Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 17:39:42 -0400
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: William Dummitt <williamd@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: installing a vented catalytic heater (L)
In response to a couple of inquiries, I'll post this to the entire list. =
After agonizing over various types of heaters, such as the Suburban and t=
he
Propex, I opted for a VENTED catalytic heater from Thermal Systems in
Tumwater, WA. I hated giving up the space under the rear seat or a
cabinet. Relocating all the stuff stored in those places would have
required a box taking up considerably more floor space than the box I bui=
lt
to hold the heater. If my memory is correct, the box the heater fits in =
is
about 29x14x3 inches-tall, but taking up little floor space. I put it
behind the front passenger seat at a 45 degree angle, roughly facing a
person sitting at the left end of the rear seat. After covering it with
gray formica to match the rest of the interior, it fits in nicely without=
looking out of place. Putting it at a 45 degree angle also makes it
possible to turn the front passenger seat almost all the way around. The=
top of the box then makes a handy small table for a person using the fron=
t
passenger seat facing rearwards. I should mount a cup holder there, but
haven't done so.
The manufacturer's address and phone number:
Thermal Systems Incorporated =
2757 29th Street S.W. =
Tumwater, WA 98502 =
360-352-0539 =
Venting is also very easy with this installation, requiring only a 1 1/2
in. hole through the raised area under the passenger seat (r. of the
battery box) into the wheelwell. The rubber hose provided with the heate=
r
reaches through and past the wheelwell edge to vent nicely. I ran the
propane line from a tee on the propane tank, under the gas tank plate,
through the wheelwell wall to the heater. This type of heater draws 1 am=
p
and so far I've gotten away without an aux. battery, although I will
probably install one eventually. By removing one bolt, unplugging the
thermostat and power wires, and capping the propane line, I can remove it=
,
box and all as a unit, in about five minutes, although I seldom do. I've=
used it a lot and am very happy with the heat it produces and also with i=
ts
miserly propane and electricity use.
I ran the thermostat wire around the edge of the cabin and installed the
thermostat on the wall of the closet. =
I'm pretty happy with this arrangement. It has both advantages and
disadvantages compared to the underseat Propex, which is also a very nice=
solution and is discussed at length in the archives. Anyone desiring a
completely out-of-sight solution should go with furnace-type heaters like=
the Propex or Suburban. I think the vented catalytic heaters are cheaper=
-
about $330 for the 6000-btu size- and a bit easier to install. =
Bill Dummitt