Date:         Thu, 7 Dec 2000 12:55:30 -0800
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Platinum Cat heater while mobile..
Comments: To: WarmerWagen@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Robert,
There must be some misunderstanding.
If the exhaust vent on the plat cat vented heater is
blocked for whatever reason, the electric operated
propane valve on the heater will shut off the propane supply.
To test this, you can put your hand over the exhaust vent
when the heater is operating, and you will hear a loud click.
Also if the electric blower motor does not work, the heater
will not even turn on.
On my plat cat, there is actually a vacuum operated switch,
which senses if the fan is moving enough air.
If in doubt, call Arnie
Btw, he just sent me a new motor. The old motor
worked erractic (after 12 years use), and it would make
the heater shut down sometimes.

About using the plat cat in a moving vanagon:
I originally bought the plat cat to use in my previous aircooled
westy. I had the exhaust vent pointed to the back.
So the airflow would not be affected when the vanagon was moving.
Only sometimes the heater would shut down on very bumpy roads.
I think that was because of the thermostat rattling and shutting
on and off. Otherwise no problems. Worked fine.
Of course, the back was warmer than the front.
Disclaimer: Only operate plat cat while driving at your own risk.

Fire danger: From experience, things right in front of the heater
do get very hot. But I haven't had anything catch on fire.
Sometimes the paper garbage bag ends up right up in front
of the heater, and it gets hot, but it doesn't burn.

Harald
'90 westy with plat cat

----------
> From: Robert Keezer <WarmerWagen@AOL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Platinum Cat heater while mobile..
> Date: Thursday, December 07, 2000 2:56 AM
>
May I help clarify? The vent on the plat cat is not essential to the actual
operation of the cat, that is drafts from the moving vehicle will not
affect
the heater's operation.the heater will even operate without the vent
blower.

A word of caution, however. The heater surface is a source of combustion so
all flammable materials must not be able to come in contact or be within
the
18" ( 45.7 centimeters) front minimum clearance requirement.

Also the heater must of course be mounted securely.
I would advise against using this for safety reasons and use the BA-6.
The BA-6 also puts out up to 23,000 Btu.


I just heard from a customer in Jackson Hole that the 6P12 is doing well
with
temps down to 0 degrees F.

Robert

1982 Westfalia
1983.5 Sunroof Vanagon
1980 Westfalia