chain
Pecos
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Joined: 08/27/2009
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I was looking into a portable heater to hook up to my propane tank . The Mr Heater seams like a good one but since it has the ODS low oxygen sensor shut off and I am usually above 7500 feet I heard it doesn't work well . The coleman doesn't have a oxygen sensor so I can use it at high altitudes but it is only3000 BTU as compared to 4000 to 8000 for the Mr Heater. Any suggestions for a heater that will fill this ? My van is a high top Class B so it's a small space to heat .
Thanks , Chain
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
You are probably better off with a smaller heater, than a larger one. I have a 6,000 Btu Olympic Catalytic heater in a 30' Bounder, and it keeps it warm with outside temps as low as 32F.
Are you sure that the heater is not going to produce carbon monoxide?
Fred.
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chain
Pecos
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Golden_HVAC wrote:Hi,
You are probably better off with a smaller heater, than a larger one. I have a 6,000 Btu Olympic Catalytic heater in a 30' Bounder, and it keeps it warm with outside temps as low as 32F.
Are you sure that the heater is not going to produce carbon monoxide?
Fred.
Hi Fred ,
I'm pretty sure it will produce carbon monoxide it says to leave a vent open.
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wsfurrie
Arizona
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Even the small one may be a lot for a B even with the poor insulation they typically have. If you do go that way be sure to have some ventilation. I used cats for years, Mr Heater included but I always wanted an oxygen sensor. They also tend to produce water vapor which in cold weather will condense on windows and walls.
Wayne
Wayne
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bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
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chain wrote:
I'm pretty sure it will produce carbon monoxide it says to leave a vent open.
Catalytic heaters typically produce essentially no carbon monoxide. Mfr's blurb. The vent is necessary since they do consume oxygen.
Seems like a questionable idea to use a cat heater in a low oxygen environment like high altitude. There is a reason the low oxygen sensor goes off...
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reppans
CT
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chain wrote:I was looking into a portable heater to hook up to my propane tank .
Anyone have a good recommendation on how to route a propane extension hose inside the van without drilling a hole?
Also, any ballpark estimates on how much propane you might use at 32 degrees to heat to 50-60 degree range?
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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reppans wrote:chain wrote:I was looking into a portable heater to hook up to my propane tank .
Anyone have a good recommendation on how to route a propane extension hose inside the van without drilling a hole?
Also, any ballpark estimates on how much propane you might use at 32 degrees to heat to 50-60 degree range?
Between the rear doors, at lower portion, route 3/8" flexible copper tubing where doors mate. IMHO the slight pressure applied by the door closing over the copper will do little harm to the tubing/vans door due to the flexing of the rubber door gasket.
***Pics shown are for display purposes only***
If I may ask...
Why the objection to through-the-floor hole drilling?...
2006 DIY Dodge Badged Sprinter Conversion
'Roadhouse' Interior
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booster
Minnesota
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If I am understanding the way these heaters work, they all will have the same problems at high altitude. They mix a fixed amount of air and gas, based on the jet size, if there is less oxygen in the air because of altitude (density), they will not have enough oxygen to fully burn the gas, and could produce carbon monoxide. The fact that one heater will work at high altitude,(no O2 sensor) does not mean it should be used there. It just means the other one with the sensor is a safer design. The same thing happens if you don't supply enough fresh air, you deplete the oxygen in the space. I know a lot of folks use these heaters in vans, but I have never been a big fan of it. There are just too many things that could go wrong, and deadly. In addition, you have to deal with the moisture they add to the air inside the van, which can cause lots of condensation if it is cold out.
You must be talking about a free standing propane tank, or you would already have a line to the inside. If you do plumb it in, be sure to have a propane installer at least check it. A fractured line, or bad connection, from bouncing down the road would be a bad thing.
However you go, be sure to get propane and carbon monoxide detectors, they are cheap insurance.
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reppans
CT
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Hit The Road Jack wrote:
Why the objection to through-the-floor hole drilling?...
I guess I just don't like like any permanent changes for something that will likely be used infrequently (for me). Prefer to use oil radiator electric at a plug-in campground.
BTW, was researching this MrHeater a bit more and found some mention that the little buddy, 4-8k btu, would only accept a high pressure line? I have the 12' BBQ extension for an RT and understand it to be low pressure behind the RT regulator.
This hose is supposed to work in place of the 1lbs propane tanks for BBQ units. Should it also work for a cat heater like the littlse buddy?
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wsfurrie
Arizona
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If you want to use the vehicles propane tank then you are limited to the brand of heater you can use. The Mr Heater type has a built-in regulator which means that you can't use the RV's already regulated fuel. I adapted a Mr Heater once by taking it apart and removing the regulator and then adding hose fittings. It is not for everyone. If you are not familiar with propane systems you should not attempt it. If you are set on using the RV supply for a Coleman type heater you could tap off the refrigerator's supply and put a valve and quick disconnect fitting on the end of the tubing. It could be left inside a cupboard and all you would have to do is crack the cupboard door for room to run the hose. You might be better off with a really good sleeping bag and just heat the rig when you wake up. A B doesn't take long to heat up. Heating water for coffee takes the chill off.
Wayne
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