Abstract: A process for activating a motor vehicle accessory (12), especially an auxiliary motor vehicle heater, and device for controlling the motor vehicle accessory (12) in which the activation commands for the motor vehicle accessory are input into a control part (10) which has control keys (11), an operating system, application software (16) which is specific to the activation of the motor vehicle accessory, a display (15) which also serves as an activation surface, and a data transmission interface (18), the activation commands are processed into activation data in the control part using the application software, the activation data are transmitted via the data transmission interface of the control part to the data transmission interface (21) of a base station (20) and are converted there into radio signals, the radio signals obtained in this way are output via a radio interface (22) and are transmitted to a radio remote control remote terminal (25) in the motor vehicle (13), and the motor vehicle accessory is ac

Abstract: A process for testing operational components in heaters, especially vehicle auxiliary heaters, in which the operational components are actuated and switched on sequentially, individually. Based on this, a corresponding evaluation is then performed. Further, a testing device for performing the process has a switching-on device with which the operational components can be started up, individually, on a sequential basis. From the process engineering viewpoint and from the device engineering viewpoint, further developments up to integration of the testing device in a heater control device are possible, and, optionally, for evaluation of the operational testing, external devices can also be used.

Abstract: A heater, in particular a vehicle auxiliary heater, of the type which operates with a liquid heat exchange medium and which is tied, for example, into the coolant circuit of a motor vehicle. In this heater, a mounting space for a control device is formed on a jacket-like outer casing, preferably a formation cast integrally as part of the outer casing. In this mounting space, circuit boards and printed circuit cards of the control device and sensor elements are mounted. Heat produced by semiconductor power components of the control device is removed to the surroundings by wall surfaces, in particular side walls, of the mounting space to which they are mounted. An electric connection device is provided that connects the inputs and outputs of the control device to the respective operational parts to be controlled and/or to the vehicle.

Abstract: A connecting device for supplying power to equipment in heating devices, particularly, auxiliary vehicle heating devices, which connecting device serves to commonly and centrally supply a combustion motor, a control device, a circulating pump, a solenoid valve, an ignition spark unit, a flame monitoring device, and, if utilized, a preheating device for a burner nozzle assembly. All connections and connecting devices, like plug connectors, are housed and combined in a common, central connecting component which can be secured on a flange of the heating device, and can be attached to a part of the heater housing. Appropriately, the connecting component is designed in the form of a housing and contains the electrical connections to be actuated in the form of printed circuit boards, or the like.

Abstract: A preheating process and apparatus for determination and utilization of a quantity of preheating energy so as to automatically achieve a desired temperature at a given location prior to a predetermined period of usage, especially for preheating an automotive vehicle. In accordance with the process, the respective preheating times required to achieve a desired temperature for various possible actual conditions at the location of usage are determined and stored, at a predetermined point of time prior to the usage commencement time, the correct preheating time is determined from the stored preheating times based upon actual temperature conditions and application of heat to the location is automatically commenced at a time prior to the usage commencement time that corresponds to the difference between the usage commencement time and the correct preheating time determined previously.