One of the most effective means for combating difficult starting of a car’s power plant is pre-heaters, operating from a 220 V network and ensuring warming of the coolant before starting the engine. The car accessories market offers such devices from a variety of manufacturers, including Chinese ones.
Long Fei devices have gained wide popularity among car owners.
These pre-start devices, despite the fact that the manufacturer is Chinese, cope with the task quite well, and the installation of the Longfey heater does not require changes to the design of the power unit.
Heaters "Lunfey". Design Features
The manufacturer offers a choice of several device models with different performance indicators. This allows you to choose a heater for almost any car - from a city runabout to an SUV or truck. Despite the fact that there are several types of devices, the heaters are built according to the same principle - they are all tank type with forced circulation of coolant, although they look different in appearance.
The device of the Longfey heater implies the presence of:
- Heating element (operating from a 220 V network);
- Electric pump;
- Composite body;
- Thermostat;
The heater is electric, but it works with liquid. To prevent contact of electrical appliances with antifreeze, this type of housing is used. It consists of two halves separated by a partition. The cavity through which the antifreeze passes is completely isolated from the one in which the electrical elements are placed. But at the same time, the heating element and the pump impeller go into it. The liquid enters the heating tank through the terminals (supply and discharge) located on the housing cover.
Positive and negative sides
The device has both pros and cons.
The positive aspects of Longfey heaters include:
- small sizes;
- the presence of a pump helps to evenly warm up the antifreeze in the system, while using forced circulation;
- as soon as the system heats up to the required temperature, the heater turns off;
- The range of models is wide, which will help you choose a device for absolutely every car;
- Connecting such a heater will not be difficult, so there will be no need to redo the motor.
Despite all the positive aspects, there are still disadvantages:
- To connect the device, you must have a 220 V socket; if the car is located far from home, you will not be able to use the device;
- it is necessary to follow safety rules during operation;
- the breakdown can only be detected when the car is started.
Models and their characteristics
Longfey electric heaters are divided into series. The models included in each of them differ in performance characteristics.
The manufacturer offers customers a choice of series:
"Little Q"
Heaters of this series have a square shape with parallel pins. In terms of power they come in 1.5 kW, 1.8 kW and 2.0 kW. The pump capacity for all models is 8 l/min. Designed for insertion into a small circle of the cooling system. Installed in a small circle of the cooling system;
"Little Dragon"
Models in this series are rectangular, the terminals are located perpendicularly. It includes three models, identical in power and performance to the previous series;
"Decepticon"
A series of powerful rectangular heaters (2.0 kW, 2.5 kW and 3.0 kW) and perpendicular pin arrangement. At the same time, their pump performance is still the same 8 l/min;
"King"
Includes only one model - 3 kW. This heater has a rectangular shape with terminals installed perpendicularly. Electric pump capacity – 8 l/min. It is placed in a small circle of the system;
"Brothers"
The series also consists of one 3-kilowatt barrel-shaped model. Its leads are installed perpendicularly, the pump pumps 8 l/min;
In general, all models differ from each other only in the power of the heating element and the shape of the body.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of Longfey preheaters include:
- Small overall dimensions, which makes it easy to find a place for its installation;
- The presence of a pump ensures uniform heating of the antifreeze in the system due to forced circulation;
- Availability of overheating protection systems (when a certain temperature is reached, the device turns off);
- A wide selection of models allows you to choose a device for any car;
- Connecting the Longfey heater will not cause any difficulties and does not require modifications to the motor;
But they also have certain disadvantages that relate not only to the devices of this particular manufacturer, but to the design and operation features of all devices of this type:
- To connect, you need a 220 V socket, so such devices cannot be used if the car is located far from housing;
- Requires compliance with safety precautions when using;
- The breakdown is detected only during the process of starting the car (the device was turned on, hoping that it would work, but then it turns out that the engine is not warmed up);
But all the negative aspects do not become a reason to use this device in a car. But at the same time, for everything to work normally, the Longfey preheater needs to be installed correctly.
How to install an engine preheater with your own hands
Pre-heater - the best protection for the engine in winter
A pre-heater is a mechanism responsible for trouble-free starting of a car engine. Proper execution of this process helps maintain the integrity of the power unit. This miracle of technology can be purchased in specialized stores, but particularly skilled motorists can try to build such an engine heater with their own hands.
The device is aimed at maintaining adequate air temperature under the hood of the vehicle, thanks to which all systems operate flawlessly during the frosty season. They were first used in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The system can be connected to either an external or internal electrical power source.
- Electric engine pre-heater.
- Autonomous pre-start engine heater.
- Pre-heater for diesel power unit.
Basic information about the electric preheater
In general, an electric engine preheater resembles nothing more than a home boiler. The design of both of these devices has a number of similarities. The device that regulates the air temperature under the hood consists of coils of heating coils built into the cylinders. The cylinder block does not have an anti-ice plug for the cooling system. Instead, a spiral is inserted inside, which helps maintain the most optimal air temperature in the coolant, facilitating engine operation.
The electric heating mechanism of the power unit is installed under the hood, while the insulating connectors are brought out to the vehicle bumper and connected to the nearest power source. Additionally, the device is equipped with a ventilation sector and battery charging, which contributes to its durability. Many modern devices also have remote control capabilities.
Story about the electric preheater:
The prices for such heating systems are very high, but they still deserve their popularity among Russian car enthusiasts. I especially liked the Norwegian devices from Defa.
Using this mechanism allows you to avoid premature wear of the engine and significantly reduce the amount of fuel consumed. A notable fact is also the impressive savings in personal time.
An electric device for heating the engine before starting it, despite its many advantages, still has one significant drawback. The energy consumption when using it is at least 10 kW per day.
Basic information about the autonomous pre-heater
An autonomous pre-heating device is an excellent alternative to the electric version.
It is a medium-sized chamber, inside of which there is a fuel-air mixture, and a capping pin necessary to ignite such a mixture. The walls of the chamber contain circulating coolant; when heated, it is concentrated in a small circuit of the surrounding system, due to which the engine and interior warm up, and the windows thaw.
The autonomous device is located either in the vehicle's power supply system or in the cooling sector. Suitable for both petrol and diesel engines. The source of energy is the car’s fuel tank, not the electrical network.
Manufacturers of autonomous pre-heating systems that are most in demand in the modern automotive market are Webasto, Eberspacher.
Additionally, such devices can be equipped with a remote control system and timers. In innovative models, control is carried out via mobile phones.
Connection methods
Since the instructions included with the devices are poorly translated, and the diagrams depicted in them are not very clear, many simply cannot figure out how to properly install the device with their own hands.
There are several ways to install the device on your car. The first connection diagram is serial, and it is shown below:
Sequential installation diagram of the Longfey heater
It is more suitable for models with a parallel arrangement of terminals, since the device is inserted into only one pipeline of the system - supplying antifreeze to the interior heater radiator.
This scheme is quite simple, and to install it you need:
- Find the required pipe (on a warm engine, find the pipelines leading to the stove and check the degree of their heating with your hand. The connection is made into the warmer pipe);
- Drain the coolant;
- Choose a place to mount the heater on the engine or body (away from highly heated elements). If necessary, you can make a mounting bracket;
- Cut the pipeline and install the device into this cut (it is important not to confuse the heater leads: we connect the section leading from the engine to the water inlet, and the section leading to the heater radiator to the drainage outlet);
- Secure all connection points with clamps;
- Secure the device;
- Fill with coolant and check connections for leaks;
- Lay the heater cable along the body and remove the plug to a convenient place for connection. The wire must be secured;
With this connection diagram, for normal operation of the device, you should always keep the coolant supply valve to the heater radiator open.
The second connection method is parallel. It is more suitable for models with perpendicular leads. A diagram of such an insert is presented below:
Parallel installation diagram of Longfei heater
This scheme is somewhat more complicated in terms of implementation. You will also additionally need to have:
- Pipelines of appropriate length and diameter;
- Fitting for connecting the pipeline to the cylinder block (installed instead of the drain plug);
- Tee (for inserting into the pipeline);
- Clamps.
To install the heater in parallel, do this:
- Drain the coolant;
- We unscrew the drain plug on the cylinder block and screw in the fitting instead;
- We cut the pipe leading from the radiator to the engine (upper) and install a tee in this cut;
- Choosing a place to install the heater;
- Using prepared pipelines, we connect all the elements into one system (we connect the water inlet to the fitting, and the water outlet to the tee);
- We tighten all connections with clamps;
- We attach the heater;
- Fill with coolant;
Now, as for connecting the Longfey heater to an outlet. It is better to do this through an adapter with a timer, which will allow you to set the time to turn the device on and off.
If an extension cord is used to power the device, the wiring in it must be designed for the load created.
Finally, we note that even though Longfei heaters are manufactured in China, they are quite reliable products that can work for a very long time. The only malfunctions they have are usually associated with burnout of the wires inside the device. Fixing such breakdowns is not difficult.
Heater installation
install the Longfey heater yourself in several ways:
- serial connection diagram;
- parallel connection.
Installing Lunfey on a VAZ using a serial connection looks like this:
- you need to find a heated pipe;
- drain the antifreeze;
- choose a location for installation on the body or engine;
- install the device into the pipeline section;
- secure the connections with clamps;
- secure the device;
- pour antifreeze;
- lay the heater cable along the body.
This installation scheme is quite simple and does not require much effort.
Installing the Longfei engine heater using the second method is represented by the following sequence:
- you need to drain the antifreeze;
- screw in the fitting instead of the drain plug;
- insert the tee into the upper pipe;
- use a pipeline to fasten the components together;
- tighten them with a clamp;
- mount the device;
- pour antifreeze.
When connecting an electric heater to an outlet, it is best to also use an adapter with a timer.
This is very convenient, as it is possible to set the time for turning the device on and off. Despite the fact that the device is made in China, it is a reliable heater that will work for many years.
Source: kaminguru.com
