Lugging, swapping, getting inspected – anyone who camps with gas canisters knows the hassle. A technology makes all of that completely unnecessary: the diesel cooktop. How it works, who benefits from it – and why Nordic travellers love it.
The problem: gas canisters in the camper are a nuisance – and costly
Anyone who regularly travels in a motorhome or campervan knows the small annoyances that accumulate into real frustrations over time:
- The gas canister runs out – right at the campsite, in the evening, just before dinner.
- The nearest exchange station is 30 kilometres away – or doesn't stock your canister size.
- Ferries to Scandinavia restrict compressed gas on board.
- The gas system must be inspected every two years – mandatory in Germany, cost: around €70 every two years.
- A full 11 kg propane canister weighs 18–22 kg including valve and bracket – payload capacity that many van builds don't have.
What if all of that just disappeared? That's exactly what the diesel cooktop promises – and it delivers.
What is a diesel cooktop?
A diesel cooktop is a permanently installed cooking appliance that draws its fuel directly from the vehicle's tank – the same diesel the engine runs on. No second tank, no separate fuel, no canister.
The technology behind it is a vaporising heater: diesel is burned in a closed combustion chamber. The resulting heat is transferred to the pot via a ceramic surface. The exhaust gases are fully vented outside – just like a diesel heater.
The result: no open flame, no gas smell, no pressure vessel on board. And yet full cooking power.
Diesel cooktop vs. gas vs. induction – in brief: Gas cooker: open flame, compressed gas from canister, mandatory inspection every 2 years. Diesel cooktop: closed combustion, fuel from vehicle tank, no pressure vessel. Induction: no combustion, but 1,500–3,500 W power consumption – often not feasible on cloudy days.
The Wallas 1200 D – technology and performance
The best-known diesel cooktop for campers is the Wallas 1200 D from Finland. The manufacturer Wallas-Marin has been developing this technology for decades – originally for boats in Nordic waters, now also for motorhomes, campervans and expedition vehicles.
| Specification | Wallas 1200 D |
|---|---|
| Output | 1,000–2,200 W (2.2 kW), adjustable in 6 levels |
| Fuel | Diesel (from vehicle tank) |
| Fuel consumption | 0.1–0.22 litres per hour |
| Power consumption | 0.37–0.55 A at 12 V DC (approx. 4–7 watts) |
| Dimensions | 460 × 210 × 120 mm |
| Weight | 6.3 kg |
| Cooking surface | Ceramic, 2 zones (left for cooking, right for simmering) |
| Boiling 1 litre | approx. 10 minutes |
| Warm-up time | approx. 4–5 minutes to full power |
| Operating voltage | 12 V DC |
| Certifications | ISO, CE, Made in Finland |
| Warranty | 2 + 1 years |
Power consumption is just 4–7 watts – barely more than an LED bulb. The actual cooking energy comes from diesel, not from the battery.
The advantages at a glance
No more gas on board
With the Wallas 1200 D, the gas canister disappears entirely. No mandatory two-yearly inspection (saving: approx. €70 every 2 years), no pressure vessel logistics, no adapters for foreign canisters, no ferry restrictions.
Significant weight savings
A full 11 kg gas canister quickly weighs 18–22 kg including valve, bracket and hose. The Wallas cooktop weighs 6.3 kg – and that's everything. For van builds with tight payload margins, a real difference.
Safety through closed combustion
There is no open flame. Combustion takes place in a closed chamber, and exhaust gases are fully vented outside. No gas smell, no leakage risk, no compressed gas hazard.
Cooking independent of the battery
While an induction cooktop draws 1,500–3,500 watts from the battery, the Wallas burner needs only 4–7 watts electrically. Cooking is always possible – even after days of overcast weather.
Economical in the long run
The purchase price is higher than a basic gas installation. But: no canister rental, no swaps, no inspection costs. Combined with the savings on gas inspections, the investment pays for itself within a few years.
Particularly popular: Nordic trips and winter tours
Anyone travelling in Scandinavia, Iceland or Scotland faces a physical challenge. Solar radiation is significantly lower than in Central Europe – solar panels produce correspondingly less power. On cloudy days the battery barely recharges.
Anyone cooking with induction drains the on-board battery within minutes. Anyone with a diesel cooktop simply keeps cooking.
Why diesel cooking makes particular sense in the north: Solar panels in northern Europe (October–March) often produce only 10–20% of their rated output. Induction cooking drains a 200 Ah battery in under an hour. The Wallas cooktop needs only 4–7 watts electrically – no noticeable battery drain. Diesel is available everywhere in Scandinavia – filling up the vehicle automatically fuels the cooktop.
Wallas is from Finland and developed this technology in a climate where robust, energy-efficient solutions are not a luxury but a necessity.
Who benefits from the diesel cooktop?
The Wallas 1200 D is particularly interesting for:
- Frequent travellers who are on the road for several weeks or year-round
- Campers who like to travel to northern regions or in winter
- Vehicles with limited payload (panel vans, Sprinters, VW Transporters)
- Anyone who wants to travel as self-sufficiently as possible
- Campers who regularly use ferries (Scandinavia, Greece, UK)
- Vehicles with an existing diesel heater – the prerequisites are similar
For occasional campers at well-equipped campsites, a gas or induction solution is more economical.
Installation – what you need to know
The Wallas 1200 D is permanently installed – comparable to a diesel heater:
- Fuel line: connection to the vehicle tank via a small pump
- Exhaust routing: exhaust pipe to the outside
- Power connection: 12 V DC, 0.37–0.55 A – directly to the on-board battery
- Installation dimensions: 460 × 210 × 120 mm
Installation should be carried out by an experienced vehicle converter. As the authorised Wallas distributor for Germany, PUNDMANN advises on planning and can recommend suitable installation partners on request.
Conclusion
The diesel cooktop is a mature technology, proven over decades – simply unbeatable for self-sufficient travel, Nordic tours and vehicles with limited payload. The Wallas 1200 D delivers 2.2 kW output, ceramic cooking surface, simple operation and power consumption that barely registers.
And perhaps the most compelling advantage: you fuel the cooktop automatically – every time you fill up the tank.
PUNDMANN GmbH is the authorised Wallas distributor for Germany. For advice and purchase: m.herbst@pundmann.de