Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 21:36:31 -0800
Reply-To: rpc <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: rpc <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Mr. Heater Buddy?
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When I use my Coleman heater in the van, I fit the green tank into the hole of the head rest facing to the back. This seems very secure. I still have reservations about leaving it on, but I have fallen asleep with it on without a full tank. I bought a 9volt CO detector for traveling now. Costs about $20.
If I had on-board propane I'd get a propex.
Here are the results of a test I did less than 2 years ago with the Coleman Cat Heater.
I would have ran the test longer but it was getting late and had to end it. The CO "parts per million" recorded was no higher than if someone had smoked a cigarette(10ppm)--and MUCH, MUCH less than sitting in traffic which can be in the hundreds!
Good Luck,
Chris C 90MV
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Test Carbon Monoxide inside Vanagon. 1990 MultiVan with camper top up for 4 hours.
April 4, 2004 Time 7:15 pm
Temp 42 degs in 40 out
No wind
Full Moon
Driver side sliding window open to first notch. Curtain drawn shut.
Heat--Coleman platinum catalytic "sport-cat" with full tank.
Temp measured from center of van at lower roof latch with digital thermometer.
CO measuring with "home model Nighthawk" 120 volt detector placed on seating area. And professional model hand held type-- always powered on, set on dash.
The Nighthawk will detect and store highest reading.
Did not open doors.
I was not inside van.
after 2 hours 55 degs in, 35 out
CO at 10-11 ppm
after 4 hours 55 degs in, 30 out
CO at 10 ppm
The Nighthawk registered 0 during checks because it is designed to ignore low and harmless readings.
The reading of 10-11 ppm is same that I have observed while camping for short times (1-2 hours)with same professional detector and is not harmful even if over 8 hours.
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Inside temp may have also been affected by the heat sink of the roof latch the temp probe was resting in.
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