Eberspacher M10 Vs Hurricane

[choogh]

What is our collective wisdom on secondary heating units for central heating system on a new build.

 

The primary heat source for the CH will be from the Rayburn, with either the M10 or Hurricane for when the fire goes out !!!

 

Given the HUGE price difference, I'm wondering what is wrong with the Eberspacher, or, why I'm I being ripped off with the Hurricane.

 

I would appreciate any information or advice before I plunge into the bank balance..

 

Thanks

[WotEver]

Given the HUGE price difference, I'm wondering what is wrong with the Eberspacher, or, why I'm I being ripped off with the Hurricane.

I've never used either, but from reading this forum I've come to the conclusion that Eberspachers are temperamental, particularly with regard to diesel quality (of which we get some very dubious supplies on the cut). Hurricane, on the other hand, specialise in making marine heaters, not lorry cab heaters.

 

Tony

 

edit to correct grandma

Edited February 11, 2010 by WotEver

[Speedwheel]

If it is for a narrowboat then an eber 10kw will almost certainly be to big. And don't think that it is best to have more than you need and only use half the power. Doesn't work like that.

Edited February 11, 2010 by Speedwheel

[Speedwheel]

double post

Edited February 11, 2010 by Speedwheel

[canalowl]

What is our collective wisdom on secondary heating units for central heating system on a new build.

 

The primary heat source for the CH will be from the Rayburn, with either the M10 or Hurricane for when the fire goes out !!!

 

Given the HUGE price difference, I'm wondering what is wrong with the Eberspacher, or, why I'm I being ripped off with the Hurricane.

 

I would appreciate any information or advice before I plunge into the bank balance..

 

Thanks

 

I think a lot depends on how you use it. I replaced my aldi gas heater two years ago and initially decided on the Hurricane but it was physically too big and I went for the M10 instead. I use it for an hour each morning to heat the water and warm the boat (I let the wood stove go out overnight). It is going pretty much flat out for the hour but if you leave it on much longer then it begins to work less hard. My understanding is that if it is working less hard then coking up can be a problem. In any event I do use it all day occassionally but mainly just for an hour at a time and have had no problems so far. I asked the supplier to service it at the start of this winter - when he had a look at it he said to call him again after the winter as it didn't need cleaning yet!

 

Hope this helps

[The Anonymous Bard]

I can't comment on the ebby but can give you some info on the Hurricane.

 

My understanding is that the Hurricane is a purpose designed marine heating unit as opposed to a modified unit, and after emailing Calcutt Boats (UK agents for ITR products) with a few questions of my own I found them very helpful... they were also happy to assure me that the Hurricane is happy to run on red diesel provided that it is physically clean and they provide an external fuel filter in the kit to assure this.

 

For widebeam owners there is also a higher output Hurricane SCH25 at 7.3kW.

 

Only downside I have heard of recently is that the exhaust/outlet runs very hot and may have caused some damage to the bankside and/or other boats but not sure about this.... would be interesting to hear of any similar stories.

 

Chris Collinson is a good bloke to speak to, his email is chris@calcuttboats.com

[nb Innisfree]

Mikuni also claim to run ok on red diesel but marine diesel (on canals at least) is gas oil not red diesel which is white road diesel with dye added. Gas oil is a lower cetane rating and has a higher sulphur content and both contribute to troublesome running with forced combustion heaters though I don't know if Hurricane also suffer. Plenty of threads on this subject.

[andywatson]

What is our collective wisdom on secondary heating units for central heating system on a new build.

 

The primary heat source for the CH will be from the Rayburn, with either the M10 or Hurricane for when the fire goes out !!!

 

Given the HUGE price difference, I'm wondering what is wrong with the Eberspacher, or, why I'm I being ripped off with the Hurricane.

 

I would appreciate any information or advice before I plunge into the bank balance..

 

Thanks

 

I've got an Ebby and it's been totally reliable.

I treat my diesel which might help.

[Robbo]

I treat my diesel which might help.

 

You take it for nights out?

 

What do you use?

Edited February 12, 2010 by Robbo

[blackrose]

I've got an Ebby and it's been totally reliable.

I treat my diesel which might help.

 

Oh dear! That's what I said just before my DW10 packed up last November. (I treat my diesel too). I hope you haven't put a hex on it.

 

Has the Hurricane been around for long enough to know how reliable it really is?

 

I wonder if all these type of heaters are just toys? The drip-fed diesel heaters that look like converted solid fuel stoves are the only realiable ones I've seen.

Edited February 13, 2010 by blackrose

[CJR]

Oh dear! That's what I said just before my DW10 packed up last November. (I treat my diesel too). I hope you haven't put a hex on it.

 

Has the Hurricane been around for long enough to know how reliable it really is?

 

I wonder if all these type of heaters are just toys? The drip-fed diesel heaters that look like converted solid fuel stoves are the only realiable ones I've seen.

 

 

We have had our Hurricane for nearly 2 years now. It has been on constantly without any problems apart from sensitivity to voltage drop. It does not like anything below 12v so batteries have to be kept topped up when cruising so that it will kick in in the morning.

We run it on green (irish equiv.) and red diesel.

It is sensitive to any faults i.e. air locks and voltage, but it is otherwise 100% reliable in our experience.

When on shore power it kicks in first time every time and we now have it on a room stat dual timer, which also gives us hot water when we need it.

Others have commented to us how quiet the Hurricane is compared to other heaters - not had any other kind so we would have to take their word for it!

Edited February 13, 2010 by CJR

[Robbo]

It is sensitive to any faults i.e. air locks and voltage, but it is otherwise 100% reliable in our experience.

When on shore power it kicks in first time every time and we now have it on a room stat dual timer, which also gives us hot water when we need it.

 

Gary Peacock had that issue with the Hurricane II as well, he solved with adding a DC-DC transformer. It may be worth contacting Calcutt to see if there is an update to the issue before hand though.

[CJR]

Gary Peacock had that issue with the Hurricane II as well, he solved with adding a DC-DC transformer. It may be worth contacting Calcutt to see if there is an update to the issue before hand though.

 

It's a bit of weird one this voltage issue. When it failed to ignite it showed a fault code of 'Flame Out'. When we looked it up in the manual it seemed to indicate a fault with air getting into the fuel system, but it has never shown the 'low voltage' code. As soon as the batteries got a bit more charge ino them, the Hurricane ignited again immediately.

Every time we got a 'flame out' code we also noticed that the batteries were a bit low even though everything else runs ok, and so we have associated that code with low voltage now.

As stated before, when we are on shore power we have no problems at all.

[Robbo]

It's a bit of weird one this voltage issue. When it failed to ignite it showed a fault code of 'Flame Out'. When we looked it up in the manual it seemed to indicate a fault with air getting into the fuel system, but it has never shown the 'low voltage' code. As soon as the batteries got a bit more charge ino them, the Hurricane ignited again immediately.

Every time we got a 'flame out' code we also noticed that the batteries were a bit low even though everything else runs ok, and so we have associated that code with low voltage now.

As stated before, when we are on shore power we have no problems at all.

 

The DC-DC transformer will keep the voltage at 12.xv, even if the batteries can't. Here's the original thread.. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=18700

[CJR]

The DC-DC transformer will keep the voltage at 12.xv, even if the batteries can't. Here's the original thread.. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=18700

 

 

Thanks for that Robbo. We will check it out.

[choogh]

The DC-DC transformer will keep the voltage at 12.xv, even if the batteries can't. Here's the original thread.. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=18700

 

Having read Garry last remark in the link above... It's an Eberspacher unit.....saves a grand !!!!

[Tony Brooks]

I can't comment on the ebby but can give you some info on the Hurricane.

 

My understanding is that the Hurricane is a purpose designed marine heating unit as opposed to a modified unit, and after emailing Calcutt Boats (UK agents for ITR products) with a few questions of my own I found them very helpful... they were also happy to assure me that the Hurricane is happy to run on red diesel provided that it is physically clean and they provide an external fuel filter in the kit to assure this.

 

For widebeam owners there is also a higher output Hurricane SCH25 at 7.3kW.

 

Only downside I have heard of recently is that the exhaust/outlet runs very hot and may have caused some damage to the bankside and/or other boats but not sure about this.... would be interesting to hear of any similar stories.

 

Chris Collinson is a good bloke to speak to, his email is chris@calcuttboats.com

 

 

I think any of the heaters will do that. Certainly we had charred wooden hulls when moored next to a boat with a Wabasto running in the 1970s and they also melted the plastic rubbing band when GRP boats were moored tight against the bank.

 

I would never allow the exhaust of any such heater to exit through the side of the hull and all the Wabastos I installed from scratch had the exhaust through the transom. ON an narrowboat I would fit the well round the curve of the stern.

 

I think having an exhaust close to the bank etc stands a good chance of tripping ant overheat combustion sensor as well.

 

Personally I had enough of the Wabastos when I was on the hirefleet (and we ran them of 28 second heating oil) so have fitted an Alde in preference to the Eberspacher/Mikuni/Wabasto type.

[Robbo]

Thanks for that Robbo. We will check it out.

 

Before you jump for a DC convertor though...

 

How far is the heater from the batteries?

What size cable?

 

If you are using undersized cable for the distance then you will have voltage drop issues.

If the Heater is quite a distance from the batteries I would add a local battery just for heater or the DC convertor.

[The Anonymous Bard]

CJR... do you self service your Hurricane and is it relatively straight forward?

 

Appreciate any info, cheers.

[Robbo]

CJR... do you self service your Hurricane and is it relatively straight forward?

 

Appreciate any info, cheers.

 

Check out the videos on their support page, http://www.itrheat.com/marine_support.html

[The Anonymous Bard]

Check out the videos on their support page, http://www.itrheat.com/marine_support.html

 

Cheers Robbo... there's a lot to digest there but useful to know they provide a good reference point, I will have a more careful read in the week.

[Robbo]

Cheers Robbo... there's a lot to digest there but useful to know they provide a good reference point, I will have a more careful read in the week.

 

At the bottom of the page under Service Training are the videos, I would start there...

[Water Woman]

I have an Ebby 10 on my 70 footer and on the odd times it worked it was brilliant and a great source of good heat. But over four years I have spent a fortune having it fixed, over and over. I think I could have bought two new systems with what it has cost. Now it is sitting there unused, the back end of the boat is not used in this cold weather and I am very disheartened with the heater. I have been told a number of things, the last of which was that the 10 was too big for the boat (twas in it when I bought it) and that a 5 would be fine. I think maybe the 10 could be taken out and put on ebay to make few bob and a 5 put in... I wish I were a more technical minded person and I would know whether this is a daft idea or not. Engineers who have tried to sort this heater out have had it going beautifully out of the boat and on the bench but now it just sounds like it will start up then dies a death. I would love to have a warm bathroom again. Will it be spring soon?????

[Robbo]

I have an Ebby 10 on my 70 footer and on the odd times it worked it was brilliant and a great source of good heat. But over four years I have spent a fortune having it fixed, over and over. I think I could have bought two new systems with what it has cost. Now it is sitting there unused, the back end of the boat is not used in this cold weather and I am very disheartened with the heater. I have been told a number of things, the last of which was that the 10 was too big for the boat (twas in it when I bought it) and that a 5 would be fine. I think maybe the 10 could be taken out and put on ebay to make few bob and a 5 put in... I wish I were a more technical minded person and I would know whether this is a daft idea or not. Engineers who have tried to sort this heater out have had it going beautifully out of the boat and on the bench but now it just sounds like it will start up then dies a death. I would love to have a warm bathroom again. Will it be spring soon?????

 

It's not daft, a 10 doesn't work as hard and goes to idle mode more often and therefore chokes up more. The 5 will have to work in full mode more so doesn't choke up as often..

[Water Woman]

Thank you. Once I get the other things I have to do sorted (there is a very long list) I will look at that. I would really like an efficient heating system besides my stove.