Catalytic Gas Heaters

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trevskoda said:
Depends how big the dinners are fatso. 😂 😂 😂
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I have still to use my MH Cooker really! Used the oven to finish off a baked tattie a few days ago. Mmmmm. Used the Microwave for the pastie though.

I remember just after I fitted Diesel Heater #2, it stopped working just before I went away for a couple of nights. Instead of using the Induction Hob to boil some water, I used one of those portable camping stoves instead - two mugs worth of water heated for hot chocolate and the van was nice and toasty :)
 
wildebus said:
Gas appliances are inherently inefficient generally when it comes to converting gas to energy.
You can heat the inside of a van pretty well using a gas cooker purely as a by-product of cooking dinner :)
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We can’t eat all the time as much as I like my food🤣. The AKS heater is very efficient……surprisingly so, a 220g cartridge of butane lasts over six hours. Apparently they rely on a chemical reaction rather than conventional combustion and condensation is minimal. As Mick says the heat output isn’t directional.

The Webasto we currently have which has been given a clean bill of health (computer readouts to ‘prove this’) by ‘expert’ Webasto engineers yet we know it has a mind of its own.

The Eberspacher we had failed and was temperamental much of the time, the controllers are very expensive too for all they are!

Both types seem to affect our noses and throats because of the type of heat they give out, especially if used over a few days.

Gas heaters are common in the states, particularly in medium and larger RV’s. The level of ventilation recommended is also surprisingly low. I don’t like the look of the Mr Heater Buddy (established 1984) because they are exactly like conventional gas heaters and create a lot of condensation. The Camco Olympian Wave heater (not sure when Camco first introduced them) was what spurred me onto getting a catalytic heater to evaluate. So far so good as it produces very natural heat more like a real coal fire which we like.

Litigation is one of the biggest industries in the states. If they are so unsafe how are both of these manufacturers still in business?

Getting bit like a gas gas gas thread this 😉
 
molly 2 said:
When the temperature falls in winter I leave the blown air heating on 24 hours dropping the thermostat at night ,cant see the point in having an expencive heating system and being cold ,
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I would never leave any heater on all night In a van.
 
molly 2 said:
When the temperature falls in winter I leave the blown air heating on 24 hours dropping the thermostat at night ,cant see the point in having an expencive heating system and being cold ,
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I detest being cold.....
Didn't like it as a kid and I'm to fat to ride my bike to keep warm these days.....

I go away in the van to have fun and enjoy myself...
Hence I spent the money on a brand new genuine eberspacher and fitted it....

5 years of hard use and its still going strong ready to go in the motorhome
 
mistericeman said:
I detest being cold.....
Didn't like it as a kid and I'm to fat to ride my bike to keep warm these days.....

I go away in the van to have fun and enjoy myself...
Hence I spent the money on a brand new genuine eberspacher and fitted it....

5 years of hard use and its still going strong ready to go in the motorhome
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Definitely beats putting the kettle on ,
 
Back on track……….catalytic gas heaters are favoured extensively in the states and have been for a long time, are there any experts here who can explain why they are unsafe?
 
**** said:
So what are your thoughts about the safety of the catalytic ‘Wave’ heaters installed in thousands of American RV’s, are they dangerous?
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Most of the ones I've worked on over the years have had gas / co detectors built into the gas supply system so the minute anything is detected it automatically shuts the gas supply down, however I've also never come across a catalytic heater in one either.
 
FULL TIMER said:
Most of the ones I've worked on over the years have had gas / co detectors built into the gas supply system so the minute anything is detected it automatically shuts the gas supply down, however I've also never come across a catalytic heater in one either.
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So you must be an expert in the maintenance and repair of gas heaters traditional to campers in the U.K. which are quite different in nature. If I interpret you correctly, during the time you have been doing this you haven’t come across a catalytic heater installed in a van? If so that’s very interesting and confirms my thinking that not many people this side of the pond know very much about them and how they work other than to raise eyebrows and say they are unsafe in this application.

Does anyone here specialise in catalytic type gas heaters though? I‘d really appreciate any expert advice about them.
 
To be honest i have never used my heater, prob don't work anyway, but I'm warm under a blanket and or a sleeping bag, I have slept in snow with just a bag and waterproof cover and the Russians never knew I was there. 😂
 
**** said:
Might be taking the same tack Trev if anyone can conclusively explain why this type of heater is unsafe 😂🤣
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Catalytic Heaters are not unsafe provided your ventilation hole are not blocked. The only real drawback to any naked gas flame in a van is excessive condensation.
 
I bought one some years ago for a damp and drafty house, worst thing I ever did. The idea was to stop ice forming in the house overnight, that bit worked at the expense of feeling ill in the morning.
 
Might that be anything to do with the extent of the damp in the house as you say there was plenty of ventilation 🤓
 
SquirrellCook said:
I bought one some years ago for a damp and drafty house, worst thing I ever did. The idea was to stop ice forming in the house overnight, that bit worked at the expense of feeling ill in the morning.
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The old calor heaters had the water running down the windows and head in a spin, though the other type may be safe but for me diesel indirect heaters is the way to go.
 
I doubt any one in the forum has personal experience of them as they went out favour many years ago, I had one in a boat about 30 years ago but used it for short periods and never felt safe with it , on some people fitted them in early touring caravans before flued gas heaters were fitted .Coleman used to make camping version but stopped years ago, just my opinion if they were safe people would still use them but they don't
 
Have a look at the Chinese portable deisel heaters with built in fuel tank about £90 Ebay
 
It‘s obvious that not many people on the forum have experience of catalytic gas heaters, but loss of favour in the U.K. doesn’t prove anything about their safety and that’s what I’ve been asking for - proof one way or the other and not personal favour or assumption.

I wonder why they are so popular they in the states, is it because they don’t care about personal safety or could it be that they serve a purpose? They certainly use very little gas for the return of heat.

I‘ve looked at Chinese knock off deisel heaters on fleabay but as already mentioned we really don’t get on with the type of heat from deisel heaters, it’s very dry and affects our noses and throats (both Eberspacher and Webasto).
 
If you are after some sort of evidence didnt Nigel post a document earlier on? Someone did but I haven’t scrolled back. I did open if but didn’t read it so no idea if it was for or against this type of heater in vans 👍

edit: yes just checked, post #9 has link to document
 
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