After all the discusion I went out to investigate this heater at
Walmart. There on the shelf right beside the black cat heater was a
propane radiant heater $38 dollars. Small but can be used at a cook
burner also. I'm not sure witch I like now but I'm thinking that
the duel purpose sounds like an great idea. I anyone have any input
on this one?

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Sat, 8 Jan 2000, Frank Grunthaner wrote:

> Just got to reply to this one! I first picked up a platinum impregnated
> catalyst bed heater for my 67 VW camper in 1969. From a chemical perspective,
> I was amazed that a Pt catalyst could be done for the price at the time. I
> ran a few GCMS (Gas Chromatograph/ Mass Spectrometer) spectral scans on the
> propane bottle heaters specifically looking for CO emissions. The numbers
> were in the noise (less than 0.1%). The experiment wasn't designed to
> quantify trace amounts. Interestingly I did find traces of methyl radicals
> and formic acid (incompletely oxidized aliphatics from partial combustion of
> propane). The concentration of these trace gases varied spatially over the
> area of the catalyst mat.
>
> Can't imagine how one could confuse a Pt catalyst bed heater with a radiant
> heater or any of the other backpacker staples.
>
> Frank Grunthaner
>