Peter wrote: "There have been concerns with that unit that it gives off poisonous gasses despite being advertised as requiring little ventilation. There was/is a law suit regarding two fellows who passed away in a *tent* using a coleman catalytic heater. I'm not convinced that the vanagon has enough ventilation without cranking the windows right down so I'm returning my ProCat today."
Search the archives for a 5 Apr, 2004, post titled: "Carbon Monoxide Test Colman Cat heater", by Chris Christensen <populuxe@QWICS.COM> Chris works for a public utility/gas company, specializes in natural gas systems, and has access to professional-grade carbon monoxide measuring devices. In p-mail correspondence with him, I was left with the definite impression that when used with adequate ventilation, the Coleman catalytic heaters are indeed safe for prolonged use, and we have done so when camping in our own Westy. We open the windows according to the instructions and, just for backup, sleep with a home-grade CO detector/alarm nearby. Chris made NO safety guarantees to me, and I make none to anyone else; each must determine one's own degree of safety compromise when leaving the house each day. Camp smart. Jeffrey Earl 1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi" http://www.vanthology.com/
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