Bus Heater
Bus Heater
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Aluminum casing and high-grade material
Fit for Any bus
1 year warranty for any VVKB bus heaters
Vvkb Bus Block Heater and Parking Heater
VVKB Bus Heaters are fuel efficient electric, gasoline or diesel fired heaters for fast deicing and fast heating during winter and freezing cold weather. They include engine heaters, diesel heaters, and fuel heaters.
Designed specifically for school buses and commercial buses, VVKB Bus Heaters guarantee safety and efficiency. They defog and defrost bus windows faster.
By heating bus engine blocks, VVKB Bus Heaters keep engines warm, eliminating the possibility of cold starting and idling during winter or morning. It also adds warmth to your winter days.
As a leading school bus parking heater manufacturer, VVKB uses Japan Kyocera ignition plug for soot free and efficient fuel consumption. With a high thermal efficiency design, VVKB Bus Heaters ensure rapid and consistent heating.
The VVKB Bus Heaters come as either air or water operated heaters, featuring modern technology and innovation, for a reliable heating. For preheating, automatic system diagnostic or simple design, VVKB Bus Heaters meet all demands in the transport industry.
Why Vvkb Bus Parking Heater and Engine Heater
- RoHS, CE and FCC compliant
- Over 10 years manufacturing experience
- 10 patens on parking heater and block heater
- Fast delivery on any VVKB heaters
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Bus Heater: The Definitive Guide
The cold season comes with its share of problems when it comes to your car.
For instance, cold starting your car can result in high fuel consumption as well as high fuel consumption.
There is also the problem of being uncomfortable while inside the bus.
To minimize all these, you need a bus heater.
Here is a guide that lets you know all about a bus heater including factors to consider when you are buying one
Have a look.
What is a Bus Heater
Before we continue, let us define what a bus heater is.
A bus heater is a heating system whose function is to heat up at the bus engine as well as the bus interior during the cold season.
It will depend on whether you’re using a parking heater or engine heater.
Don’t worry, I will explain everything you need to know about all these heaters here.
Basically, by installing an appropriate heater, you’ll have a conducive environment when inside the bus as well as the smooth running of your engine.
You see, during the cold season, starting bus engines may be a problem due to engine wear which results in higher maintenance cost.
Also, let’s not forget the ice and snow that forms on the windows during snow.
This can be frustrating especially if you want to drive or you are driving.
Without forgetting the fact that you need to be comfortable while inside the vehicle.
To minimize these uncomfortable situations, you need a bus heater.
Not only will it warm the inside of your vehicle, but your engine will also start well.
There are different kinds of bus heaters that you can install on your vehicle for the proper functioning of your bus.
That is a fuel heater, engine heater, and a parking heater.
We will detail each of this kind later on in this guide.
Types of Bus Heaters
As we have seen, there are three main types of bus heaters.
Each of the heater’s functions differently and have different characteristics.
In general, the different kinds of bus heaters can either be fuel or electric bus heaters.
For the better understanding of these heaters, let’s discuss in details each of these heaters.
Keep reading.
1. Engine block heater
The first type of bus heater you can have is the block heater which is also known as the engine heater.
Installing this kind of heater enables the faster warming up of your engine as well as the inside of the vehicle.
By doing this, your car will start well especially during the cold weather.
Engine heater
You can have different kinds of engine block heaters for your bus.
For instance, you can have engine heaters that do not have a pump.
These heaters work by utilizing conduction for the flow of heat.
With the advancement of technology, you can also have a PTC kind of engine heater.
Positive Temperature Coefficient is a technological advancement that allows for its control.
This type of engine heater can, therefore, regulate itself hence prevents incidences of overheating.
You also have coolant engine heaters work by allowing for the flow of heat by using coolant.
The circulation of heat is in such a way that there is a constant temperature at all time.
Another type of engine heater that you can have is the circulation engine heater with a pump.
Circulation engine heater with a pump has the characteristic of having pumps that aid in the circulation of the coolant.
It is this coolant that circulates heat and controls the temperature of the engine.
Lastly, you can have an electric engine heater.
The ignition of this heater is from the sparks from your battery.
2. Fuel heaters for Buses
The other type of heater you can have is the fuel heater.
When it comes to this type of heater, you have an exchange of heat and air taking place in the combustion chamber.
Fuel heater
The heat is drawn from the combustion chamber to the fuel before supplying to the fuel filter.
The purpose of this is that it prevents the freezing of water in the fuel which will stop the flow of fuel.
3. Parking heater for buses
Lastly, you can have a parking heater which you can use to warm up your car windows to melt ice or snow.
By doing so, you prevent freezing of the windows and warms up the inside of the vehicle giving you a comfortable temperature.
VVKB Parking heater
These parking heaters come in different kinds from which you can choose one that fits your bus.
The fact that they are easy to install and operate needs to be an attractive feature to you.
Why You Need a Bus Heater
There are a couple of reasons as to why you need a bus heater.
Understanding these reasons will attract you to purchasing a bus heater.
For you to understand better these reasons, let’s have a look at the benefits of having the different types of bus heaters.
Let’s dive right in:
Engine block heater
When you are using an electric block heater, here are some of the reasons benefits you will enjoy.
Engine heater
I. Saves you cost
An engine heater will cut the cost of maintaining your engine.
For instance, it will prevent wear and tear that arises when you start a cold engine.
An engine heater will heat the engine oil ensuring that you start the engine smoothly.
II. Increases the lifespan of your engine
By ensuring that your engine starts and run smoothly, you can increase the lifespan of your engine.
The advantage of this is that your engine will serve you longer and efficiently.
III. Minimizes Carbon dioxide emission
When it comes to the environment, a clean engine will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it emits.
You know that among the many elements that cause fogging inside a car is the buildup of moisture.
You can achieve this by using an engine heater which prevents the freezing of your oil.
Parking heater
Some of the reasons for you to have a parking heater include:
- Increases visibility
One of the challenges you face during the cold season is having your windows covered in snow or ice.
This prevents visibility hindering you from driving.
However, you can prevent this by installing a parking heater on your bus.
The heater melts the ice and snow on your car which enables you to see clearly during driving.
- Minimizing your maintenance cost
Starting a cold engine may cause your engine to knock down.
This is because, during the cold season, your engine cools down which causes the freezing of your engine oil.
Once the oil freezes, its viscosity decreases making it hard for the engine to start.
Starting off the engine in such as a situation results in wear and tear of the engine hence you will incur high maintenance cost.
You can prevent this by installing an engine heater on your vehicle which will warm up the engine.
By doing so, you minimize the cost of maintenance as your engine will start well.
- Giving you comfort while inside your car
Enjoy the comfort of your vehicle by installing these heaters on your vehicle.
Engine and fuel heaters enable warms up your bus thereby giving you a comfortable temperature.
This can be important during the cold season when the weather is unfriendly to you.
- Easy to use and maintain
You don’t need rocket science to operate this kind of heaters.
Most of the heaters come with an easy to read the manual that makes you understand.
Plus, the latest technology ensures that they are digital which enables you to operate by the touch of a button.
- Helps in warming of your bus
You need to be comfortable when inside your car.
The bus engine heater enables you to achieve comfort by warming up your cabin which then circulates warm air inside the bus.
Fuel Heater
Lastly, when it comes to a fuel heater, here are the reasons for you to have a fuel heater.
Fuel heater
I. Saves cost
The fact that a fuel heater prevents water in the fuel from freezing ensures that you can start your bus efficiently.
The effect of this is that your coach will consume a small amount of fuel which in turn saves you the cost of fuel.
II. Helps improve the performance of your fuel
A fuel heater adds around 12V of heat which in return adds kinetic energy to the engine.
Your bus can travel for longer distance at a fraction of the fuel.
III. Minimizes carbon dioxide emission
By heating the fuel, your vehicle consumes less fuel when it is starting up when you compare with nit having the fuel heater.
By doing so, there is minimal carbon dioxide emission to the environment.
Parts and Components of Bus Heater
Another element of a bus heater that you need to understand is what makes up the bus heater.
Understanding the components of a bus heater will assist you when it comes to troubleshooting your heater.
It is also important that you get to know these components to understand how a bus heater operates.
Let’s go through these components by looking at the types of bus heaters available.
Engine block heater
The components that you will find in an engine block heater include the following.
Thermostat
A thermostat helps in controlling the temperature level of the engine.
By doing so, you can regulate the degree of hotness you want your engine to be.
Heating element
The purpose of this component is to convert electric energy to heat through a process known as Joule heating.
It is this heat that circulates in your engine thereby heating it.
Check valve
The purpose of this valve is to allow hot air to pass through it to the engine.
Check valve consists of two openings one that allows air to enter and the other opening allows air to pass out.
What you need to note with the check valve is the cracking pressure.
This refers to the minimum difference in upstream pressure between the outlet and inlet.
They include ball check valve, diaphragm check valve, swing check valve and stop check valve.
Coolant circulation system
Coolant circulation system refers to a system that allows you to introduce coolant into your engine.
The system consists of the inlet and outlet to allow for the flow of the coolant.
The purpose of the coolant is to regulate the temperature of your engine.
Parking Heater
You can have two variants of parking heaters for your bus installation.
The difference is mainly the source of energy.
That is the electric parking heater and the gasoline parking heater.
Parts of parking heater
The parts that you will find in a parking heater include the following:
Tee connector
You will need this device when you are connecting the cables.
The shape of this connector is like a capital T which enables you to split and join wires during the installation process of your heater
Bleed screw
This component helps in removal of gas from the heater by utilizing the density and pressure difference.
This helps in regulating the temperature of the heater.
What happens is that opening of the bleed screw allows antifreeze to flow in the combustion chamber which increases the fluid pressure.
As it does this, there is displacement of air which escapes through the opening of the bleed screw.
Combustion air intake pipe
Air from the surrounding flows into the combustion chamber via this tube.
Its design is such that it only allows for air to flow in one direction.
Combustion chamber
The combustion tube allows for the mixing of air and fuel.
It is also here where heating takes place before it flows to other parts of the bus.
Heat exchanger
The function of this element is to allow for the transfer of heat from a component to another.
For instance, from the heating of the fuel to the gaseous state that circulates in the bus.
Exhaust pipe
Gases like Carbon dioxide flow outward via this pipe.
i. Fuel Heater
Lastly, let’s have a look at the parts that you will find on a fuel heater.
Before we continue, you need to note that there are two types of fuel heaters.
That is an electric fuel heater and gasoline fuel heater.
Fuel Heater
They include the following:
Fuel nozzle
This component controls the amount of fuel that flows into the combustion chamber.
The fuel nozzle aims to allow for a minimum amount of fuel into the combustion chamber.
Electronic ignition coil
For the bus heater to function, it needs a source of energy.
This is possible with the electronic ignition coil.
The component function is to transform the battery low voltage into an electric spark.
It is this electric spark that ignites the fuel.
Coupler
The purpose of this component is to connect the bus hater with the bus circulation system.
This allows for a smooth flow of the air supply thereby allowing the bus to have a constant temperature.
Solenoid valve
The design of this component is such that it utilizes electric current to produce a magnetic field.
It is this magnetic field that controls the opening and closing of the valve.
By doing so, it can control the flow of liquid and gas within the bus heater.
Combustion air fan
There is a need to allow in cold air while at the same time dispelling hot air.
To assist in the flow of air in the combustion chamber, you have the combustion air fan
Flame detection photocell
There is a need to prevent any occurrence of fire that may cause the bus heater and by extension the vehicle from blowing up.
The flame detection photocell helps in detecting such flames.
How a Bus Heater Works
Since we now understand the components of each type of bus heater, it is important that we know how it functions.
As a user of a bus heater, knowing the working principle of the bus heater will help you when it comes to operating it.
Not only will you know how to operate but you will understand where a problem is and how to solve it in case of system failure.
Bus heater operates differently depending on the type you are using.
For better understanding, you will need to go through the working principle of each of these types of bus heaters.
a) Working Principle of Engine Block Heater
The working principle of an engine block heater depends on the type of engine block you are using.
That is the electric engine heater or the gas engine heater.
The difference arises from the source of power for heating the engine.
Electric engine heater requires an external source of electrical power.
How the Engine Heater Works
The electric engine heater has a heating element that you immerse in the coolant with an extended cord.
It is this cord that connects to the external source of electrical power that heats the heating element.
In turn, the heating element heats the coolant which provides heat to the engine.
Gasoline or gas engine heater does not require an external source of power.
What happens is that when you ignite your engine, the gas or petrol in your tank heats the coolant.
Once the coolant heats up., it passes the heat to the engine.
Gasoline engine heater is efficient when you compare to the electric engine heater.
For instance, with the gasoline engine heater, you can heat your engine from anywhere unlike the electric engine heater.
The reason is that for the electric one, you will need a source of electrical power meaning you will have to park it unless it is an electric bus.
b) How Parking Heaters Work
The primary element of the parking heater is the heating element that you can find inside the device.
Since this element needs heat to function, a source of power is necessary.
Working Principle of Air Parking Heater
There are two ways you can supply power to the parking heater.
The first is through electric current which needs a cord that connects to a source of electricity.
The other one is through gas or gasoline in your bus gas tank.
This is much convenient and cheap to use.
What happens is that the pump releases a small amount of fuel from the tank into the heating chamber.
Inside the chamber, the fuel mixes with air from the surrounding and burns to increase the temperature.
Meanwhile, the coolant circulating the devices warms up and heads to the heat exchanger.
Here, the warm air flows to the inner parts of the engine and the ventilation system.
The process continues until you achieve the desired temperature that you can then switch it off.
The advantage you have with a parking heater is that you can control it from anywhere.
You don’t have to necessarily be in the bus to switch it on or off.
By utilizing a timer, remote control or even a smartphone, you can control the temperature from anywhere.
c) Working Principle of the Fuel Heater
A fuel heater starts operating by drawing the fuel from the fuel tank using a pipe to the bus fuel system.
There is a fan that draws air from the outside to the combustion chamber.
Fuel Heater
When you switch the ignition device, the fuel, and air mixes and lights up.
There is a safety switch which works when the fan is operating that controls the flow of the fuel.
There is a tube outside the combustion chamber that is wide in diameter.
This one conducts the hot air on the combustion chamber.
Another fan blows the warm air directing it to the interior of the vehicle.
The average fuel heater discharges around 5,000 and 50,000 BTU per hour
Fuel heaters mainly use electricity to function.
Don’t forget to check and maintain the heater regularly for efficient productivity regularly.
Components such as the combustion tube and the heater require regular replacement.
How to Install Bus Heaters
For your bus heater to function, you need to install it on your bus.
I know it may sound like a technician job, but it is an easy task that you can do even at home.
Let’s have a look at how easy it is to install different kinds of bus heaters on your bus.
The Installation Process of Engine Block Heaters
You can easily install an engine bus heater on your vehicle by following these simple steps.
All that you will need is a screwdriver.
1) Jack up the Vehicle
You can start by jacking up your vehicle.
This is important since it facilitates the removal of the drain plugs in case they are of different material from the engine block heater.
However, it is still okay if you choose to work on a cold engine.
You need to note that the heater comes in different design, so select one that fits your vehicle.
You can now safely detach the plastic engine cover
2) Drain Engine
The next step is to drain the engine.
You can do this by locating where the specific drain plug is.
Usually, your bus heater manual should indicate which plug to pull out.
3) Plug in Heater
You can now connect the heater in between the power cord and the heating rod.
Place the positive side of the heating element cord in the engine department.
Don’t forget to lubricate the hole up to the metal clip.
Insert the metal clip while it faces the rear end of the bus.
On standard cases, you will hear a snap sound once the heater is in place
4) Route Power Cord
Now you can insert the cord into the rod.
Align the wires via the engine compartment leaving from the front grill.
Always follow the standard guideline to prevent distortion of the hoses.
You can secure the cables using a fastener after you have correctly placed them.
Now you can relax comfortably since the bus heater is in place.
Remember to return everything else as it were before.
How to Install a Parking Heater for Buses
You can easily install a parking hater in your bus.
The only thing you will need is a screwdriver and your heater manual.
Before we proceed, you can either install your parking heater on the exterior or interior part of the vehicle.
In case you are installing it on the outer part, you need to consider the following:
- Enough space for the installation of the parking
- Protection of the installation space from any form of damage
- Installation space needs to be waterproof
- The installation space needs to be at the maximum allowed fording level of the vehicle
- Separate the combustion inlet and outlet
In case you want to install the bus parking heater on the exterior, you need to consider the following:
- Enough space for the installation of the bus parking heater
- The combustion inlet and outlet are entirely on the outside
- Protection of the installation space from any damage
- Protection of heat sensitive parts against high temperature
- Protect people from getting in touch with the hot surface of the bus parking heater
Fuel Heater Step-by-step Installation Process
The other type of bus heater that you can install in your bus is the fuel bus heater.
Here is a look at how you can install this heater on your bus.
You can install your fuel heater on top of the combustion tank of the bus, or if you want it to be remote, you can install it below the combustion tank.
The reason for this is to prevent the trapping of air in the coolant.
For better heat circulation, you can connect three-way valve on the heater and the engine.
You can have two switches for the heater.
One switch is for the circulation pump while the other one is for the fan.
You can have three outlets for the heat flow.
One is on the cabin while the other one is for the engine.
To regulate overheating of the heater, you have the flame detection photocell that will detect any flame around the heater.
Main Considerations when Buying Bus Heaters
There are some factors that you will have to take into account before purchasing that heater for your bus.
Some of these factors have something to do with your financial status while others will deal with the type of engine heater you want
Here is a look at these factors.
School bus – Image source: CNN
· Model/brand of bus heater
Not all the models of a bus heater will fit your engine.
Not all the models of a bus heater will fit your engine.
Different kinds have different designs and fitting which may differ with your engine.
For instance, diesel engine block heater has a different design from the electric engine block heater.
On the other hand, there are various brands in the market.
In as much as you would want a bus heater, you need to buy one that will serve you efficiently and for a long time.
Also, ensure that the brand you are purchasing offers a warranty.
· Safety standard and compliance
Safety standard and compliance is a crucial factor when you are choosing a bus heater.
There are cases where engines have blown up due to having heaters that don’t comply with the set standards.
In other cases, some heaters have been known to result in the emission of higher carbon dioxide which leads to pollution.
To minimize this, always ensure that you purchase your bus heater from a reliable dealer.
The dealer should confirm that the heaters have complied with the set standards.
· Material type
You need to consider what material is the bus heater that you want to use.
Heaters are made up of different materials so you need to have one that will serve your purpose efficiently.
For instance, if the outer cover of your heater is of plastic, you need to place it in a place that won’t heat up.
· Design
What is the design of the bus heater that you want to buy?
Bus heaters come in different designs,so you need to be specific on which bus heater you want.
There are bus heaters that you can fix vertically in your bus are while others you can horizontally set them.
The choice depends on how you want to install your bus heater in your vehicle.
· Working parameters/conditions
Another factor that you need to consider is the working conditions of your heater.
This is mainly the temperature conditions that your heater will be operating.
There are bus heaters that work best in a cold environment while there are bus heaters that work in mild temperatures.
So you need to consider the environmental condition before picking a bus heater for your vehicle.
· Dimensions
The dimension of the bus heater will influence which bus heater you will buy.
Bus heaters come in different sizes.
The choice of which bus heater to buy depend on the dimension of the space as well as the dimension of the heater.
If your installation space is small, You will have to choose a small bus heater to fit correctly.
Similarly, if you have a large installation space, you can have a large bus heater.
· Specific applications
The type of bus heater you want will depend on where you want to apply it.
For instance, an engine block heater functions differently from a parking heater or a fuel heater.
If you want to heat your engine, you can choose an engine block heater.
Likewise, if you’re going to heat your fuel, the best bus heater to choose is a fuel heater.
· Cost of bus heater
The cost of a bus heater will positively influence your purchasing decision.
Ultimately, you will purchase a heater that within your budget.
When shopping for a bus heater, try getting different quotes which will lead you into deciding a cheaper place to purchase. Another way is to negotiate
VVKB Bus Heater – A Trusted Supplier for Engine Block Heater, Parking Heater, and Fuel Heaters
For over 20 years, we have dedicated ourselves to the manufacture of quality bus heaters that meet the international set standards.
We design our heaters to consume less energy while providing the comfort you need for your bus.
Be it an engine block heater, a parking heater or a fuel heater, we guarantee you of a quality and reliable heater for your bus.
Our heaters are certified by CE and TUV to meet international standards.
And by the way, you don’t have to worry if a part of the heater is broken down.
This is because we offer after sales of spare parts that enable your heater to functions properly after repair.
Get in touch with us today and experience our heaters that come at competitive rates.
Conclusion
As you can see, you cannot underestimate the role of bus heaters on our vehicles, especially during the cold season.
From heating your bus to reducing the wear and tear of your engine, these bus heaters are important.
You have also learned that installing the right heater on your bus isn’t that difficult.
You only need to follow the handbook that comes with it, and you are good to go.
You can only trust VKB for the supply of quality bus heaters that guarantee you efficiency and high productivity.