Date:         Tue, 16 Nov 2004 21:04:44 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Cabin Heat / Aux Heating / Propane Heater/ camping heater /
              pics
In-Reply-To:  <00e301c4cc43$6a457af0$15032a45@nyobtdxnb11og2>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

>
> Conversely, by using the regulated 1 psi pressure you can literally
> hold
> back the pressure on the end of the hose with your thumb.
> all your connections, fittings, valves etc are under very low pressure
> and
> really have to have a gaping opening to leak.
> I am using 200 psi reinforced fuel line hose I  bought from Ace.
> I used two zip ties per barb fitting instead of the serrated clamps
> which
> overtighten and cut the hose ends.
> With only the 1 psi I am very relieved now about the risk of the gas
> itself.

I think you were very smart about the way you set this up.
>
> I still agree if there could be a pellet fuel or lamp oil fuel that
> could
> offer some piece of mind.
>
> Lamp oil though if leaking could be worse than propane, no?

No. the only downside to the fuel oil, really is getting kerosene
smell. Or possibly a fire. But you won't get an explosion.

Thirty years ago I used to heat my bus with one of those big, black
kerosene heaters with the round wick that went out of style  when the
modern kerosene heaters came on the scene. It provided heat when he
heater cables popped when I pulled then engine one time and I never
replaced them. Idiot. That thing would turn over on an off-ramp, say,
and I'd leisurely pull over and set it upright again and wipe up the
kerosene from the rubber mat. I thought nothing of it. Never had any
trouble though besides the kerosene smell in winter, and I never tried
to use it when I stopped. I had an hour drive between home and work and
it was pretty cozy in there.

It occurs to me that since you are using a strong light-emitting heat
source that you could use a photocell and a relay/servo to cut off fuel
oil (or gas) if you wanted rather than relying on the thermocouple
which is pretty slow to react. The photocell would give you instant
shutoff.

Jim
>
> Doug
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Felder" <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 4:55 PM
> Subject: Re: Cabin Heat / Aux Heating / Propane Heater/ camping heater
> /
> pics
>
>
>> Yep, very cool. Er, warm. And since it runs on mantle heat, you could
>> do the same with aladdin-type mantles and not have to mess with the
>> potential danger of gas.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> On Nov 16, 2004, at 6:18 PM, Mike Collum wrote:
>>
>>> <snip>
>>> The completely "HOME GROWN Primus Lantern mantle fresh air heater".
>>> "Ta-da!"
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>> Now THAT is a nifty bit of imagineering!
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>