Catalytic heater

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Dallas Baillio
Posts: 1181
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:52 pm

Post by Dallas Baillio »

On my recent 4 month trip I dry camped (WalMart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.) almost every night. On really cold nights of 20 to 30 degrees and sometimes as low as the single digits I used the catalytic heater in the early evening to conserve battery life to be used by my furnace blower overnight. Each day I ran the generator to charge my batteries particularly if I thought I would not be driving long enough to add a charge to the batteries. The down side for the portable catalytic heater is that it used a one pound propane bottle in less than three hours.
Dallas Baillio
2001 26RSB
Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Member
al1florida

Post by al1florida »

The forced air furnace not only uses a lot of battery power, it really uses a lot of propane. The catalytic heater is about 95% efficient, converting almost all the BTU's available in the propane to heating your RV. Compare that to your furnace by standing outside by your furnace vent and see how much heat is wasted.

For those of you who don't spend much time in colder (40 degrees or less) and don't do much dry camping, this really doesn't matter. The 1500 watt electric heater mentioned above works fine. If you do camp in colder weather and dry camp a lot, the catalytic heater is wonderful.

We have used an Olympian 6 heater in all our RV's since 2006 and wouldn't be without one. We always properly provide proper ventilation. In cold weather we run it from the time we get up until the time we go to bed. We may use the furnace We usually don't use it at night. Not so much for the CO which has never set off our CO detectors, but for any possible CO2 buildup. If the nighttime temps do drop into the 20's or lower I do leave it on low and it keeps the inside temps about 45-50 degrees. We do like to sleep in cool temps with lots of blankets. As long as the early morning (6am) temps don't get below 40* we are comfortable.
al1florida

Re: Catalytic heater

Post by al1florida »

mockturtle wrote:Has anyone installed a catalytic heater in their BF using a T-connection from the propane tank?
In our BF I "T'ed" off the propane line at the cooktop, ran a copper line over to the edge of the counter by the sofa and installed a quick disconnect connector to operate our Olympian 6 heater on a flexible hose.

This the 4th RV in 7 years I have installed this setup. For 4 1/2 of those years we were fulltiming.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.
al1florida

Re: catalytic heater

Post by al1florida »

Mel Wilbur wrote:Here is an interesting report regarding this topic. http://cs.cpsc.gov/ConceptDemo/SearchCP ... splay=true
I must be missing something here. This 2003 report starts off stating they only know of one heater, and that is portable one operated by a one pound propane bottle. This not the Olympian catalytic heater mentioned earlier.

Quote from the report: "At the time the project was conducted, CPSC staff was aware of only one manufacturer selling a small catalytic heater for recreational use. This heater was designed for use with a disposable 1 -pound bottle of propane, which is typically used with camp heaters."

Farther down they state the tests were done in a room about 6'x4'x4'. Pretty small compared to our "large" BF's. Was the report geared toward using the heater in a tent, rather than a RV?

I don't see where this report relates to the Olympian heater.

Other than having used a Olympian heater for 7 years I have no interest in the company making the heater.
charlesbell
Posts: 145
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:41 am

Catalytic heater

Post by charlesbell »

I've learned a lot! Thanks for the explanations everyone.
Charles / Cape Canaveral, Florida 2013 23FL
mockturtle

Post by mockturtle »

Thanks, Al! I look forward to the pictures! Of course, my floor plan is different from yours but the cooktop seems the logical place to tie in.
tomzleapin
Posts: 485
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:15 am

Post by tomzleapin »

Pictures of my install:
Image Image
Tom
2005 24' RB
Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible on tow dolly
New Hope, MN
al1florida

Post by al1florida »

Pictures of my catalytic heater:

--
Attachments
Be sure to keep the heater covered when not in use.  Dust on the heating pad will ruin the heater.
Be sure to keep the heater covered when not in use. Dust on the heating pad will ruin the heater.
IMG_7621 (Small).JPG (56.91 KiB) Viewed 10932 times
Keep the heater pointed away from the sofa or wood paneling.
Keep the heater pointed away from the sofa or wood paneling.
IMG_7619 (Small).JPG (56.18 KiB) Viewed 10932 times
Quick disconnect mounted in side of counter
Quick disconnect mounted in side of counter
IMG_7618 (Small).JPG (48.03 KiB) Viewed 10932 times
al1florida

Post by al1florida »

"T" installed in propane line to cooktop.
Attachments
"T" installed in propane line to cooktop.
"T" installed in propane line to cooktop.
IMG_7617 (Small).JPG (52.45 KiB) Viewed 10930 times
mockturtle

Post by mockturtle »

Thank you so much, Al & Tom. Very helpful!

PS: Al, I see you have a knife magnet!
al1florida

Post by al1florida »

mockturtle wrote:Thank you so much, Al & Tom. Very helpful!

PS: Al, I see you have a knife magnet!
It works well. The only the knife with a 10" blade has fallen off. There is a pullout pantry with a knife block located at the foot of the rear side bed. However the knife block is at the top and any knife with a blade over about 3" long will not fit. Also it is not convenient to the stove/sink.

What you can't see in the picture is that I removed the microwave from over the stove and put in the cabover area above the drivers seat. Then I shortened the the cabinet height by about 4" (that is I raised the bottom of the cabinet by about 4"). Now we can see the stove when we cook. I took out the vent hood. Since it didn't vent to the outside it wasn't of much use. I have plans to make a hood which is vented to the outside, but haven' gotten around to that yet. Maybe next year. Too many other projects ahead of that.
mockturtle

Post by mockturtle »

I agree that the knife block isn't terribly convenient but it is secure and I use mine. I used a knife magnet at home for a time, though. Very handy.
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stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Post by stevek »

Another interesting video on installation.
Scroll to the bottom of the page.

http://www.goodsamclub.com/rvcentral/Ma ... _campaign=
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
mockturtle

Post by mockturtle »

Thanks for the video, Steve. I've been wondering if, rather than T-ing into the propane line, it mightn't be easier [for me, anyway] to just buy a portable 20# propane tank to use with the cat heater. I would want it to be portable, anyway. What do you all think? Anyone use one?
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stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Post by stevek »

If you want it portable, and talking about a separate tank anyway,
you might think about this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Heater-MH12T ... 484a3ed8ae
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
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