Catalytic Heaters

[GoingMobile]

I impulsively ordered an Olympian Wave 3 Catalytic Heater, with cover and legs. Seems the carbon monoxide is not a problem but making sure to have adequate oxygen entering the space is a consideration. Also I'm wondering how well it would work at higher elevations?

Any experience with these, observations, tips, limitations, etc. appreciated. Thanks.

 

[eDJ_]

I have an old version of one of these I was given. I didn't really know what I had until Bob Wells reviewed one in a Youtube video. This was on the old "CRVL forum". Big margin of safety he was describing. Not so much heat that they generate

I was thinking of modifying a moving quilt that would cordon off just the sleeping area alone and slightly opening one of the tilt out rear door windows or even modifying a rear door so that fresh air could enter. This would be accomplished with a small 12 volt fan much like a computer fan. A timing circuit would have it run a few minutes each hour.

But it is probably better to have a warm sleeping bag and not try and sleep with a heating source that would burn oxygen out of the air and give of carbon monoxide.

 

[bullfrog]

We had a home built well insulated almost air tight 7’ x 7’ x 6’ camper with a Buddy heater and had issues with it but it did allow us to determine that safety and ventilation are concerns and added vents and fans so that when we got the Wave 3 we knew how important ventilation was and how much we needed to operate it safely. If we had gotten the Wave 3 first we probably wouldn’t be here now! The Wave 3 worked fine at 7,200’ which is as high as we have had it, but you do require even more ventilation at altitude.

 

[VanFan]

I impulsively ordered an Olympian Wave 3 Catalytic Heater, with cover and legs. Seems the carbon monoxide is not a problem but making sure to have adequate oxygen entering the space is a consideration. Also I'm wondering how well it would work at higher elevations?

Any experience with these, observations, tips, limitations, etc. appreciated. Thanks.

Have not used in the van, but have in the stick and brick during a power outage with the propane tank outside and hose running through a partially opened window. It was quiet, provided much needed warmth, and used very little propane. In the van, I would probably set the propane on a table outside the front window.

Originally purchased for the van to replace a Mr. Buddy heater that I was never comfortable using and found useless where needed most at high altitude. Also bought fittings to make it usable with 1 lb. green propane bottles. I no longer use these, so it was kind of a waste.

The legs are a pain to attach on a per use basis, and left attached make storage harder. I leave them loose enough to swivel out of the way a little, but it doesn't work all that well. I have considered using heavy duty Velcro to attach them for occasional use. Right now, I keep it in a plastic box with lid for protection. It takes up too much space. Thanks for reminding me to figure this out before it gets cold!

Unlike the Buddy, the Wave 3 is not really an open flame, so I would be comfortable using it in a CLAM or similar shelter. (Not saying you should, though.)

 

[GoingMobile]

Thanks for the replies. My understanding from what I’ve read is that it doesn’t produce much in the way of carbon monoxide but that it does use up oxygen so creating an environment with a lack of oxygen is the danger. I did order the feet as well as a cover. Sounds like there might be a better way to stabilize it. I’ll have to experiment with that.

 

[bullfrog]

I actually bolted my feet to an air bake cookie pan as a base so should anything fall in/on it would hopefully stay within the pan. Air bake cookie pans also make a good heat shield as they can be 85 degrees on the side away from the heat and several hundred degrees on the other. Using 1’ spacers and forcing air flow through it with a fan quickly heats up an area. Experiment at your own risk as results may vary.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I've got 22 seasons using Wave Catalytic heaters. Just make sure you have some fresh air coming in and obviously keep combustible objects away from the heater. Duh.

I recommend to physically mount it on a piece of thin steel plate as a heat shield and then mount or hang that steel plate on a wall or other sturdy support, with about 6 inches of clearance on bottom and sides, and at least 2 feet above.

Also, you need to install a CO detector and a smoke alarm, on the opposite interior wall or a shelf near your bed if you plan on using it at night.

When you first light the unit, it will 'flashover' several times....this might startle you, but it's normal. Slightly waving your hand or puffing on the pad (from 2 feet away!) will accelerate the heating process while you are holding the knob in. Once you see that about 1/4th of the pad is dimly glowing, release the knob and set it to the HI setting.

I will light mine up and let it burn on HI for 10 minutes or so to fully heat the pad, then reduce the setting to LO and as long as I have some fresh air, I sleep soundly. In the morning, expect to see moisture on the windows, as the main by-product of the catalytic process is, you guessed it. Water.

And...as Steve Jobs used to say: One more thing: be sure to cover it when not in use. And that means every day, even during heating season. Buy or fabricate a cover and use it. Let the heater cool for a half hour, then cover it. If you don't, the life of the heater and the heat output will suffer what is called 'pad poisoning' from dirt, dust, lint, whatever, that finds it's way onto the pad when wind blows into your camper or van during the day when the heater is uncovered.

Just a few tips from a Wave 3 user.

 

[peteg59]

/\...All good advice on the wave heaters.
I have a wave 6 in my schoolie hard mounted to the wall too.
The cover they offer as an accessory is critical and should be part of the initial purchase and utilized upon installation!

The best type of heater is a gas or diesel outside ventilated type.
Many Chinese knockoffs of the venerable Webasto and/or Espar are good, but not so much at altitude as the high-end units.

 

[LargeMarge]

...Olympian Wave 3 Catalytic Heater...experience with these, observations, tips, limitations, etc...

.
2003, we built our ExpeditionVehicle.
Our interior is about 7x12 x 7h, around 600cf.
Our insulation is excessively obsessive, our windows tiny and dual-pane.
.
We acquired three Wave 3 catalytic heaters, we use one on 'LOW'.
Nearly two decades full-time live-aboard, the other two heaters are new-in-box unopened.
.
We open two windows on opposite walls.
The escaping warm air carries odors and humidity.
.
We have two smoke detectors from different manufacturers.
We have two CO detectors from different manufacturers.
.
.
An aside:
Early in our journey, we experienced monsoons over the bed and other interior drenchery.
Avidly believing in the 'No! Holes! In! The! Roof!' theory of avoiding moisture invasion, we taped all the roof seams, we sealed the roof as a unit, and none of that helped the interior humidity caused by -- we incorrectly presumed -- leaks in the roof.
T'wasn't that a'tall.
.
The humidity was from closed windows.
And, as you might imagine, everything inside was soaked squishy:
* bedding
* towels
* upholstery
* pillows
* matches
* etcetera.
.
We slowly discovered the proper window openings to flush humidity sourced from the combination of:
* cooking humidity
* breathing humidity
* humidity from the heater.
.
Another aside:
With our bizarre amount of insulation, we rarely burn the heater above about 40°f.
Example:
November 3rd, 2022.
Eugene, Oregon.
No heater all night, windows open a half-inch each.
Frost on the Dodge windshield.
Inside the rig, we never noticed outside got below freezing.
.
And yet another aside:
The Wave 3 catalytic heater is marginal at heating air.
We discovered it works better by heating something, so we laid our floor with slate.
On its stumpy legs, the heater heats the stone, then the stone slowly radiates warmth into our habitat.
.
A side benefit:
* the warm slate floor is tootsie comfy.
.
.
An aside:
For the first couple-three weeks, we covered the cooled heater like 'Internet advice' says to do.
But, for most of the past two decades, it sits naked, it is stored naked... and we use it naked.
.
.
For our introduction to our rig with plenty of portraits, plus our reasons for our decisions:
https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/expeditionvehicle-build.44908/#post-576110

 

[LoupGarou]

I started with the Mr Buddy, then switched to the Wave 6. I've since switched to a diesel heater. Propane was too much of a pain to source.

 

[Zerpersande]

I actually bolted my feet to an air bake cookie pan as a base so should anything fall in/on it would hopefully stay within the pan.

It took me at least three tries at reading that before I understood what you meant. Thought you were joking.

 

[bullfrog]

I am paranoid about heating small spaces with open flames or surfaces hot enough to ignite flammable materials I guess because I taught welding for several years and saw all sorts of “impossible” accidental fires occur. Having a metal base/shield that stops most heat from transferring and igniting the surrounding area has always been a priority for me. Sorry for the confusion in the post!

 

[Zerpersande]

Sorry for the confusion in the post!

No, happens to everybody. It was perfectly clear what you were trying to say after several reads. The first reading locked my mind onto a picture of someone’s feet bolted to a cookie sheet. Good chuckle.

 

[Benjamin Dejo]

Thanks for the replies. My understanding from what I’ve read is that it doesn’t produce much in the way of carbon monoxide but that it does use up oxygen so creating an environment with a lack of oxygen is the danger. I did order the feet as well as a cover. Sounds like there might be a better way to stabilize it. I’ll have to experiment with that.

I have used the wave 3 at 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains with no issues.

 

[MotorVation]

I have a Wave3 in my van. I've used it from 150' below sea level to 8000' above with no issues. It sips propane, especially on low. Moisture has never been a problem because I always have plenty of ventilation. I have a CO sensor as well. I wouldn't run a propane appliance without one

 

[Camper]

I have a new Wave 3 heater and a new Dickinson vented outside heater.... I'm ready for cold weather.

 

[bullfrog]

Be sure to have a good sleeping bag you can keep dry as a back up.

 

[Camper]

The coldest weather I will be in will be at Quartzsite, but I still like to be prepared and warm too.

 

[MotorVation]

There will be times when the Wave3 is fighting to keep up with the cold, say below 40 degrees f (in my particular van) but it's a radiant heater and I sit within a couple of feet of it. It warms objects before it heats the air so I can stay relatively warm when it's noticeably colder a couple of feet further away. I also have a portable Heater Buddy as a backup but rarely use it. I crawl into my sleeping bag and turn all heat off when I'm sleeping

 

[hugemoth]

The coldest weather I will be in will be at Quartzsite, but I still like to be prepared and warm too.

It can get cold in Quartzsite, I've seen 16°F.