For campers, van lifers, and off-grid enthusiasts, portable diesel heaters are now a popular choice to stay warm in cold weather. Although these heaters run on diesel fuel, but also require some electricity to power components like the fan, fuel pump, and control system.
Let’s take an example, you are in the wilderness where it is cold. You’ve set up your tent or parked the van, and your diesel heater for camping is doing its job, keeping you cozy. But then a question hits you.
“This thing runs on diesel, yeah… but how much electricity is it pulling from my battery?”
So, how much power does a diesel heater for tent actually use? Stay here, in this article, you’ll get an answer to this common but often confusing question.
How much electricity does it use?
To be honest, a good quality diesel heater for tent does not cost a lot. But it depends on two key moments: when you first turn it on, and while it’s running.
Here’s the short version:
- Startup: This is when it uses the most power. For the first couple of minutes, it can draw around 8 to 12 amps. That’s normal, it needs a burst to heat the glow plug and fire things up.
- Once it’s running: The power draw drops significantly. Most heaters use around 0.5 to 1 amp per hour to keep things going. That’s pretty easy on most batteries.
An Example: What Can You Expect Overnight?
Let’s say you’re using your portable diesel heater for camping during a cold night in the woods. You turn it on at 9 PM and let it run until 7 AM. That’s 10 hours of use.
- The startup takes maybe 10 amps for 3 minutes = around 0.5Ah
- Running for 10 hours at 1 amp = 10Ah
- Total: about 10.5Ah from your battery
If you’re using a 100Ah battery (common in van setups), that’s only about 10% of your battery for the whole night. Not bad, right?
What If You’re in a Tent?
Using a diesel heater for tent camping is just as efficient, maybe even better if your space is small. You don’t need a big 5kW unit unless you’re heating something like a large bell tent or rooftop tent in winter. A 2kW heater usually does the job well for a smaller tent setup.
Just make sure you set it up safely:
- Run the heater outside the tent
- Duct the warm air inside
- Keep exhaust and fuel lines far away from your sleeping space
And again, in terms of electricity? Very manageable.
What About Portable Models?
A portable diesel heater (the all-in-one kind) is designed with off-grid use in mind. Same story: it uses more power to start, then barely sips power while running. These are great for anyone who doesn’t want to mess with full installs, just set it outside, run the ducting, and enjoy the heat.
They’re also easy on your power setup, ideal if you’re using a small battery or pairing with solar.
A Few Tips to Make Your Battery Last Longer
- Turn on your heater before it gets too cold. It won’t have to work as hard, and your space will warm up faster.
- Set the temperature so the heater turns off once it’s warm enough. This saves power and keeps things comfortable.
- Use things like mats on the floor, thermal curtains, or blankets over the windows to help keep the heat in.
- Make sure your battery is fully charged before bedtime. Cold weather can drain it faster than usual.
- Keep the temperature cozy, not too hot. Just enough to stay warm and sleep well.
Final thoughts
Yes, a diesel heater uses electricity, but not so much to cause any problems, particularly if you have solar power to recharge it during the day or are using a sturdy 12V battery. Therefore, you can have a good sleep by staying warm at night without worrying about your power.
Also, you’ll enjoy your camping more if you make some advanced plans. Before going off the grid, test your heater setup at home. Additionally, always have a backup power source on hand in case the weather or battery unexpectedly fails.