Defa (preheater): installation and reviews

With the problems of starting an automobile engine, every driver, living in the cold region of the country, certainly faced. A severe frost can lead to a temporary failure of the battery pack and power unit, as well as entail negative consequences in the form of destruction of individual elements. Various means help to prevent such phenomena, including many folk methods. However, experts still recommend the use of a preheater engine, which, with a competent installation, will not cause a carcass filling harm and at the same time will save the motorist from problems with the activation of the power unit. In the market, similar systems are presented in different designs, many of which are made by handicraft. For this reason, it is recommended to contact proven manufacturers, among which a special place is occupied by Defa.

General information about the preflight mechanisms Defa

Until recently, pre-heating systems were considered quite a dubious means of fighting the freezing of the power plant outfits with fuel additives that increase the car's power. The Norwegian developers from the company Defa managed to raise to a qualitatively new level such devices, confirming their efficiency and safety. Under this brand today are produced compact, environmentally friendly and functional mechanisms that are suitable for different models. Electric pre-heater 220V also has a unique Mini Plug technology, thanks to which a reliable connection of the device to the power supply unit takes place. Systems of plug-in connectors in some modifications are realized on the basis of armored cables for 220 / 230V power grids. In addition to mechanical and thermal protection, the connecting fittings also receive a watertight shell. The user has only to correctly perform the installation of the system according to one of the proposed configurations.

Types of preheaters

Devices are divided into two main groups - liquid and electric. They differ in the way of power supply. Liquid heaters operate on gasoline or diesel, so a special combustion chamber is provided to operate the mechanism. Such units have relatively impressive dimensions in comparison with electrical analogs, but their indisputable advantages include full autonomy. For such a device, cable routing is not required, and therefore installation work is facilitated. In turn, preheating heaters 220V can work in conjunction with the battery pack or through the cigarette lighter. That is, in any case, the user must insure against freezing of the battery pack itself, otherwise the cigarette lighter will not work.

Preparing for installation

At the time of mechanical installation, the car owner must solve two problems. First, create an opening in the cooling pipeline system, and secondly, mount the outlet, through which the pre-electric electric heater to the power supply will be connected. As for the technical hole for integration of the device, it should be formed using a special tool in the form of a metal carver. It is important to note that in some circuits there are already openings with plugs - even if they do not correspond to the heater's dimensions, it makes sense to check the possibility of connection through adapters and adapters. Before drilling, it is necessary to drain the antifreeze and other technical fluids and oils that can circulate in the working line.

Now you can go to the outlet. As noted above, Defa in new devices uses Mini Plug devices. To install such an outlet it is necessary to make a small hole in the front bumper, to which the on-board electrical system will be connected. However, the installation of the preheater with a separate outlet can also be performed on the internal line. But it is advisable to avoid direct connection of the device to the battery, since this option is less reliable and in case of a power failure, it can threaten the failure of all electrical equipment.

Pre-heater installation

The classical installation by means of a tie into the cooling system circuit assumes different ways of insertion. Regardless of the manner in which the hole was formed, the connection can be made by screwing or by means of a Defa spacer. Preheater in the first case is screwed into the hole and fixed with additional fasteners on the sides. The variant of mounting with spacers is more complicated, but in practice it is more reliable. If you can not do without screwing in the case of screwing, this time it is enough to enter the device into the circuit and activate the spacer mechanism - the fastening will happen automatically.

There are also models that integrate into the artificial cooling circuit. That is, an additional pumping circle is created, designed specifically to provide the function of the heater. In this case, it is advisable to use a pre-heater with a pump, which is a pumping pump. Such a configuration allows the coolant to circulate with gradual but constant heating. The artificial circuit requires a lot of effort in terms of installation, but in the process of operation it proves to be more effective.

Installation of auxiliary devices

Among the additional options of attention deserves a temperature sensor and a battery charging unit. Without these components in some cases you can get by, but the system will lose in reliability and ease of use. A temperature sensor, for example, is required to automate the heater, and the power supply unit also makes the electrical system stand-alone. The sensor is mounted in the same way as the main Defa heating device. The preheater is integrated into the cooling circuit, and next to it, if possible, it is also necessary to insert a temperature measuring device. And if there is a possibility of integration into the circuit through the factory hole, it is better to perform the installation of the sensor in this way. The charging unit is located next to the battery - it is necessary to provide for it a special level platform, a fastening frame and insulation materials.

Features of installation of diesel systems

Such devices differ in the way they work and the tasks that confront them. In particular, they are used purposefully to eliminate the risk of solidification of paraffins, which dissolve in fuel in severe frosts. With regard to installation, unlike conventional heaters, diesel units are integrated directly into fuel circuits and units. Most often, the diesel pre-heater is mounted next to the fine filters. When the liquid passes through this area, it heats up. Distributed also tape models of this type of heaters, which are installed in hard-to-reach areas of fuel lines.

Pre-heater control

The Norwegian manufacturer is famous not only for the development of unusual heater designs, but also for control systems. A standard preheater electric heater, for example, can be programmed to operate at specific time intervals through a dedicated control unit. Also, the user can activate the device function independently via a special remote control.

A special relay is used for the interaction between the onboard control unit and the heater. If necessary, it can act as a controller for the entire heating infrastructure of the car. With this scheme, the engine preheater can work in parallel with the heater in the passenger compartment. However, the control will also be carried out in a separate order - either through a computer or via a remote control.

Positive feedback on Defa systems

Users mainly note the reliability of such systems, their reliability and coherence of work with the on-board power grid. As practice shows, the heater for the minimum time intervals gains the optimum temperature and just as quickly realizes the heating of the power unit. The design advantages of Defa devices are also noted. Preheater heater of this brand is characterized by ergonomic shape, thoughtful technological connectors and at the same time physical reliability.

Negative feedback

According to the owners, such heaters have two significant drawbacks. First of all, this is the complexity of implementing the management infrastructure. This applies to electrical models. They are easy to operate, but to achieve the comfort of management will have to implement a fairly troublesome installation of electrical lines from the relay and the on-board network. The second disadvantage is the cost at which the pre-heater is realized. The average price for the sets is 5-7 thousand rubles. For comparison, Chinese analogs are available for 2-3 thousand. It's another matter that the quality levels of these products are not comparable.

Conclusion

The use of heaters of this type still raises doubts among a considerable part of automotive experts. The skeptical attitude is connected with the fact that interference in the critical parts of the sub-cape power infrastructure is in principle a risky enterprise. Nevertheless, from the many risks, Defa technology was allowed to get rid of. The preheater of this company even in the modifications of the initial segment has several degrees of protection. This applies to mechanics, which is insured against physical overloads, and electronic systems with protection against voltage drops. Another thing is that the violations in the installation themselves can negatively affect the quality of operation of the heater.