The Olympian is not a sealed combustion outside air vented furnace. While
often used for RV applications, it is designed for occasional supplemental
use use. Catalytic heaters are often used in tents where there is lots of
room, ventilation and small risk of loss. When used in RV's there is more
room, space away from combustibles and again more ventilation.

Those American RV furnaces are designed and UL listed for the application.
Working just like most home furnaces they also use outside air for
combustion. Yes, they are designed to run all the time. CO monitoring is
still reqiured as a heat exchanger could fail or the exhaust get blocked or
even blow back in through an open window. The Propex is also designed for
this use although it does not have the US certifications.

>From: Ryan Miller <rmiller@AZTECA.COM>
>Reply-To: Ryan Miller <rmiller@AZTECA.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: More propane capacity needed
>Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:09:22 -0600
>
>I'm not sure if it's unique to the earlier westies, but my '82 had matching
>propane tank hanger bolts on the sliding door side of the van. I assume
>these were installed so that the sliding door and camper equipment could be
>installed on either side of the van. Nevertheless, I bought another tank
>off
>a parted out van and mounted it up there for additional capacity. I have
>yet
>to hook it up, but will once I get the bling bling to buy an Eber. heater.
>
>Ryan
>'82 Camper Van 'Beethoven'
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Paul Chubbuck
>Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007 7:24 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: More propane capacity needed
>
>A few years ago I installed an Olympian brand catalytic heater in my
>Vanagon.  I love it.  It works great and makes cold mountain camping
>downright cozy.
>
>I plumbed it into the existing gas lines and mounted a quick-release gas
>fitting on the lower right corner of the kitchen cabinet so that the heater
>literally plugs in there.
>
>The only problem is, the little 3 gallon propane tank wasn't really
>designed
>for this additional load, so on camping trips longer than about 3 nights,
>if
>I'm using the heater, I run out of gas.
>
>I'm now considering mounting an additional, reusable, propane tank, the
>type
>that you can refil or exchange, inside the cabin, possibly on the platform
>behind the driver's seat.
>
>Does anyone have experience with adding propane capacity to a vanagon?
>
>Thanks,
>Paul