I don't want to start a heater flame war (pun obviously intended) but
I did want to mention that I use the olympic Wave III heater mounted
on the bulkhead aft of the passenger seat, facing backwards, and I am
very happy with it. It is plumbed through the floor to a tee into the
propane supply and has an independent shutoff from the rest of the
system to the stove and fridge.

It is very efficient and doesn't use as much oxygen that the Mr. Buddy
and Plat Cat heaters do, which is why I bought it. It's more
expensive, though. It's the size of a pack of 250 sheets of paper
almost exactly.

It doesn't produce much condensation, and I have installed a 4 inch
computer fan over the stove window to make sure that proper air
exchange takes place. You can see the fan mounting details at
<http://www.knology.net/~felder/Vanagons/> I use one or both of the
fans to exhaust cooking fumes, too.

Other than the tiny bit of electricity needed by one of the fans, the
heater of course draws nothing from the battery. The system is utterly
simple and dependable.

Jim

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 11:52 AM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
> John,  google tent propane heaters.  They should be cheap to make with
> air coming in through the sliding window via a custom block-off panel.
>
> On 12/4/08, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>> Heating a van in winter when camped out and away from external electric
>> power is always problematic, it seems to me. Catalytic heaters produce
>> moisture and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Any kind of open
>> flame gas heater has the same problem. The gasoline fired heaters under
>> the rear seat are very pricey. So trying to get some sort of heat is a
>> bit of a problem.
>>
>> So, how about this concept. An external, propane fired burner, with
>> circulating hot water(antifreeze coolant)  to supply the heat to a
>> radiating core (rabbit heater core)  inside the van.  A small blower fan
>> would circulate the air across the heater core. A small inline
>> circulating pump could be installed in the coolant line if needed -
>> something wih very low power drain. If the core was made to mount in a
>> window like is done with some airconditioners, then the heater element
>> could sit on the ground outside  and thermosiphon action would circulate
>> the coolant.- no circulating pump necessary - only a small blower fan.
>> It could be taken down quickly when breaking camp. Another possibility
>> would be a permanent mount of the heater core with the coolant lines
>> being fixed in place, but run to the a point outside the vehicle to
>> allow quick disconnect fittings for hookup/removal  of the propane
>> burner element. when ready to hit the road.
>>
>> Just some heater thoughts on a miserable rainy morning in the deep
>> south. And to think - when my water line to the broke night before last,
>> temps were such that the water spraying on a large grassy plant made a
>> beautiful ice image standing in the morning sun. And this morning it is
>> raining. Southern winter weather. Yuk!
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> Chelsea, AL
>>
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>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> Chris S.
> Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"
>
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