolant requires having a secondary heat exchange inside the van, cutting holes and pretty much making a separate hydronic loop with pump and reservoir. I think system is like that work, better in a stationary set up.
Ed Barrow of Bobil Vans installed one of these setups in the middle of December 2023. It heats both space and water very well. If there's surplus electricity from the solar panels and/or the battery to battery charger after the batteries are charged it's diverted to the immersion element. So, free hot water. My only quibble is that the WiFi connection drops out from time to time. Overall I'm quite happy with it.
Looks too complicated. There is a wet diesel heater that is used to heat the cooling system in a truck with pump that you can use for that purpose and it is much more compact and easier to install
Investment, I paid £84 for my CDH and £135 I think for my afterburner controller. Still absolute no brainer on great value for money the features it is? Or do you mean the whole water kit?
Didn’t say it didn’t, quite a few of the examples with diaphragm pumps showing a few metres/expansion tank used. Down to the end, User, how they install. although for a safety point of view, it does have a relatively low pressure Relief valve built into the tank.
It does, it’s just hidden! The silicone hose is super flexible, which allows for the first 15-20 degrees of temperature increase to be absorbed by the silicone expanding slightly. Any expansion above this goes out through the overpressure valve. If you want to avoid this, we do sell an expansion tank for £49.
@@MispronouncedAdventures Well 'Bobil' can be broken down to 'bo' ('Live' or 'reside') and 'bil'('car' ) Incidentally, the Norwegian word for 'van' is 'varebil' (literally 'goods/merchandise car') Vans used to have some simple regulations. And some schmuck realised that a used 911 with a perspex sheet bolted behind the seats was enough to quality. Suddenly the ferry between Denmark and Norway started reporting a lot of vandalism to their phone booths...
of course, why not buy a $600 water heater that will take about 12 hours to heat up a couple gallons of water instead of buying a tankless water heater for $100 that provides instant hot water.
Most $100 tank less waters which I guess you mean a gas one. Shouldn’t be fitted inside vehicles. Plus most new self built in uk don’t want gas anyway. Most use diesel heaters. It’s also doesn’t take 12 hours, it takes about 15-20 minutes
@MispronouncedAdventures Wrong!! Shop around. Way to much money! It's greedy money. But hey, you'll find out for lack of sales. Should be around $125.00. At that price point you will have success.
@wideawaketotruth5301 I don’t, but you don’t need to take my word for it I don’t care what you think. Although you are welcome to look on the website and see stuff is on pre-order because it’s out of stock
BOBILVANS Referral Link: for everything
- www.bobilvans.co.uk/product-page/new-bobil-air-hybrid?ref=MPA5
- www.bobilvans.co.uk/?ref=MPA5
BOBILVANS Discount Code:
- 5% off or “MPA5” only for air-hybrid
just got my kit arrived this week, best review ive seen so far thx
Glad to hear you found my video good!
Good for you for reviewing a product for more than one time as that’s what I find many creators do. It’s usually after a six month period do problems come to light. Appreciated
It’s also nice to see a small company develop over years. I’ve had no real issues with my original version in 3 years
@@MispronouncedAdventures so have you ever had an issue with the on button on the display panel not working but will work via Wi-Fi? Lol
Another great video. Thanks. If you ever driver through Norrköping, in southern Sweden, hit me up, the beer is on me.
I’m 100% convinced now and it’s going in my build off to bobil now
Great to hear
The Afterburner controller can also be used to control the water pump, it is by far the best controller of any air heater system and takes all the problems out of the Chinese diesel heaters
@@ochjoo77 hundred percent agree it’s the best. you could use it to control other objects with the GPIO on the afterburner. Not tested it myself.
That's an esp32!!! Love it!
Good use of the little boards, isn’t it?
I’m definitely having one now!
Glad to hear so. What particular feature did it for you in the video?
The blue color on your key fob, remote control is just a sticker it’s to protect the aluminum that that is so a lot of people like myself have peeled that blue sticker off in order to make it look nicer and not look like blue plastic.
Indeed it is. Which is why in the video description I put “blue” in quotes. But it’s just a plastic cover which 99% don’t know
Another great video! You're an absolute rock star!
As someone who wants to incorporate 'redundancy' into my van, there is one negative about this system. This system would crap out if the Chinese diesel heater craps out. Correct? Thanks in advance.
And please, keep putting out more amazing content. Kudos!
Thank you.
The unit works with any diesel heater, Chinese, autoterm, Webasto, Espar. if the heater wasn’t working then yes. No hot water or hot air.
The Smart controller is more stand alone than integrated into a heater. The thermostat part is however only for Chinese
You still have the option of the electric element though which could be powered by solar or having the engine on, so hot water can still be made but no hot air.
@chrisb5839 indeed you would have
@@chrisb5839Great! That is exactly the sort of redundancy that I want. This system allows two different ways to heat the water in the van. Awesome!!!
The bureck controller does the same thing except it doesn’t speed the heater up and down. It’s stays on the hz you set it at and the controller turns it off and on.
So like a cycle model! Gets too hot turns the heater off?
@@MispronouncedAdventures yes and you can set your temperature swing and a few other things, pretty cool really. ruclips.net/video/pHxhF8X4Sqo/видео.htmlsi=JiSXAvb-Kk-Szz-k
It also can control 2 separate heaters.
Great video Alex. I missed out on the discount code as I just purchased the new controller and servo driven diverter for my non pressurized system a couple of days ago!
My main reason for wanting the thermostat is to prevent damp when I’m not using the van for extended periods over winter. The bowden cable on my current diverter is also hit and miss so having the servo do the work will also be nice (diverter is out of reach in the garage area and cable keeps detaching).
It would be great if Ed could add MQTT for remote access and direct comms with the heater board so correct mixture settings could be set for a clean burn etc… it would definitely be an afterburner killer then.
that face at the v end SCREAMED "I don't like asking for that"
Asking for what?
@@MispronouncedAdventures like comment subscribe.... you looked a bit deflated after is all 🤷♂️ idk
@AyyRainer ah yes, you important to say as it make such a difference but don’t enjoy saying it all the time, but needs to be in there
@@MispronouncedAdventures I understand why... I hope that beard hasn't become too cold and it all individually snapped off 🧐
It’s definitely an impressive system but how would that tank fair on a system like yours though, with it being a recirculating system? Main thing not being able to clean inside the tank and the possible build up of for the lack of a better work scum. Also you convinced me that a recirculating system is the way forward for many reasons. Just wondering how often do you have to clean your water tank and what is the state of the tank when you do or are the filters that good? Can’t wait for your next Nordic series. Love how informative your videos are
I don’t use this system because of that reason and I need to keep the tank. So for me it won’t work. I just wanted to test and look at the new kit
Awesome video. I have the OG bobil vans kit. That I've had for years but never ended up installing. I want to make a portable recirculating shower with it for my transit custom camper.
Do you have your bobil vans kit online with the water tank or is there extra filters in do the dirty water in the tank doesn't go through the rads ?
I use my Bobilvans kit differently from most as it for my recirculating shower, although it seems like you’re on a similar thought. but I’ve never had issue with the rads clogging. generally the water going back into the tank is had most dirt filtered out of it
Another awesome video buddy👌I don't suppose you will be doing one on how to pair the afterburner withe the smart controller?
I’ve had been looking into ways of doing. as an extra for the afterburner you can have the radio controller. So in theory the smart controller should be able to give the same commands to the afternoon via radio
What do you mean by the radio buddy?@@MispronouncedAdventures
@MispronouncedAdventures I've just ordered the extra relay from bobil do you think this will work?
@leeblackbourn3062 the normal Chinese diesel heaters have a little radio remote control to use. The smart controller works by mimicking the signals from that radio Control.
The particular version of the afterburner can also intercept those signals
@MispronouncedAdventures awesome I'm with you I think 🤔 so I should reconnect the original night heater control and turn on the bobil heater etc run through some cycles and then reconnect the afterburner?
I do like this system but could be done cheaper with a motorbike rad and a small 12v pump tbh, I recently had a problem with the temp sensor on a chinese diesel heater due to restricted air flow blowing back overheating the temp sensor hence the sensor turning the diesel heater off have you had issues with that?. My only other thought is the ducting with the servo mechanism surely that would dry out and stop working due to the heat that goes through it ie dry out the grease your temp sensor on the video shows how hot that part gets so would dry out the grease and stop it working
There is almost no air restriction caused by the rads on this. Since the original version of this kit used rads from the PC water cooling sector, they are designed to maximise airflow.
Hey, what did you use to stop thermal bridging condensation in cold weather ?
Specifically what cold bridge? Between the metal work of the van and the inside or somewhere else.
Thanks Alex for this great vid. This seems to be the set up I’m looking for. Question is; Can I get all that is needed into a Land Rover defender 110 build?
Can you somehow integrate this system with underfloor heating?
To a degree yes and depending what you want to work but Bobilvans sell an underfloor heating kit on their website.
@mispronouncedAdventures where did you get the servo actuated diverter valve? All i can find on Bobil Vans is manual valves
Servo actuated diverter is part of the smart controller kit I believe. As the smart controller uses it
Don’t you use maxspedingrods heaters?? How have you got an afterburner controller to work ?
Maxpeeding rods made loads of heaters . Mine is a older model which had a compatible ECU
@@MispronouncedAdventures ahh I see, I’ve just made the leap from a 20yo eberspacher to a maxspeedingrods and I’m gutted I can’t upgrade the control unit, poor planning on my behalf, thanks for the reply
The new kit looks great. Do you need much extra hardware to enable solar dump load heating?
Also, have you _seen_ the state of that lovely oak worktop? It's going to need a wee bit more than a bit of Danish oil rubbing into it! 🥺🤣
Not much an extra is needed for the solar dump.
Yeah the work top definitely needs some care! 3 years of work
Very interesting unit. But I honestly think this is too complicated. Might be easier to go with Espar/Webasto hydronic heater route. A compact package to have both water heater and air heater (with a heater matrix).
Id disagree on a complicated point, hydronic / wet heating systems are far more complicated to fit and install. They definitely not compact at all. Webasto or espar heater packages are near double think price of this and then some.
this is design for people already with air heater
whats the air temp like after its been through the echanger with water flowing through it?
Depends on how powerful the heater is running . I find it cool to marginally warm. Most of the heat energy has been removed.
So which wires from the Autoterm do you add to the box??
Brown and white, those are the remote on / off wires.
Can the servo on diverter be controlled by 12v switch without controller Alex?
No, it needs some type a servo controller. But direct 12v won’t work.
@@MispronouncedAdventures thanks 👍
Hi buddy so ive managed to get my Chinese heating work in situ with the smart controller now however when i do the same things with afterburner it all works while the 2 are connected together, as soon as i disconnected the Chinese controller the bobil kit wont turn on the diesel heater through the afterburner, i don't suppose you had any issues like this? Thanks again Lee
That’s something I’m still planning on working on at some point.
No US link?. Or not sold in America?
Bobilvans can ship to the US I’m pretty sure
Hi, my Bobil tank came with a third cable (smaller, brown) alongside the black and red power cables with no reference to where this is routed in the wiring diagram - any ideas?
Great video by the way! I watched it previously and it convinced me to buy the hybrid system 👍
Should be nice to use the exhaust heat to warm the water instead of the hot air output. A lot of heat is lost in the exhaust.
I dont personally rate exhaust heat recovering in a van setup. not as simple as many things it can be. EGR’s are popular or even widing copper pipe around the exhaust for trying do it but you shouldn’t be running water direct in them, in cold conditions you’ll crack the EGR when the water freezes if the heater isn’t on. It should be done with glycol / hydronic loop. Which needs its only pump, reservoir and second heat exchange inside the vehicle to turn hot glycol back to hot water.
I would love for you try out a side arm heat exchanger that is normally use to externally heat hot water tanks.
If you can rig it to take heat from the exhause. I think it will be much more effective. The exhaust must be way hotter.
I personally don’t give merit to the use of heat recovery from the exhaust, but not because it doesn’t work. A lot more complicated than many think. mainly as you can’t run water in the heat exchangers, ( like EGR’s ) they should be using coolant. issue being if you have an external heat exchanger, if the heater is not on and it’s using water it will freeze and crack the first time it’s below zero.
Using coolant requires having a secondary heat exchange inside the van, cutting holes and pretty much making a separate hydronic loop with pump and reservoir.
I think system is like that work, better in a stationary set up.
Ed Barrow of Bobil Vans installed one of these setups in the middle of December 2023.
It heats both space and water very well. If there's surplus electricity from the solar panels and/or the battery to battery charger after the batteries are charged it's diverted to the immersion element. So, free hot water.
My only quibble is that the WiFi connection drops out from time to time.
Overall I'm quite happy with it.
They are great people. I enjoyed my time working for them and living on there drive
Brewdog 😁nice
I’m a simple man with simple desires
It would be easier if the bags were all labelled clearly exactly what was on them
Probably would help for some of the more difficult ones to figure out
Cool
Thank you!
Looks too complicated. There is a wet diesel heater that is used to heat the cooling system in a truck with pump that you can use for that purpose and it is much more compact and easier to install
I would’ve said wet heating is far more complicated. I’ve played around with hydronic systems.
@MispronouncedAdventures it's just one unit my friend. Designed to help warm up diesel engine cooling system.
I like it BUT it is expensive Alex . It's the price of 2 X CDH off eBay 😮
Investment, I paid £84 for my CDH and £135 I think for my afterburner controller. Still absolute no brainer on great value for money the features it is?
Or do you mean the whole water kit?
@@MispronouncedAdventures yeah understood... probably buy 1 , I bought 2 X CDH off eBay for 148stg last week
I can't see those electric air diverter valves on the bobil site, anyone have a link?
I use a £10 linear actuator to control the air diverter.
They are shipped out if you buy a smart controller 👍
Why does the hot water tank not need an expansion tank? 🤔
Didn’t say it didn’t, quite a few of the examples with diaphragm pumps showing a few metres/expansion tank used. Down to the end, User, how they install.
although for a safety point of view, it does have a relatively low pressure Relief valve built into the tank.
It does, it’s just hidden!
The silicone hose is super flexible, which allows for the first 15-20 degrees of temperature increase to be absorbed by the silicone expanding slightly. Any expansion above this goes out through the overpressure valve. If you want to avoid this, we do sell an expansion tank for £49.
Strange. 'Bobil' is the Norwegian word for these camper vans.
I believe they started the company after a campervan trip to Norway.
I guess Bobilvans it’s translates to “Camper van vans”? Or just Camper vans?
@@MispronouncedAdventures Well 'Bobil' can be broken down to 'bo' ('Live' or 'reside') and 'bil'('car' )
Incidentally, the Norwegian word for 'van' is 'varebil' (literally 'goods/merchandise car')
Vans used to have some simple regulations. And some schmuck realised that a used 911 with a perspex sheet bolted behind the seats was enough to quality. Suddenly the ferry between Denmark and Norway started reporting a lot of vandalism to their phone booths...
Discount code doesn't seem to work 🤔
I’ll chase this up.
Edit. messaged Ed
Discount Code “MISAD5” is just for Hybrid heater
Referral link should be everything
Comment again if you have more issues
Code is MPA5 :)
Does this code still work?
@rs200dan should do. I had some ordered referral orders yesterday
I'd do the work for the same price...
Not sure what you mean?
Recirculating shower... two words that should not be next to each other.
Many people do them. usually with many stages of filters between
Mi opinión es que con estos sistemas se desperdicia mucha energía.
Define wasted energy? Any energy which isn’t converted to hot water remains hot air
of course, why not buy a $600 water heater that will take about 12 hours to heat up a couple gallons of water instead of buying a tankless water heater for $100 that provides instant hot water.
Most $100 tank less waters which I guess you mean a gas one. Shouldn’t be fitted inside vehicles. Plus most new self built in uk don’t want gas anyway. Most use diesel heaters. It’s also doesn’t take 12 hours, it takes about 15-20 minutes
Well, a tankless water heater would not heat the van.
A tankless water heater will not heat water with just 12 volts.
Takingnames, you obviously are a clueless flop
WAY TO MUCH MONEY!
For you maybe, considering the price of other water heater kits, it’s one of cheapest and most powerful around
@MispronouncedAdventures Wrong!! Shop around. Way to much money! It's greedy money. But hey, you'll find out for lack of sales. Should be around $125.00. At that price point you will have success.
@wideawaketotruth5301 Bobilvans already have success, lack of sales isn’t an issue, getting stock in quick enough is.
@wideawaketotruth5301 I don’t, but you don’t need to take my word for it I don’t care what you think.
Although you are welcome to look on the website and see stuff is on pre-order because it’s out of stock
$125? That doesn’t even cover buying the heat exchanger!