Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 12:17:44 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Heaters for winter camping
In-Reply-To: <4d1b79350812041049y1a278248v4edfff4b4e6089c2@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
I have the same Wave 3 heater that hangs from 2 small screws mounted
into the top of the front westy table leg & can rotate to face several
directions. It is attached to a quick connect propane hose w/ shutoff
valve to the propane line under the sink, & can be removed & installed
in seconds. I generally store it under the rear seat when not in
use. Works great like Jim said, but only in mild weather. Does not
heat well like a Propex, etc. when the temp. is under 30 degrees in my
experience. 3000 BTUH is not enough to quickly warm the volume of the
westy? That said, I have never tried it when the poptop is down or
that space is insulated from the lower space. I will try that this
Winter.
YMMV,
Mr. BZ
On Dec 4, 2008, at 11:49 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
> I don't want to start a heater flame war (pun obviously intended) but
> I did want to mention that I use the olympic Wave III heater mounted
> on the bulkhead aft of the passenger seat, facing backwards, and I am
> very happy with it. It is plumbed through the floor to a tee into the
> propane supply and has an independent shutoff from the rest of the
> system to the stove and fridge.
>
> It is very efficient and doesn't use as much oxygen that the Mr. Buddy
> and Plat Cat heaters do, which is why I bought it. It's more
> expensive, though. It's the size of a pack of 250 sheets of paper
> almost exactly.
>
> It doesn't produce much condensation, and I have installed a 4 inch
> computer fan over the stove window to make sure that proper air
> exchange takes place. You can see the fan mounting details at
> <http://www.knology.net/~felder/Vanagons/> I use one or both of the
> fans to exhaust cooking fumes, too.
>
> Other than the tiny bit of electricity needed by one of the fans, the
> heater of course draws nothing from the battery. The system is utterly
> simple and dependable.
>
> Jim
>
> On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 11:52 AM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> John, google tent propane heaters. They should be cheap to make
>> with
>> air coming in through the sliding window via a custom block-off
>> panel.
>>
>> On 12/4/08, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>>> Heating a van in winter when camped out and away from external
>>> electric
>>> power is always problematic, it seems to me. Catalytic heaters
>>> produce
>>> moisture and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Any kind of open
>>> flame gas heater has the same problem. The gasoline fired heaters
>>> under
>>> the rear seat are very pricey. So trying to get some sort of heat
>>> is a
>>> bit of a problem.
>>>
>>> So, how about this concept. An external, propane fired burner, with
>>> circulating hot water(antifreeze coolant) to supply the heat to a
>>> radiating core (rabbit heater core) inside the van. A small
>>> blower fan
>>> would circulate the air across the heater core. A small inline
>>> circulating pump could be installed in the coolant line if needed -
>>> something wih very low power drain. If the core was made to mount
>>> in a
>>> window like is done with some airconditioners, then the heater
>>> element
>>> could sit on the ground outside and thermosiphon action would
>>> circulate
>>> the coolant.- no circulating pump necessary - only a small blower
>>> fan.
>>> It could be taken down quickly when breaking camp. Another
>>> possibility
>>> would be a permanent mount of the heater core with the coolant lines
>>> being fixed in place, but run to the a point outside the vehicle to
>>> allow quick disconnect fittings for hookup/removal of the propane
>>> burner element. when ready to hit the road.
>>>
>>> Just some heater thoughts on a miserable rainy morning in the deep
>>> south. And to think - when my water line to the broke night before
>>> last,
>>> temps were such that the water spraying on a large grassy plant
>>> made a
>>> beautiful ice image standing in the morning sun. And this morning
>>> it is
>>> raining. Southern winter weather. Yuk!
>>>
>>> John Rodgers
>>> Chelsea, AL
>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Sent from my mobile device
>>
>> Chris S.
>> Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"
>>
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