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Date:         Sun, 22 Oct 2000 10:24:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
Comments: To: WarmerWagen@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Robert,

I don't have a PlatCat and haven't used one, but I have thought of buying one and given potential locations some thought.

Rear Closet Location: It seems to me that the rear closet location has the advantage of being out of the way but the big disadvantage of not being 'pointed' at the area where you would normally sit or stand... as I understand it a big factor in the heat is the radiant infra red which is received when the heater is facing you.

Behind the Passenger Seat Location: This spot is great in that the heater does face the sitting/standing area and thus you get the full benefit of the infrared radient heat... but has the disadvantage of limiting the use of the passenger seat... I find it very useful to turn the seat around where there are two people.

Also both of the above locations are more or less permanent installations. It would be nice to be able to remove the heater for summer camping trips to gain the extra space.

Steve Schwenk has posted a description of his portable set up for his PlatCat in the past.... As I remember he built a stand/legs for it and sets it up on the front table swung between the driver's and passenger's seat... or more in front of the driver's seat... has the vent going out though the driver's window (window rolls up to seal against a foam insert that houses the end of the exhaust tube)... and power via an plug in 12 volt set up.

I like Steve's idea of portable, but this seems to me to be a pain to set up... and I'm not really a fan of taking along the front table.

So here's my thought/wild musing:

Between the Seats Location: How about a portable set up where the mount is simply an insert into the top of the tube that holds the front table leg/pipe. This insert would, I guess, be some sort of rigid tubing that would fit vertically right into the top of the front table holder. The vent could possibly be routed thought this same mounting tube... then a flexible tube out the bottom of the front table mount and through the floor. Also, it might be possible to design the mount such that the whole heater could pivot on its mounting/exhaust tube like a gate so that you can have access between the front seats. The 12 volt power would be via a cigarette lighter plug... and the thermostat could be permanently mounted some place with a jack for hooking it up when the heater is set up.

If this design could be executed it would allow the advantages of easy removal and easy set up (no legs to attach, no vent to run through a window, no front table to install... or any need to take it along), infrared radient heat well directed to where you will feel it, and use of the passenger seat. For those who want a permanent installation this design could likely be such that it could be installed permanently too... so people would have a choice. The disadvantage would be for those that find their front table useful... but I think a lot of us don't even take it... and for those that do this design could be installed behind the front seat or on the rear closet as well.

In any case, I would vote for something that is easily installed and removed... plug 'n play...

Just my 2 cents,

Bill 90 Westy Syncro


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