Method for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater

A fuel-operated vehicle heater, comprising:

• a burner area with a combustion chamber;
• a fuel feed device for feeding fuel to the burner area;
• a combustion air feed device for feeding combustion air to the burner area;
• an electrically energizable ignition element for igniting a fuel/air mixture formed in the combustion chamber;
• an actuating device for actuating the ignition element, for actuating the fuel feed device and for actuating the combustion air feed device, wherein the actuating device is configured to:
• energize the ignition element in a preheating phase in an output-regulating operating mode by controlling an electrical output of the electrically energizable ignition element such as to be in a range of a desired electrical output;
• upon entering into an ignition phase from the preheating phase prior to a start of the combustion in the combustion chamber, determine an electrical resistance of the ignition element at a time of entry into the ignition phase;
• and
• operate the ignition element in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase by controlling the electrical resistance of the electrically energizable ignition element such that the electrical resistance of the ignition element is in a range of a desired electrical resistance, the desired electrical resistance being the electrical resistance determined at the time of entry into the ignition phase.

A fuel-operated vehicle heater, comprising:

• a burner area comprising a combustion chamber;
• a fuel feed device for feeding fuel to the burner area;
• a combustion air feed device for feeding combustion aft to the burner area;
• an electrically energizable ignition element for igniting a fuel/air mixture formed in the combustion chamber;
• an actuating device for actuating the ignition element for actuating the fuel feed device and for actuating the combustion aft feed device, wherein the actuating device is configured to:
• energize the ignition element in a preheating phase in an output-regulating operating mode by controlling an electrical output of the electrically energizable ignition element such as to be in a range of a desired electrical output;
• determine an electrical resistance of the ignition element at a time of entry into an ignition phase upon a transition from the preheating phase to an ignition phase;
• and operate the ignition element in a resistance-regulating operating mode during the ignition phase by controlling the electrical resistance of the electrically energizable ignition element such that the electrical resistance of the ignition element is in a range of a desired electrical resistance, the desired electrical resistance being the electrical resistance determined at the time of entry into the ignition phase.