Catalytic Wave Heater Alternative

[trailrider]

I purchased a Coleman BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic heater. I think it puts out 3000 BTU of heat. It has high and low settings. It is made for a portable propane cylinder. With fittings I converted it to be used on a large BBQ tank. From Amazon it was $59 last October. We used it in Utah last November. Like a Wave you need to ventilate the camper. I installed a CO monitor and already had a smoke detector. When buying a CO monitor make sure you get one that is RV rated. They are tested and rated for lower temperatures.

The heater worked fairly well. I had to provide a fair amount of fresh air which impacted efficiency. There was a very slight odor even after the initial dust burn off.







Some day maybe I will camp with someone that has a small wave to compare them.

 

[MarkBC]

I purchased a Coleman BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic heater. ...Like a Wave you need to ventilate the camper. I installed a CO monitor and already had a smoke detector. ...

... I had to provide a fair amount of fresh air which impacted efficiency. There was a very slight odor even after the initial dust burn off.

How did you figure out how much fresh air you had to provide? Was it based on the manufacturer recommendations, like, "6 square inches" or a direct measurement?

I've never smelled anything from mine (Wave 6)...what was the odor like?

FWIW: I set the venting for my catalytic heater roughly based on what was recommended in the instructions (guesstimating how many square inches I opened). When I bought a new CO detector (replacing my expired FWC-installed detector) I got one that has a readout of CO ppm. And I learned that my CO levels were very low -- barely detectable, in the noise. So I probably could vent considerably less than I am, if I wanted to make it more efficient, bring in less cold air -- especially when it's very cold outside.
Maybe I'll run an experiment on this...

 

[trailrider]

I tried to use the recommendations in the Wave manual even though I had a Coleman. I would crack a rough vent about a 1/2"-3/4" and partially open a couple of turnbuckle doors. When it is cold outside below freezing you can feel the cold air at the floor.

The smell is hard to describe. It is kind of a slight burning combustion smell. I think it is unique due to the platinum catalyst.

I do not have a digital readout on my CO detector. I found out when I use the Coleman stove inside with the heater I need more ventilation (detector went off). The stove probably generates a fair amount of CO.

Mike

 

[MarkBC]

When I'm running my Wave 6 on Low -- about 3000 BTU level -- I have one turnbuckle-access slider open about an 1 inch and the roof vent open about 1/4 - 1/2 inch (at its widest point). With that level of venting the CO detector readout has shown, at most, 13 ppm...which is way down in the safe zone.
But I'm not recommending these as standard practice -- just my practice.

One drawback of a catalytic heater (though still totally acceptable for me) is that as it gets colder outside the heater runs less efficiently, effectively. That is, you need to vent in the same volume of outside air but that outside air is colder so you get less net heating for the same amount of propane burning. Oh well...