Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 14:21:13 EDT
Reply-To: ThingGuy@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Lashley <ThingGuy@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: [Syncro] Westy/vanagon floorplans? + heater!!]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 5/11/0 5:35:13 PM, lindgre@ONLINE.NO wrote:
<<> The reason I ask is that I'm trying to help out in the prep/design stages
of
> a catalytic heater for us folks. Steve Schwenk found a guy who makes them
> professionally, and he'd like a peak. Steve got this started, kudo's go
> there,>>
The catalytic heaters are just heaters, and not furnaces. They do not
include a method to circulate warm air through your van. Also, unless they
are vented, they are not safe to use in an enclosed space.
Now that Carver is no longer, the other current ideal heaters would be the
Truma propane furnace, and the Webasto diesel or gas furnace.
The Truma is even a bit smaller than the Carver, as they have outboarded some
of their controls. The Truma can even be mounted under your van, as the case
is weatherproof. The downside to the Truma is the cost. These would be at
least $1,200 with the controls and fittings.
Next would be the Webasto heater in either the gas or diesel version. This
also mounts under your van and with controls and fittings, would run you
around $1,500.
Truma E 2400 outputs 2400 watts, the Webasto 2000 watts, or 3500 watts.
I wouldn't consider any product that didn't have the built in safety features
that the above heaters have. They have pressure sensors, flame sensors, and
heat sensors that shut off the heater when something goes wrong. They are
also designed and tested to be used in small campers, and will even shut off
when your voltage drops too low to operate the fan and controls, or if the
intake or exhaust pipes become clogged. Both of these heaters carry the
approval of independant testing labs.
The cost to design, build and test a new heater would be extremely excessive,
and certainly beyond my resources and in my opinion beyond feasible cost
recovery, if designed for just a Westfalia Vanagon. To take on the liability
of manufacturing a product that does not meet these standards is foolish, and
obtaining product liability insurance would be impossible.
With all of this in mind, I hope the guy is successful and comes up with the
perfect heater.
Now it may be possible to adapt an existing tested safe heater for use in a
Westfalia, and this may be what he is trying to do. A custom mount that
doesn't interfere with the heaters operation, and a kit that makes it easy to
install in the Vanagon is a good idea.
I know we can't all afford, or even want to spend the money for the ultimate
Westy furnace, so safe low cost alternatives, are always welcome.
Steve Lashley
'66 Westy
'74 Campmobile
'93 EV MV
<A HREF="http://eurocampers.com/">http://EuroCampers.com</A>
314-614-0750
Importing German Side Tents, Carver Propane Heaters and other Accessories for
Bus, Vanagon and EuroVan