Hmm - sounds dangerous.  If you can't run the stove without ventilation, how
can you run this gizmo without fear of CO2 or CO poisoning?

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of
Robert S. Williams, MD (laptop)
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 1:44 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Special Design Catalytic heater for westies

I read with interest all the accounts of people installing their Platinum
Cat heaters in their Westies... Unfortunately, the company has gone out of
business and platinum cat heaters are no longer available.

This set me off on a search for something to use to heat my Vanagon Westie
during cold weather camping.  I have arrived at a simple solution that
should work well and require zero alteration to the westie design. It is a
catalytic heater of about 3-4000 BTU that uses the stove as it's fuel
source. It is, in essence, a sheet steel box that fits over both burners and
has catalytic material on the sloped top face and seals around the bottom
edge to trap propane and thus feed the catalytic burner. This lets you
convert your stovetop to a CO-free (carbon monoxide free) catalytic heater
by removing the wire potholder and popping this box over the burners. the
unlit burners will provide metered propane to the catalytic material and
heat your bus safely!!

I am currently in touch with a manufacturer of catalytic heaters and was
wondering how much interest is there in such an item? Please let me know and
I'll keep the interested subset of listmembers informed of the progress.
Perhaps, later, once all the bugs are worked out, One of the suppliers for
bus gear and parts might be interested in selling these. I personally am
just interested in getting a solution for *my* bus.... but wanted to see if
there are others who might have a use for this type of heater?

                        Robert