Date:         Sun, 22 Oct 2000 05:44:23 EDT
Reply-To:     WarmerWagen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <WarmerWagen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey - I have a Plat Cat also, on the closet wall. It is real nice to turn a
thermostat on and sit back-besides being warm and dry, you breathe easier
also. the power venting makes several air changes inside the van per hour.

I have been lurking&waiting to ask the list some questions about this very
heater/Now that Harald and Nancy have warmed up the subject and themselves,
and since cold weather is actually here for most of us, here is what I want
to say.


 I have been corresponding with Arnie Lind of A&L Enterprises for a year now.
I installed one of the last cats made by Thermal systems, which also happened
to be my first installation.
 I bought and sold several used cats to Listmembers, and saved one for my 82
Westfalia, which was installed earlier this year. It really heats well, mine
is the 6,000 Btu model. I believe this is a good choice for the Vanagon,
considering the efficiency of catalytics, and the low power usage.

Most of us need a camping heater, and the clay pot though cheap, is really
not recommended (you know that label that says "not for comfort heating"?)I
must admit- I first used the stove to warm up the Westy-but boy was it
dripping wet inside.
 Many of our northwest winter days are 100% humidity as many Wetwesties will
testify, hence the name.
 Not only do you get to pop the top like a clam, but you get to feel l like
one too!

. So the stove or vent-less heater can make you as damp inside as it is out.
Not as big of a problem in a desert.

  How many of us are interested in Plat Cat heaters?  Harald and Nancy
mentioned these can be made to order -- which are 110 units that can be
converted to 12 Volts.
I believe it is a very fine product with a high degree of engineering in
it-much easier to use than the Olympian that I started out on. Certainly the
Olympian kept me warm-and wet.
How many Listmembers would like a Platinum Cat?
I don't know a price yet, but when the minimum number of ten Listmembers is
reached that can be calculated.

Please post to the list or to me-not to Arnie as he is very busy getting
ready for a presentation to a midwest manufacturer. I am volunteering for
this, so any one who wants to help you are very welcome.

Though we are not the largest group of potential buyers, we do have enough
members to be considered for "Vanagon Specific" production.

If you have an idea for design or installation, I would like to know it. I
will take this info to him when I go to Spokane later this month. I have made
some heat shields and I asked him to look at my installation to
evaluate/study other locations/heater designs. We could have several
different Vanagon models.

Thanks for your ideas and interest. I have benefited much from this list, so
I would like to contribute also, and this is a unique opportunity to do so.
All I can say about the cat is-you'll like it!
Savor those last moments of coldness.

Robert


1982 Westfalia
1983.5 Sunroof Vanagon
1980 Westfalia