Great system! I have the same factory aux heater that I can run without the engine but must be below 40 degrees. Also the factor rear passenger heater system ( runs only when engine is on), all of which are located in the same area behind the driver seat. That is a total of 2 factory espar D5 units. I am just now about to design the system which includes the Isotemp Slim Square 4G. I have purchased the Rixen system withe the expansion tank minus the electrical heat component. I have been designing a system that is very similar to yours and would enjoy getting a more detailed explaination of parts, particularly the valves and temperature sensors. Most of my travel and camping time is in very cold climates. Glad I came across your channel.
Great. I love this heating system; mine has worked extremely well and very simple with no maintenance or oversight needed--just automatically heats water. I chose to install my own dedicated heating system D5 so I can control it when needed and without the engine running, and I like the Isotemp heater; it's internal electric heating element is really nice to have when plugged in inside my garage so it reduces engine heat up time and also when plugged in at campgrounds, etc, when needing some hot water or heat without needing to turn on the D5. The valves I use are all rated for coolant--mostly made of stainless, and same for the fittings to barb for the silicon tubing also rated for coolant and high temperatures. I use two isolation ball valves--supply and return. And a 12vdc electric three-way ball valve to enable flow to the heating system or just let it return back to engine. The six temp sensors are all from Blue Sea Systems and placed on the tubing and wrapped in insulative tape with a four sensor screen and two separate small OLED screens for outside and interior temps which can be switched on or off to reduce interior light when sleeping. Hope this helps, let me know what more you want to know.
@@vantripping I have ordered that same B/S temp M2 Monitor already and comes with 4 sensors. Have two heat exchangers as I want to separate the engine coolant from the house coolant systems damage control under the chassis. Putting in a hydronic heated floor system with a heat exchanger, pump and temp control to also keep it separate from all other system. I would like to send you a diagram for your thoughts.
@@dennym5265 Great. Sure, send me your diagram and I'll provide some feedback/thoughts. You can send it direct. Contact is in the channel or video info.
I did install the pump included with the D5 per the instructions, but I also installed a secondary 12 vdc coolant pump inside my camper space before the two interior heat exchangers that is switched on with the stainless ball valve that also opens the interior heating loop with the switch. This extra pump may have been unnecessary, but I wasn't sure if the added loop and heat exchangers would add too much resistance to the factory pump. They probably didn't and the system likely would had worked fine without it but it did work very well with it.
Thank you, and Yes indeed this can be done with just one D5. I only used two since one was factory and that one could only be operated with engine and below a certain temp. The dedicated one can be used any time heat or hot water are wanted, and if I was doing it again, I would probably not order the the van with the factory D5 and just install one for heating, which can also send some to the engine if needed.
@@vantripping Oh great. Thanks. I'm doing my first Sprinter build. I'm a woodworker and have an engineering degree so pretty adept at things, but still lots of learning. I don't see the vid for the new heating system you said you were developing? My Sprinter use will be part time with extended journeys. Probably not in lots of cold as my pups enjoys lots of hiking in moderate temps. I don't really need hot water. I know you love the hydronic heating over the air top but the more I research and being a first build I'm now thinking an air blower is going to be the best choice at this point. Any thoughts?
@@omjaye Sure, an air blower heats up quicker, and is a simpler install, lower cost, but can't heat water. In my current build underway, I am heating my water electrically, as most efficient, no-emissions or noise, and easily controllable with a switch or thermostat. I am also using electrically heated floors, as those heating mats are very efficient, silent, low weight, cost, and easily to control by zones, and no fossil fuels, but not likely enough heat when it's really cold, but works for likely about 90% of the ambient conditions, so I'm adding small electric heaters to heat up quickly, silently, and add heating capacity when it's colder. I have a large battery system to support my AC unit, so I'm leveraging that same battery system for heating as well. Just another option. I'll share more on this system soon.
@@vantripping Oh I'm very interested in the heating mats? Video coming out soon? What brand / product did you use? And curious which AC model you chose also?
@@omjaye I went with a Cruise N Comfort for the AC system; nice in that it is compact and split. The mats I can't remember right now but a very cool system. I'll post a video soon.
@@vantripping gotcha, I full time in Minnesota and I leave it on 24/7, which means no hard starting for a full blast heater, just slow rolling as needed, which isn't much because I too installed great insulation.
@@vantripping honestly, when I saw this I didn't have an answer, because it doesn't so much cycle as it does just kinda "simmer" in the background, I paid close attention to it for the last hour (granted it's 32°f and not -30°f but it functions the same, or at least I haven't noticed much of a difference), I checked the exhaust pipe and it didn't change noticeably for at least a half hour. So I guess my answer is, it doesn't seem to cycle, and the only reason I can come up with is the fact that it's so well insulated.
@@TheGreatSpoon103 Good to hear, although I would think it would cycle from low heat to no heat and back again every 10 to 20 mins. I assume it cycles to high when you first turn it on after being off several hours or days.
