Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 13:40:00 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: catalytic heaters in campers
In-Reply-To: <20100503140143.ABE6N.232498.imail@eastrmwml49>
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I think that because of the limited space, the only really safe solution is a heater that vents to the outside world or a electric heater that runs off site power.
Tom
www.stir-plate.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 1:02 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: catalytic heaters in campers
Even if the oxygen depletion, CO problems were non-existent, how do you use a heater in a VW camper safely so far as the fire issue is concerned? Where can you put it and provide the necessary clearance and be sure you won't get up in the night and bump it? Seems a pretty risky device to me. DMc
---- W Monk <billmonk@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Another huge issue with the Mr.Heaters is the amount of moisture that
> they generate. Use one for awhile and see how much more condensation
> collects on your windows and the flocking on the underside of your
> poptop. I still say that my propex even though expensive was the best
> comfort item we have purchased so far. I did install an Atwood furnace
> into a friends Vanagon and it was less than half the price of a
> propex. Installation was more complicated,draws more 12v power,but the
> btu's were double if not triple what my propex is. Can't recall the
> exact numbers right now. I will say that I tried a Mr. Heater before
> the propex but like I mentioned above the moisture was overbearing and
> I would not sleep with it lit. I have seen more than one "safety"
> sensor fail on various products costing thousands more than the
> Mr.Heater. Just don't trust it.
>
>
> B
>
> On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 11:59 AM, Geo <ahwahneevw@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On 5/3/10, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> > > The current versions of Mr. Heater have an oxygen sensor that
> > > shuts the device down before the mixture changes enough to
> > > generate significant amounts of CO...
> >
> > I have heard that the safety feature can be fooled by the reduced O2
> > encountered above 9000' or so. Anyone had experience with this?
> >
> > Yes, I do often camp above 9K' and, of course, that is just when a
> > heater is most welcome.
> >
> > Currently I use the simple Coleman catalytic with the battery
> > operated fan but only when I am up & awake and (as noted) the Westy
> > is leaky plus easy top venting thru the roof vent.
> >
> > Geo
> >
--
David McNeely