Keeping the cold out while letting oxygen in

[wayne49]

"I'd like my van to feel snuggly."
Far easier to make yourself feel snuggly.
Layers on your head, neck, and core is most important for maintaining body warmth.
I will use a sleeping bag while sitting up. Along with finger less gloves for typing. Wearing a hoodie to keep shoulders, neck, and head warm, and when necessary, adding a cotton beanie on my head.

 

[B and C]

Your only worried about oxygen and not about fire or CO in a mobile environment? Your choice, you have been warned.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

I just know that turning on the Wave 3 heater in the cold mornings is the only way that Hubby will make me coffee in the van.

Cold shmold, propane or butane, it's cold at 8000 feet any morning and I'm not willing to do without. I'm from Miami/Ft.Lauderdale and extreme cold (anything below 50°F) ain't on my agenda. I take precautions, but I'll take the risk. We all gotta go anyway and carbon monoxide ain't the worst way.

And besides, there is no open flame in the van. Electric coffee maker and microwave only (450 ah of battery). Cooking with the propane stove is done outside.
Ted

 

[Headache]

as I understand gas "sinks down" while heat rises.

Carbon dioxide is heavier than air.  Carbon monoxide(CO) is slightly lighter than air and may rise with the warm air being expelled from your appliance.

B and C - Your only worried about oxygen and not about fire or CO in a mobile environment?  Your choice, you have been warned.

You missed that part.

 

[DannyB1954]

The new Chinese diesel heaters are supposed to work pretty good. They do use electricity for the fan and pump, but not as much as the old RV furnaces did. Many Youtube videos about them. BTW they do not put combustion gasses into the living space.

 

[Numpty]

IMPORTANT

Carbon monoxide is heavier than air, many people have been killed from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Low levels of carbon monoxide (that didn't kill you) causes permanent damage to your heart muscles
A small vent or two at floor level will allow the carbon monoxide to escape as it sinks to floor level.
Or,
Put on a pair of clean cotton socks before getting into your sleeping bag and you will be warm as toast.

 

[Numpty]

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in small amounts is in the air we breathe everyday.
If the levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the human body rise to a higher level, the body's natural reaction is to gasp for air. As perhaps Maki2 experienced.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is poisonous and as levels rise the human body's reaction is to fall asleep, into a deep sleep and die.

 

[poot_traveller]

Consider an electric blanket or throw, they come in both 12v and 110v (Walmart).
They use very little electricity, and they have 3 settings, low medium high). If you have solar and a charged battery, 40 to 60 Watts per hour will not set you back too much. I think the blanket and your body heat will keep the van warm with minimum ventilation.

That's a good idea to heat the van up, in theory.  I'll give it some thought.  Thanks

 

[poot_traveller]

IMPORTANT

Carbon monoxide is heavier than air, many people have been killed from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Low levels of carbon monoxide (that didn't kill you) causes permanent damage to your heart muscles
A small vent or two at floor level will allow the carbon monoxide to escape as it sinks to floor level.
Or,
Put on a pair of clean cotton socks before getting into your sleeping bag and you will be warm as toast.

I'll get a CO detector.  Thanks

 

[poot_traveller]

I've found a way to keep warm air in and cold air out.

A hole at a low point in the van with a ventilation pipe inside the van running upwards from the hole. Warm air rises, so therefore warm air won't travel down the ventilation pipe. At the same time fresh air can enter into the van through the hole and travel upwards through the ventilation pipe and into the van. I'll have two of these holes with ventilation pipes.

Genius, right?

 

[WalkaboutTed]

We too, have floor vents in the van and when the Wave 3 heater is running, aside from venting the front windows and cracking open the overhead vent, I always make sure the floor vent by the head of the bed is open, just for that reason.
Ted