Date:         Wed, 13 Oct 2004 07:28:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Converting Coleman Catalytic Heater to LP tank?
Comments: cc: kfilc@sympatico.ca, peter.linsley@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

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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