Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 12:05:49 -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
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> So folks are talking about using bottled propane rather than running a
line
> from the existing tank per Dave Garth? I assume you could also use some
> sort of QD fitting and a flex hose?
>
> Seems like bottles might be the way to go for flexibility, though I wonder
> about run time.
I must have missed the bottled propane post... but I don't think it is a
good idea... for safety's sake you would have to put the bottle outside the
van... and then you would have quite a length of hose... You can install a
quick connect on the propane lines under the sind of a Westy... I have done
this for my Olympic propane heater.
>
> Anyone thought about putting the plat cat up in the extended poptop and
> directing it downward into the living space? I guess this might not work
> for most folks as it would for me; I only use half the upper berth to
> maximize head room.
Well... the disadvantages I can see is that you would have to run wires and
propane hose all the way up there... also, when it's really cold is when you
need the heater most and then you will want the pop top down and sleep in
the lower berth.... virtually all the heat would be lost out the canvas
sides of the pop top
another 2 cents,
Bill
>
> Back of the passenger seat location is not so good for me, I really use
the
> rear facing passenger seat. Also I have my ARB fridge in this location;
> things could get too jammed up.
>
> Since I'm thinking about pulling the dometic completely out, I'm wondering
> if there might be some cleverness I can do with a swinging cupboard door
> mounting a plat cat.
>
> Ty Graham
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Bill Davidson
> Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 10:25 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
>
>
> 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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