Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:29:49 -0700
Reply-To: Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Converting Coleman Catalytic Heater to LP tank? (fwd)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I have to chime in here and say in all my personal "testing" of heating
units and having delved into much in the way of heating designs, that I
totally agree that in a confined space of any kind the only way to heat with
absolute safety in mind is with a unit with a fresh air heating system.
Any and all heating systems that burn oxygen and dump their exhaust into the
air you are breathing are dangerous and one should be thinking of
other better alternatives.
CM is totally odorless creeps up on you and will make you drowsy before it
kills you.
Its way to easy to kill yourself or others in a van or any small enclosure.
Use only while awake or invest in fresh air heat and make absolutely sure
there are no leaks or mistakes in its installation.
I have even read an article recently on a propex heater that was improperly
installed by the vanagon owner's mechanic and it killed him and his wife.
There are many risks I will take while fully awake and functioning, but very
few while sleeping.
Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Fox" <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: Converting Coleman Catalytic Heater to LP tank? (fwd)
> If the statements below are true than why have so many people died while
> using an unvented catalytic heater in a tent or vehicle? I can't imagine
> that the tent the 2 fellows died in was extremely airtight, nor was the
> bus with its top popped at the bus show a few years back when the child
> sleeping in the poptop woke up to dead parents downstairs.
>
> The instructions that come with the heaters specifically say "do not use
> while sleeping, use only with a window open while awake", by the way the
> packaging of these products makes no mention of these specifics, on the
> packaging they say "safe for indoor use", you've got to buy the product
> and read the instructions to find out its not really safe for indoor use
> unless a window is open and not safe to use while sleeping under any
> circumstances. I think the coleman,etc should be sued on that point.
>
> There are safe and much warmer vented alternatives but they start at about
> $400, not a bad deal in my opinion.
>
>
>
> 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/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today!
> http://vote.yahoo.com
| 
