Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 16:10:50 -0400
Reply-To: -- Dan Roberts <danielcroberts@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: -- Dan Roberts <danielcroberts@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Installing plat cat weekend fun...
I don't have a picture of my install but here are two sites with photos that
I found helpful when I did my install. I did an installation most similar to
the second site.
http://home.earthlink.net/~johndolsen/id13.html
http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/plat_cat_heater.htm
I ran my copper lines by creating a "T" under the sink, then ran the new
tubing below the shelving, then to the floor and out of the cabinet. I then
ran the tubing directly along the floor at the base of the step between the
back and front compartments--and to the furnace. Obviously, that meant that
I had to drill a small hole for the copper tubing to exit the cabinet wall.
Note that it's helpful, if not necessary, to use flarenuts designed for
propane tubing.
I placed the heater at an angle slightly toward the door. This angle allows
me to turn the passenger seat around while still leaving room for someone to
sit in that seat and have a reasonable amount of room for their feet.
The heater rests on a modest wood cabinet which holds the heater about 3 or
4 inches above the floor. The cabinet is held to the floor with only a few
screws into the floor. I am still experimenting with the positioning of this
heater so I don't want to create a permanent installation.
I'd like to make a suggestion based on my experience with these heaters. I
placed the thermostat behind and above the rear of the driver's seat, on the
wall above the sink. Unfortunately, this position seems to be significantly
colder than the rest of the van. Consequently, the thermostat is slow to
respond to the heat from the Platcat, resulting in an overheated van, unless
I set the thermostat at a deliberately too-low setting. Because of this
problem, I am going to move the thermostat to the outside of the closet
above the engine compartment. I believe that position will all the
thermostat to more quickly and appropriately respond to the heat from the
furnace.
A second suggestion: If you have a thermostat like mine, it doesn't have an
"off" position. I ensure the heater doesn't engage at a low temperature when
I'm gone by placing an in-line valve under a shelf inside the cabinets. By
turning this to the "off" position, I can be certain the furnace doesn't
engage by denying it fuel. However, a better solution, as another List
member mentioned, would be to place a switch on the hot line that services
the furnace and simply turn the thing off! I will make that addition soon.
If any of this isn't clear, please respond with any questions.
Dan
89 Westy 4 speed camper
