Which Wave to go

[murr]

There has been lots of informed discussion on catalytic heaters on these pages; but I'd like to know which size of Olympic Wave would best suit the shoulder and winter camping seasons? I don't want to be too hot with one or too cold with an undersized other one. I'm planning on ordering a Bobcat shell in the next day or 2 and can't visualize where would be the best one and also the best placement for it. Preliminary ideas are to hang it on the inside of a cupboard door, with a rubber hose, then open it for use - which would keep it out of the way and clean too. Any feedback would be appreciated. thanks.

 

[MarkBC]

I think it depends on how cold the environment, i.e., winter in the southern Arizona or winter in Montana?
And it depends on if you have any insulation for the soft-side part of the camper.
And it depends on how warm you want to feel.
I use a Wave 6, but it seems like most people -- at least, most people who post a Wave-heater opinion -- use a Wave 3.
And then there's the Buddy series.

I've never run my Wave 6 on High for extended periods, but I have during initial start-up/warm-up on cold mornings. I usually run it on Medium in winter, i.e., temps in the single-digits to around 20...probably on Low most of the time.
It's never been too hot in my use...but I don't use it unless it's cooler than the low 40s outside. People who use it when it's not really cold out might find the Wave 6 too hot even on Low.
I might have been happy with the Wave 3...but I'd rather have extra heat "just in case" since I do camp in single-digit temps most winters. I should add that the Wave 6 is significantly bigger than the 3, so that's a consideration if you think you might not ever need the extra heating capacity.

These are radiant heaters, so whatever they're pointing at gets hot first. I got the optional legs for my Wave 6 so I can have it sitting on the floor and point it where I want.

 

[craig333]

Thats excellent advice. I'm fine with a wave 3 but I don't do extreme cold. Nor do I have much in the way of insulation. The nice thing is, the resale value is pretty good so if you get the wrong one you should recover most of your expense.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I would think a Wave 3 would fit most peoples needs best.

 

[generubin]

I use a Wave 3 in an Ocelot shell. An Ocelot is bigger than what your Bobcat. I have camped in temps down to 20 degrees and I have been very comfortable. At the lowest temps, I still wear a sweater inside. Say it is 20 outside, it may be 60 inside when set on high.

As for mounting, I screwed mine to the drivers side, rear panel, just left of the fender well boxed in area.
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/topic/4011/page__view__findpost__p__44938

 

[SunMan]

I've got a Wave 3 and like Gene I can heat my Hawk up to between 50-60 while camped in teens to 20's.

If you were going to be doing a lot of cold winter camping I could see going with a Wave 6 like MarkBC for the extra comfort.

I mounted mine under my old ice box...
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2549/

 

[chnlisle]

Here's a link to SnMan's install.
http://www.jayaronowcampersales.com/Around_The_Campfire.html

 

[murr]

Thanks everyone! There is a lot of helpful information here and it will make my decision making much easier (I hope). Of course it boils down to how cold it might get when we are on a trip - and we don't know that yet. Keep the thread going please, as it is quite interesting. Today I saw someone's creativity at work. For the heating system in his van he simply put a propane stove on the floor and directly over one burner he secured a 4" metal elbow fastened to a 4" flexible metal pipe which then went completely around the inside of the van on the floor - like a section of a paper clip- then vented through the wall quite high up. Yes it took up room but he claimed the obvious; it kept him toasty warm at a minimum cost. I'M NOT RECOMMENDING IT, but I'm sure it worked. We just ordered our Bobcat shell and expect delivery in mid November. We can't wait, but it will give us enough time to come up with lots of ideas and hopefully a good plan.
The heater that has caught my attention is the vented catalytic heater. It sounds safer than the other catalytic heaters and they claim you don't have to leave a vent open but it might not be a bad idea to do so anyway. I wonder exactly what is vented and if one could retro-vent a Wave? hmmmmm. Sounds like a new thread in the making.

 

[Overland Hadley]

IMHO it is best to have a camper vented, ie open window or roof vent, no matter what type of heater you have going. These are very small spaces and it is possible to use up the oxygen just from breathing.

 

[Barko1]

IMHO it is best to have a camper vented, ie open window or roof vent, no matter what type of heater you have going. These are very small spaces and it is possible to use up the oxygen just from breathing.

You must be doing some Heavy Breathing

 

[mojave joe]

Anyone have experience with the Mr. Heater "Buddy Wall Mount" ??

ref:http://www.ebay.com/itm/MR-HEATER-BUDDY-WALL-MOUNT-HEATER-VERY-NICE-/120804531334?_trksid=e17002.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4403879860709727263

A bit less expensive than the wave-

 

[JohnF]

Here is a link to the product info for the Mr. Heater Wall Mount.

Here is mojave joe's original ebay link.

 

[Barko1]

Mr buddy has some altitude limits that the Wave doesn't. Depends on where you camp, I bought a MB but returned it because of this. Much of my camping is high, 9, 10, 11,000', not this time of year

From their manual:

• When operating the heater at altitudes over 7,000 FT.
above sea level, the unit may not burn as bright as in
lower altitudes. This is normal. At higher altitudes, the
heater may shut-off. If this happens, provide fresh air,
wait 5 minutes and re-light. Due to local atmospheric
conditions heater may not re-light.

 

[mojave joe]

Thanks!, I guess I'll go with the wave also-

 

[MarkBC]

Mr buddy has some altitude limits that the Wave doesn't. Depends on where you camp, I bought a MB but returned it because of this. Much of my camping is high, 9, 10, 11,000', not this time of year

From their manual:

• When operating the heater at altitudes over 7,000 FT.
above sea level, the unit may not burn as bright as in
lower altitudes. This is normal. At higher altitudes, the
heater may shut-off. If this happens, provide fresh air,
wait 5 minutes and re-light. Due to local atmospheric
conditions heater may not re-light.

On a related note -- and relating to using the Wave at higher altitude:
Last month when I was camped at 11,000 feet in the White Mts I wondered if I should have vents open wider than when running my Wave 6 at lower elevations.

Seems like the answer is "Yes!". The settings on the heater feed in a fixed amount of propane at any altitude, and for complete combustion the same amount of oxygen would be required at any altitude. But at higher altitudes there is less oxygen because there is less air (the atmospheric pressure is lower).
For example, at 10,000 feet the atmospheric pressure is only 2/3 of what it is at sea level...so to get a fixed amount of oxygen (that is, fixed number of "moles") to the heater, 50% more air volume is required.
So, I'm not sure how to ensure that 50% more air is vented through the camper...but I know that it means that the vents need to be open wider. Yeah, there's not a huge difference between, say 5000 ft and 10,000 (about 20%), but it still could be significant if you were already on the border-line wrt venting.

Something to consider, seems like.

This handy chart (at the really great handy website, "The Engineering Toolbox") gives atmospheric pressure as a function of altitude.

 

[Barko1]

Thanks!, I guess I'll go with the wave also-


Due to local atmospheric
conditions heater may not re-light.

That is what got me, when at elevation is often when I most need the heat! Although one year in Big Bend, at 1800' by the river, it dropped to 9 . That was in my tent.

 

[Lighthawk]

Anyone know what the consumption of the Wave 3 is? I've googled and haven't found out.
We ran out last trip and had to refill at Lee Vining, then spent one night on the E. Walker.

I just tanked up today, preparing for five or six nights in DV. I was surprised when the tank took 1.1 gallons. I know we've been decadent, running the factory furnace and the Wave (on low, all night), but at a gallon a day I'm only good for four or five days out!

 

[MarkBC]

Anyone know what the consumption of the Wave 3 is? I've googled and haven't found out.
We ran out last trip and had to refill at Lee Vining, then spent one night on the E. Walker.

I just tanked up today, preparing for five or six nights in DV. I was surprised when the tank took 1.1 gallons. I know we've been decadent, running the factory furnace and the Wave (on low, all night), but at a gallon a day I'm only good for four or five days out!

[What follows is off-topic, sorry, but it was prompted by Lighthawk's discussion of propane-tank emptying.]

Lighthawk: When you filled up your run-out tank in Lee Vining, did it take a full 5 gallons or close to it?
I'm wondering 'cause I don't recall my tank ever taking much more than 3+ gallons...maybe 4 (though I've never run out, so I had no reason to think it was empty). I started wondering if this always-taking-less-to-fill-than-I-expect was because it's supposed to be filled while on its side/horizontally, since it's intended to dispense while on its side -- made sense to me.
So -- when I went to have the propane tank filled before my most-recent trip I laid the tank down on its side next to the big source tank -- as if to suggest/prompt the propane guy to fill it horizontally. The propane guy -- the gas-station owner, not a dumb kid -- peered at the label on the top of the tank and saw something I'd somehow never noticed: In symbols the tank said (essentially) "use tank horizontally" and "fill tank vertically". Oh...well....I guess that's pretty clear, then. Nevermind.

I still am surprised that I've never used more than 4 gallons...

[Please resume topic, and I apologize for the interruption

]

 

[Lighthawk]

I believe we bought close to four and a half gallons in LV after running out. So buying another 1.1 gals. today seemed like a lot. I wonder if the elevation has anything to do with it? datum: Lee Vining 6780', Grass Valley 2500'

It seems there's meant to be a percentage unfilled for expansion, but I have to beg off since I really don't know much about propane. I think this is valuable info for which Wave to go, i.e. how many nights can your Wave run before you are forced to drive to the nearest town for supplies.

The newer FWC carry two tanks, which can help you avoid running out. There are also gadgets to buy. I splurged on an adapter called Steak Saver, by Mr. Heater, which will let me adapt my one pound bottles to the acme nut of the main tank. At least I can make coffee in the morning and cook a dinner if I run out.

I also saw a tank gauge with a (plug in) remote readout that was expensive and aimed at the BBQ crowd. I wish we had more accurate ways to judge our propane levels. Which brings us back to the thread, Which Wave to go!

 

[Overland Hadley]

The Wave 3 uses 1/8 pound per hour on high. So eight hours on high uses one pound.