I know velit is the new heater on the block but every thread so far has seemed great. I haven't seen a thread that has been updated in a bit. As temps start to drop down again, does anyone have complaints with their unit before I purchase one?
Any velit heater complaints?
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rillweed
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The Espar Digimax I had in the PM went down to 45.
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Anyone add a muffler to the Velit heater to be a little nicer to neighbors?
This seems like it would fit when I measure things and looks slightly better made than the $14 ultra cheap versions.
This seems like it would fit when I measure things and looks slightly better made than the $14 ultra cheap versions.
I just emailed them and asked if the new Bluetooth version could go down to 40 degrees. They responded :
"Currently our factory setting is still 60 degrees, if you want to adjust to 40 degrees you need to send the thermostat back to us to update the special firmware."
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That's awesome they're continuing to be pretty responsive. When asked about mufflers and if they had any negative impact on combustion or altitude performance, they replied:
Something like this seems like it would fit when I measure the ID of the SS exhaust hose. And it seems a bit better built than the ultra cheapo $15 mufflers on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Webasto-Exhaust-Silencer-muffler-1320895A/dp/B019IPPVGK
The muffler will be fine. I would recommend checking your exhaust system regularly and ensuring the muffler you choose is designed for the heater’s exhaust output size.
Something like this seems like it would fit when I measure the ID of the SS exhaust hose. And it seems a bit better built than the ultra cheapo $15 mufflers on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Webasto-Exhaust-Silencer-muffler-1320895A/dp/B019IPPVGK
I've added one to all the installs I've done. Doesn't seem to cause a problem and even a little bit quieter will be appreciated by the neighbors. I think I've used that exact one on one install...
I installed my heater yesterday. Took about 8 hrs start to finish, my son helped for about 3 of them. We dropped the fuel tank and removed the fuel sender/pump assembly. (Don't waste money on a special tool to remove the ring, easily done with soft blow hammer and some sort of puch...work your way around the ring it comes off easily.) Had plans to do the catheter through the aux port but decided to go with drilling a hole and using the supplied pick up tube/fitting. Way fewer steps. This portion of the install was pretty easy. Worst part was trying to figure out how to get the fittings on and off, as the clips were a little challenging to get open. Should have been simple but it's an awkward place to work, especially when you aren't as flexible with age. The tank was easy to maneuver with 2 people, I had it nearly empty.
I decided to not install under the passenger seat and went with the drivers side about 4ft behind the seat. A few really good spots underneath to poke through, plus the intake, exhaust, and fuel line routing is simple there. I'll have the heater inside a bench. Then I hole sawed 2x2.5" holes and connected them with a jig saw cut. Lined the hole with kilmat (may have to improve this??). Mounted the pump using an existing hole that i was able to tap to 5/16. Routed the exhaust through and existing hole and used a thru hull exhaust pipe. It required more holes in the van
, but at this point, what's a few more holes in the van! Looks awesome, and no worries about ripping the pipe off when mounted under the running board. Stole this idea from youtube.
Tried to run it last night, and it errored out with a code 8, a fan motor error. Messaged them later and had a response this morning that the fan is likely not able to spin, apparently the fan sometimes gets pushed on the shaft in shipping and jams against the motor housing. That was indeed the problem. They provided a video on how to fix it and I was able fix it. Fired the heater up and now it's working!!
The install was pretty easy in spite of the almost non existent directions.
The controller is not very user friendly. I still haven't figured it out completely. The Bluetooth seems like it will be very nice....scheduled startup, elevation auto update, etc.
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I decided to not install under the passenger seat and went with the drivers side about 4ft behind the seat. A few really good spots underneath to poke through, plus the intake, exhaust, and fuel line routing is simple there. I'll have the heater inside a bench. Then I hole sawed 2x2.5" holes and connected them with a jig saw cut. Lined the hole with kilmat (may have to improve this??). Mounted the pump using an existing hole that i was able to tap to 5/16. Routed the exhaust through and existing hole and used a thru hull exhaust pipe. It required more holes in the van
, but at this point, what's a few more holes in the van! Looks awesome, and no worries about ripping the pipe off when mounted under the running board. Stole this idea from youtube.Tried to run it last night, and it errored out with a code 8, a fan motor error. Messaged them later and had a response this morning that the fan is likely not able to spin, apparently the fan sometimes gets pushed on the shaft in shipping and jams against the motor housing. That was indeed the problem. They provided a video on how to fix it and I was able fix it. Fired the heater up and now it's working!!
The install was pretty easy in spite of the almost non existent directions.
The controller is not very user friendly. I still haven't figured it out completely. The Bluetooth seems like it will be very nice....scheduled startup, elevation auto update, etc.
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Did you need to jack up the van to pull the tank out?I installed my heater yesterday. Took about 8 hrs start to finish, my son helped for about 3 of them. We dropped the fuel tank and removed the fuel sender/pump assembly. (Don't waste money on a special tool to remove the ring, easily done with soft blow hammer and some sort of puch...work your way around the ring it comes off easily.) Had plans to do the catheter through the aux port but decided to go with drilling a hole and using the supplied pick up tube/fitting. Way fewer steps. This portion of the install was pretty easy. Worst part was trying to figure out how to get the fittings on and off, as the clips were a little challenging to get open. Should have been simple but it's an awkward place to work, especially when you aren't as flexible with age. The tank was easy to maneuver with 2 people, I had it nearly empty.
I decided to not install under the passenger seat and went with the drivers side about 4ft behind the seat. A few really good spots underneath to poke through, plus the intake, exhaust, and fuel line routing is simple there. I'll have the heater inside a bench. Then I hole sawed 2x2.5" holes and connected them with a jig saw cut. Lined the hole with kilmat (may have to improve this??). Mounted the pump using an existing hole that i was able to tap to 5/16. Routed the exhaust through and existing hole and used a thru hull exhaust pipe. It required more holes in the van
Tried to run it last night, and it errored out with a code 8, a fan motor error. Messaged them later and had a response this morning that the fan is likely not able to spin, apparently the fan sometimes gets pushed on the shaft in shipping and jams against the motor housing. That was indeed the problem. They provided a video on how to fix it and I was able fix it. Fired the heater up and now it's working!!
The install was pretty easy in spite of the almost non existent directions.
The controller is not very user friendly. I still haven't figured it out completely. The Bluetooth seems like it will be very nice....scheduled startup, elevation auto update, etc.
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Also how did you determine the appropriate length for the stand pipe? I have read that the sender unit has a spring so after compressing it might be too long
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I have a Trail also - the van was backed into my driveway w/ the front of the van on ramps w/ jack stands protecting me. That and the slight angle of the driveway made it really easy to access the tank hardware.
With the whole sending unit out of the tank, you have an easy way of estimating how long to make the standpipe. Just be sure to push down on the top of the sending unit pretty firmly to engage that spring action when it's still on the bench so you know the real final location of the standpipe bottom.
I went a little on the long side - didn't want to have issues if I were parked on a slant and tank was only 1/4 full with most the gas in the rear/front of the tank for example. Plus I saw how much gas was still in the tank even when the van said "0 miles".
I pointed my exhaust pipe down at about a 45 degree angle - peeks out right under the running board. Thought the board would get hot in that spot, but it doesn't at all; can touch it no problem with fingers - not even warm. I didn't see the need to put another hole in the side of the van and risk a low point for condensation in the exhaust line where you need to drill a weep hole then. Also gives me the option now to add a muffler easily.
NDTransitTrail must not be installing any driver side under mount tank because that location is perfect for one, but would probably be blocked by the furnace hoses now I'd guess.
With the whole sending unit out of the tank, you have an easy way of estimating how long to make the standpipe. Just be sure to push down on the top of the sending unit pretty firmly to engage that spring action when it's still on the bench so you know the real final location of the standpipe bottom.
I went a little on the long side - didn't want to have issues if I were parked on a slant and tank was only 1/4 full with most the gas in the rear/front of the tank for example. Plus I saw how much gas was still in the tank even when the van said "0 miles".
I pointed my exhaust pipe down at about a 45 degree angle - peeks out right under the running board. Thought the board would get hot in that spot, but it doesn't at all; can touch it no problem with fingers - not even warm. I didn't see the need to put another hole in the side of the van and risk a low point for condensation in the exhaust line where you need to drill a weep hole then. Also gives me the option now to add a muffler easily.
NDTransitTrail must not be installing any driver side under mount tank because that location is perfect for one, but would probably be blocked by the furnace hoses now I'd guess.
It’s pretty close to 10” from the flange to the bottom of the tank. So that’s the compressed height. My tube is cut to 1.5” from bottom of tank.
Drove my rig on ramps with front wheels. Driveway has a dip so I had plenty of room for dropping the tank.
No plans for undermount tanks, doing more of a minimalist build.
You can drill a couple small holes in the exhaust pipe at the low spots to help with condensation. In theory that would also allow exhaust air to exit somewhere you might not want it, but the weep holes can be so small compared to the tube diameter that it's in the 1-2% range.
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The Transit may even have a weep hole in the muffler(for condensation to drain). IIRC, a while back there were some threads from folks with some concerns about random water drips from the exhaust. Too lazy to look at the time, too forgetful to look since. Maybe next time.
The picture is deceiving. It’s a downhill slope the whole way.
From Velit today:
"Hi Bill,
Now we have a special thermostat firmware that lowers the minimum temperature to 40 degrees, but it is not in the factory package. If customers has a special need they can send us the thermostat to be flashed with this firmware.
Regards!"
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Not really any different than buying an iPhone 15 a couple of months before the 16 comes out. New models and upgrades happen all the time. I'm just happy that they even bother to create an upgrade path for older heaters. Has Webasto or Espar ever done that?
I don't view consumerism that way. My android phone is about 5 yrs old. The Espar on my last van was 9 years old, the thermostat went down to 45 and I never needed to change anything. A 60F thermostat in a campervan/semitruck is a design failure and it sounds like they have figured that out.
My heater is also a few months old and I agree, the update should be gratis. Reluctant to send thermostat in and be without heat option for who knows how long...
Really happy with the heater though. It's been flawless!
Pretty sure there are none available…
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