Catalytic Gas Heaters

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**** said:
Does anyone have experience of these heaters. I just bought one of them second hand
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Many years ago I used a catalytic gas heater when camping in a tent but I wouldn’t use one in a motorhome. They give off a vast amount of water vapour which is a recipe for condensation and in an enclosed space they make the air feel very stuffy.

We also have a large one in our living room which we never use. It was fitted by the previous owner as a focal point without the cost of buying one with a proper flue. We tried it once but within 30 minutes the air in the room was foul, despite the essential large air vent. Like any gas appliance it is only safe if it has a good free flowing air supply.
 
Nabsim said:
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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The first thing that struck me about that research was how old it is. It used two types of ‘Rosemount’ heaters described as the only commercially available catalytic gas heater available to study in 1999. It set out to “address the potential CO poisoning hazard that can result when propane heaters are operated in small-enclosed areas that are poorly ventilated, such as a tent”.

The second thing I noticed is just how small the unventilated test chamber was 6.6ft x 3.9ft x 3.9ft. That’s very small, yet the study concluded a healthy adult should suffer no ill effects after 6.5 hours exposure!!

Basically the test was deliberately carried out without adequate ventilation to see if it met the voluntary standard at the time of testing.

Not much help really but does show some interesting data.
 
SquirrellCook said:
It sounds like your using it as instant heating and having it set too high. Leave a large bowl of water somewhere to help with the humidity.
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There is no level setting on mine, I think they give off humidity rather than needing it, however the level of humidity is far less than naked flame gas heaters.
 
Have a google at marine catalytic heaters ,boats are the only place I have seen fitted in the last 30 years ,as the heat is caused by a chemical reaction their is less risk of fire .a boat owners biggest fear. It is clear you will not get the answers you are looking for so it is make your mind up time , I'm out
 
**** said:
They certainly use very little gas for the return of heat.
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A catalytic heater ends up with the same result as a non catalytic one. The butane (or other gas) is converted into heat taking oxygen from the surrounding air. The catalyst allows the process to happen without a naked flame but the emissions are the same i.e. carbon dioxide and water vapour. When I bought one 40 years ago they were sold as being safer for camping because there was no naked flame.
 
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**** said:
, I think they give off humidity rather than needing it.
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Diesel heater? No. It takes air in from inside the van, passes it over a bit thing and blows it back into the van. No way to introduce moisture.
 
**** said:
Yes tried that with diesel heaters, still affected us and with both types they recommend turning them up full on start up and then dialling in the required setting.
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Eberspacher do a initialisation run as part of the start up...
Fan on full speed and fuel ramped up before dropping back to idle when temp set on controller is reached (setting temp too high is a common error as it causes the heater to run through its initialisation run more often.... Using more fuel AND more battery power (around 8 amps at max.... Dropping down to under 2 at idle)
I'm always interested in the comments regarding 'dry heat'...

The eberspacher/Webasto diesel heaters re-cycle air in the cabin space.... Passing it over a heat exchanger then back into the room....

Where does the moisture go that its removing from the air?

I understand that certain types of combustion heating introduce moisture from the combustion process in none indirect heating ...
Lpg/parrafin/catalytic etc

But indirect heat can't really alter humidity levels unless you were sat with enough windows open to allow the increase in cabin air to drive off moisture in the air to the outside environment.
 
st3v3 said:
Diesel heater? No. It takes air in from inside the van, passes it over a bit thing and blows it back into the van. No way to introduce moisture.
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Heat exchanger its the thingy. 😂
All non gas heater will over time dry the air same as central heating in a house, good for van keeping damp at bay, but just place a glass of water or leave some in the sink.
Rememeber your exhaled breath is full of moisture, along with your socks and other openings around the body, burp.
 
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Mum & Dad used to use a catalytic heater in their Autosleeper campervan back in the 1980s. Never did them any harm.

I did get it out of the garage some years back, cleaned it up intending to use it, but I couldn't get it to work so I gave it away to another camper who reckoned he could get it going again. Don't know if he did.
 
Hi All,

Just a reminder that I posted earlier that I had used one in a camper van.

Good bit of kit just have plenty of ventilation as it can get a bit 'stuffy' and I personally would not sleep with it on.

I do have one going spare at the moment but when I offered it for sale some time ago on this site it drew a number of bad,(poorly informed) comments.

Nuff said.

Cheers


Bootys
 
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