Bill,

All instructions for stuff sold in the US are about 90% warnings including the
one telling you not to stuff whatever device up your nose since it could cause
asphyxiation.  Anyway...

I believe it is catalytic, but ALL heaters, catalytic or not, use oxygen.  As
such they say use in campers requires 6 in^2 of venting space and opening a
roof vent (i.e. skylight).  Another guy on the pavanagon list tells me that the
Buddy puts out so much heat that keeping a window and skylight open should not
be a problem.

Besides, this thing will generate a considerable amount of condensation...Karl
Ploessl pointed out just over 1 lb for every lb of propane burned.  Another
reason to keep windows open.

-Karl

> Karl,
> I didn't see it mentioned on the packaging but I imagine there are some
> cautions in the instructions for the Buddy...
> like does it say to keep a window cracked?
> and is this thing a catalytic heater???
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 10:38 AM
> Subject: Re: re hot air for cold nights
>
>
> > I just picked up a Mr. Heater Portable Buddy unit from Ace Hardware for
> $99.99
> > + tax.   They had to order it for me, but when I picked it up, I saw they
> had
> > ordered more for the shelves.
> >
> > > two settings, 4,000 btu and 9,000 but
> > > can hood to 20 lb external tank with propane hose
> >
> > Yes...I already have a cute 5lb tank that I've been using for the propane
> stove
> > with a long hose and a fitting that is the same as the disposable tanks.
> They
> > tell you to leave bulk tanks outside though.  I'll have to think about how
> to
> > do that and route the hose.
> >
> > > they advertise 6 hr of use with the 1 lb canister but don't say on with
> > > setting... but knowing American advertising for what it is I'm sure that
> > > would be on 4,000 btu setting so I would guess about 2 or 3 hours on
> 9,000
> > > btu setting...
> >
> > Correct.
> >
> > > they advertise 110 hours with the 20 lb tank and assuming that is on the
> > > 4,000 btu mode that would mean maybe 50 hours on 9,000 btu mode
> >
> > FWIW, the 4000 BTU mode cranks heat.  I can't imagine wanting to run on
> high in
> > a Westy.
> >
> > > disadvantage of all these small canister heaters is the number of
> canisters
> > > you have to buy.... and I guess you throw them away? can they be
> recycled???
> >
> > JC Ripme sells a gizmo to fill 1 lb tanks from a 20 pounder, but they say
> it's
> > not for use on disposables.  However, nobody I've talked to has ever seen
> a 1
> > lb refillable, so I think it's a liability weasel warning and intended for
> 1lb
> > disposables anyway.
> >
> > > Could go through 10 canisters in a weekend!!! But the portability of the
>
> > > Buddy heater is fantastic... just pick it up and move it around like a
> brief
> > > case.
> >
> > Precisely...and it's light.  Piezo ignition...no batteries, no smell (even
> from
> > a new unit), and you can buy 1lb tanks anywhere (albeit probably $4.99 at
> the
> > campground...hit the sale at K-Mart for $1.80).
> >
> > -Karl
> >
> > Karl & Kristina Bloss - Trexlertown, PA
> > '00 Wannabusser "Julia"
> > '87 Westy Weekender "Bev" - 201K Miles
> > '85 Westy Camper "Fred" - 39K Miles
> > http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
> > US West Trip 2000: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vwtrek
> > PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
> > LINUX - for IQs higher than 98
> >
>

Karl & Kristina Bloss - Trexlertown, PA
'00 Wannabusser "Julia"
'87 Westy Weekender "Bev" - 201K Miles
'85 Westy Camper "Fred" - 39K Miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
US West Trip 2000: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vwtrek
PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
LINUX - for IQs higher than 98