Olympian Wave 3 on sale on Amazon

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66788

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If you are interested in an Olympian Wave 3 catalytic heater, they are on sale on Amazon.com for $163.00 with free shipping. This is a fantastic price for a truly great heater, sized just right for a van.
 
Thank You. $173.00 with tax. $40.00 cheaper than any I saw today. Just bought it.


Cheap price on the legs and cover also. I bought them and a 12 ft. regulator hose. I am set for the cold now.. Many thanks.
 
I've been using the Wave 3 for years and am satisfied with its over all performance. It does take a while to heat the van when it's in the 30's though. I never use it when sleeping and start it after waking in the morning. Then go back to bed till it's comfortable enough to be up. Just saying.
 
For six years that I lived in a box van in Alaska, I tuned the Wave 3 on in October and it ran 24/7 until May. The only time I turned it off was to switch bottles. When it got below zero, I left it on high but also turned on the Wave 8. That got me through.

One of the best pieces of equipment I've ever owned!
Bob
 
I bought one . Why the tax? I guess must be shipped from Florida. Wasn't paying attention. Still good price!
A SEEKER
 
If I remember correctly, Amazon was one of the big online retailers that was threatened by the government about not charging tax on purchases. Amazon caved. I think that's why.

Camco 57331 Olympian Wave-3 3000 BTU LP Gas Catalytic Heater
Automotive
Sold by Amazon.com LLC
Facebook Twitter Pinterest $163.00
Item Subtotal: $163.00
Shipping & Handling: $10.89
Promotion Applied: -$10.89
Total Before Tax: $163.00
Estimated Tax: $13.45
Order Total: $176.45
Still a good price.
 
My tax was less. neener neener
Item(s) Subtotal: $163.00
Shipping & Handling: $0.00
-----
Total before tax: $163.00
Estimated tax to be collected: $9.78
-----
Grand Total: $172.78
 
LOL , Thanks for the laugh.. Almost four dollars difference.. I knew Texas had high taxes but that' s a major bite.
 
I have to ask, why get this over the Mr Buddy heater? Mr Buddy is a catalytic heater too, costs half that of the Olympian Wave 3, and has higher BTUs to boot.

I can't find a reason to spend them money since I already have the Mr Buddy... am I missing something?
 
I can't speak for anyone else, but a friend has had both and he recommended the Wave. I haven't used either one yet, I guess time will tell if I spent too much. Dam sure wouldn't be the first time.

Travel Safe. Bob J.
 
Van-Tramp said:
I have to ask, why get this over the Mr Buddy heater? Mr Buddy is a catalytic heater too, costs half that of the Olympian Wave 3, and has higher BTUs to boot.

I can't find a reason to spend them money since I already have the Mr Buddy... am I missing something?

I have both and have tested them in my bedroom at night. The Mr. Buddy sets off my smoke detector and makes a noticeable odor. The Olympian Wave makes no odor and does not set off the smoke detector. It is cleaner burning than the Mr. Buddy.

From my research on line it appears that the Olympian Wave series heaters are safe to use while sleeping provided that they are given the small amount of fresh air that they require by slightly venting a window or roof vent.

Another plus is that the Olympian Wave series is a low pressure feed system, whereas the Mr. Buddy is a high pressure feed system.
 
This is one guys review of the Olympian models and here-say about others. Kind of a long read, but does provide some good info about catalytic heaters...

Catalytic Propane Heaters: Catalytic heaters differ from other propane heaters in that the propane is combined with oxygen to create heat on the surface of a hot platinum catalyst, so that there is no flame. The absence of an open flame, and the relatively low temperature (the catalyst in the Olympian glows a faint, dull, red - visible only in the dark) increases the safety, relative to open flames. The catalytic process also results in a nearly perfect conversion of propane and oxygen into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor, with no significant carbon monoxide produced.

Advantages of Catalytic Heaters:

Portability: Because of the "clean" burning of the propane, a catalytic heater need not be vented to the outside. It can be installed on or in any wall. When used with an attached 1 lb. tank, or connected to the RV's existing propane piping with a flexible propane hose and quick-connect fittings, it is almost as portable as an electric cube heater.

Note that NFPA 58: Liquified Petroleum Gas Code prohibits the indoor use of propane containers holding more than 2 pounds of propane, except in emergencies. There is work underway to eventually approve a special new design of non-metallic propane tank for certain indoor applications.

Directionality: A substantial amount of heat is radiated straight out from the front of the heater, warming the body it is pointed at. Sitting in front of the heater is almost like sitting in front of an open fireplace - the cozy feeling of the radiant heat allows keeping the rest of the room cooler.

Quiet: In very quiet surroundings, a very faint hiss may be heard. In most conditions, this is inaudible.

No Electricity: Most catalytic heaters use little or no electricity - a major advantage when boondocking in cold weather.

Efficient: The catalytic heater is 100% efficient in converting propane to heat. This is a somewhat misleading statement, since a window must be opened slightly while the heater is in use, to remove water vapor and CO2, and to supply oxygen. Even with the heat loss from the open window, the catalytic heater will use considerably less propane than a conventional propane furnace.

Disadvantages of Catalytic Heaters:

High Cost: A catalytic propane heater costs considerably more than a good quality electric heater. The catalytic element may eventually become contaminated and (for the Olympian brand heaters) must be replaced at the factory - a substantial expense. [Note added 9 April 2010: Our Olympian is now 14 years old; Recently, I dug it out of storage for loan to a friend whose home furnace had failed. It still worked just fine after being stored in its protective vinyl cover for about nine years.]

Installation required: Unless you understand plumbing and are "handy", you will have to hire someone to connect the heater to your existing propane supply. I did it myself - see below. Some smaller models use disposable 1-lb tanks. This avoids the installation problem, but makes them much more expensive to operate. Another option is to use a long extension hose to a 20 lb tank which must (by law) be kept outside the living area.

Large Size (for some models): Compared to an electric cube heater, my Olympian catalytic propane heater is substantially larger and more awkward to store. The Coleman product, on the other hand, is quite compact. The propane hose is stiffer than an electric cord, and can't be plugged in to as many locations in the RV. The small Coleman heater can only be used with one-pound tanks, a cost and convenience issue.

Altitude limitations: The models with oxygen depletion sensors can not be used above 5000 to 7000 feet (depending on brand). The Olympian models without ODS can be used up to 12,000 feet, according to Olympian.

Safety Concerns: Any portable heater requires care and common sense. A portable propane heater requires additional care. There is no tip-over shutoff (at least on our model - some brands do include this), although the legs on the portable model make it quite stable. Although the temperature of the heating element is much lower than that of an open flame (and much lower than many electric heaters), it still could start a fire if in contact with flammable material. The flexible hose and connections on a portable heater need periodic inspection for leaks. The propane should be shut off at the source when the heater is not in use. Forgetting to open a window when the heater is in use is a risk. These heaters are often mounted permanently on or in a wall. This eliminates some (but not all) of the above safety concerns.

Product Recommendations:

I have experience with only one brand - Olympian - and what follows below is directly applicable only to this brand. I have heard second-hand unfavorable comments about a Coleman catalytic propane heater, but have not seen one. Vented catalytic heaters are available, but these are lower efficiency, much more restricted in their installation options (requiring a permanent vent through a sidewall of the RV), and may require electricity for a fan.

I would note that the size and configuration of the catalytic medium is very different between the Coleman and Olympian heaters. The geometry of the Olympian looks to me as though is is inherenently more efficient than the Coleman. Also, the catalyst might be a different material with different conversion efficiency. Olympian says the catalyst is platinum (perhaps partially explaining the high cost of the product). Coleman does not identify their catalyst.

Olympian makes several models of heater suitable for RV use. For comparison, a 1500 watt electric heater puts out 5200 BTU/hr. Counting some loss for the required ventilation, the 6000 BTU/hr propane heater is roughly comparable to a 1500 watt electric heater.

Model Heat Output
(min. - max.) BTU/Hr Notes
Wave-3 1600-3000 manual - no thermostat, no electricity needed. Wall or portable mounting options. Piezoelectric spark ignition
Wave-6 3200-6000
Wave-8 4200-8000
3100 ODS 3000 has oxygen sensor; can not be used above approximately 5000 feet above sea level. Wall or portable mounting. No electricity needed.
6100 ODS 6000
8100 ODS 8000
6100 ET 6000 has automatic thermostat; Wall mount only. requires 12v. electricity - 5 amps while igniting, <0.2 amp thereafter.
8100 ET 8000
The "Wave" models may violate RV building codes in some areas, (California and Canada?) making the "ODS" version the only option available in those areas.

If used in an unventilated space, any propane heater will consume oxygen until there is inadequate oxygen for human breathing. The oxygen sensor in the ET or ODS models senses a low oxygen level and turns off the heater if the level gets too low for safety.

Although an oxygen sensor makes the heater safer, it restricts the heater to use at altitudes below about 5000 to 7000 feet, depending on brand. For many RVers, this is a really major disadvantage, since some of the nicest camping locations are at higher altitudes, and the heater's primary use may be for the cool nights found year-round at high elevation.

Because these heaters use oxygen and emit water vapor and carbon dioxide (not carbon monoxide!), any space in which the heater is used must be ventilated (a window opened slightly), both to add new oxygen and to get rid of the excess moisture. Olympian recommends one square inch of free air opening per 1000 BTU/hr of heat output for "rooms of average airtightness". (This means that for the Wave 6 heater, an RV window 2 feet wide would would be cracked open 1/4 inch.) I have found that our travel trailer is leaky enough to provide sufficient oxygen for two people to breathe while the heater is in use without opening windows. A friend with a large high-end fifth wheel trailer has also found this to be true. We ventilate anyway, largely to keep the moisture level reasonable. But it's comforting to know that if we forgot to open a window before going to bed, it wouldn't kill us.

This comment should be understood in the context of our own tolerance for reduced oxygen levels. We have camped at altitudes of 10,000 feet and hiked as high as 14,000 feet without problem. Individuals with impaired heart/lung function, or those who suffer from altitude sickness at much lower elevations, will want to be much more careful about ventilation.

For our 35' travel trailer, we chose the 5800 BTU/hr manual model (similar to the current Wave-6 model) and fitted it with legs and a 10' flexible hose for portable use. We also purchased a fitted vinyl cover, to preserve the life of the platinum catalyst by keeping out dust and dirt while the heater is not in use. As of December, 2011, the Wave-6 is available on the Internet for about $250, plus around $13 for the legs, about $19 for the cover, and about $35 to $80 for flexible hose and copper fittings to tap into the existing propane piping. RV Solar Electric offers both a fixed and portable installation kit, each containing everything needed for a typical installation.

My installation was rather simple. My furnace is under the sofa in the living area, in the middle of our trailer. I unscrewed the propane line from the furnace, screwed a "T" fitting into the furnace, screwed the propane line back into one leg of the "T", and attached a shutoff valve and the flexible line to the other leg of the "T". When not in use, the catalytic heater, still attached to the hose, slides under the sofa, in a vacant space adjacent to the furnace. The 10' of hose is sufficient to allow placing the heater most of the way down the hallway, pointing into the rear bedroom, or in the kitchen pointing at the dinette seating, or pointing at any of the seating positions in the living area. (This is an easy do-it-yourself project, but only if you understand basic plumbing procedures and materials and understand how to test for propane leaks).

Our 35' travel trailer (without slide-outs) is fairly average as to air infiltration and insulation quality - some are significantly worse, and some are significantly better. Under typical conditions, our 5800 BTU/hr heater's high setting will maintain the entire trailer at 25 to 30 degrees above the outside temperature. The specific region toward which the heater is pointing will be about five degrees warmer, and a person at which the heater is pointed will feel even warmer because they are absorbing the radiantly beamed heat. With this heater, we have boondocked comfortably in night-time temperatures down to about 27 degrees. We generally travel so as to stay in areas where the night-time temperature is rarely below 50, and under these conditions, the lowest setting can be too warm. For many people, the smaller 2800 BTU/hr heater would be a better choice. In very large or poorly insulated rigs, or for colder climates, the big 7600 BTU/hr model may be desirable.
 
Interesting, thanks!

I have not noticed any odor from my Mr Buddy, but then I smoked for 23 years, there are a lot of things I may not smell. From the stats I saw online, the Mr Buddy and Olympian are both safe for indoors, both have safety shutoffs (can run overnight with vent) and are both "nearly 100%" efficient.

I haven't had my detectors go off with my Mr Buddy either, but I suspect if you have dust or something else built up on the heater either may do that until you burn it off.

I wonder how much a difference there is between the low and high pressure systems and is it worth the doubling in cost... hmm.

Thanks 66788
 
Thanks Bob, I went back and tried to even find the word "catalytic" associated with the Mr Buddy heaters and it can not be found (but for personal reviews). I believe there are a lot of people (myself included) who that it was.

Now that I did a little more reading I see that I have been wrong, and I see why the Olympian is more. Now I have to decide if I should get one or not :)
 
Don't wait too long and miss the sale.
 
Three questions:

1. Has anyone had experience with the Wave 3 since Camco bought out Olympic? Comments I have read imply that they are no longer as well made (and their 'new plant' in China is not a good sign).

2. Does anyone have experience running the Wave 3 on 1 lb propane bottles? Until I know how much I am going to use a heater, I am not willing to give up the storage space for a large propane tank.

3. Does anyone have experience with this heater above 7,000 ft altitude? I sometimes camp at around 10,000 ft.

Thanks -- Spiff
 
The amazon comments answer those questions pretty well, except your first.

Basically, it *can* operate on the 1lb tanks, but it is very possible that the tank will begin to freeze and stop the flow of LP. A larger tank prevents that.

Those that have experience above 7000ft say it has been working fine for them. Not a guarantee though
 
I can't see how it could possibly work on the green bottles! The green bottles are HIGH pressure and do NOT use a regulator. The Olympian is a LOW pressure device and requires a bottle with a regulator.

The Olympian is not designed for high pressure and I think that would lead a sure failure.

The reason the Buddy heaters plug up and go bad is that the hoses are designed for low pressure and when you run high pressure through them the plasticizers are pulled out of the rubber and go into the Buddy plugging up the tiny orifices of the jet. It doesn't plug up stove or lanterns because they don't have tiny orifices. So you have to have a filter on the Buddy.

All in all a really bad idea to try to run it off of green bottles!

A solution would be to buy a 1 gallon, 5 pound bottle. They are expensive but they are tiny.
Bob
 
I have a Mr buddy. Should I continue to use one pound bottles (and is it safe) or should I get a twenty pound tank? Or should I try to return it and get an Olympic wave 3? What about them being made by the Chicoms with less quality?
 
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