I'd agree with Steve on the questionable merit of catalytic (unvented) gas
heaters in small vehicles...adding a few Bulley comments.

When outside temperature cool down, and warm humans are inside a metal and
glass box, cooking, respiring, and other such moisture producing things,
the result is condensation in the most remarkable places on the inside of
that box. Condensation enjoys forming in places where the air is still, and
that can mean BEHIND your upholstery panels, on the body seams and wall
panels of your van. Moisture here means RUST. Those who have seen our site
know about the importance of a vapor barrier, and hearty sealant on the
interior walls. http://www.bulley-hewlett.com/VWindex/  . Thanks to VW,
installation of these is on your shoulders. :(

Instead of a catalytic heater, wherever possible, I would choose a heater
that DRIES the air, rather that adds moisture. Typically in the winter you
come into the van with moist clothing, or perspiring from a hike/ski, and
 you could use a mechanism to quickly remove all that moisture from the
van. I think the Carver P4, the BA6, and the BN4 are recirculating heaters,
which would eventually dry the van. There may be others that pull in some
air from outside the van and heat it, which would (typically) dry the air
even more, as you van would have virtually the same flow/and heat dynamics
as a clothes dryer. Dry is good. Dry means less rust.

Remember, if there is water condensing inside your windows, it is probably
condensing elsewhere as well, on surfaces that weren't well protected at
the factory.

G. Matthew Bulley
Director
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Steve@Schwenk-Law.com [SMTP:Steve@Schwenk-Law.com]
Sent:   Tuesday, October 12, 1999 1:39 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Excellent Catalytic Heater at Ebay

It's not vented and thus not ideally suited to use in
such a small space...it will either be drafty from
having the window open or the heater will dump
significant amounts of water vapor into the interior.
Probably ok for occassional use, not for long term
camping.  just my opinion, of course.
steve

Marshall Ruskin wrote:
>
> Volks:
> Check out this catalytic heater with an oxygen depletion sensor at Ebay -
> it's a good one. Search on "Catalytic Heaters". The site for the
> manufacturer of the Olympians (which this one is) is www.uscatalytic.com
>
> Marshall Ruskin
>
> Tim:
>
> I'd love your heater for my VW Westfalia - only - for me it's too much.
>
> I'll forward your mail to my VW list - I am sure someone there will want
it!
>
> Marshall
>
> >Dear Marshall:   The heater model is a 338ODS.  I bought it for a small
> >greenhouse and never even took the heater out of the box ( we ended up
> >getting a bigger greenhouse and I needed a vented model for the type of
> >plants that I grow).  If you need anything else, please let me know!
> >Thanks again, Tim
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@pangea.ca>
> >To: Feldbutj@durakon.com <Feldbutj@durakon.com>
> >Date: Saturday, October 09, 1999 3:31 AM
> >Subject: Regarding your heater
> >
> >
> >>Hi:
> >>
> >>I am interested in which model of Olympian heater you are selling on
eBay.
> >>
> >>Thanks very much
> >>
> >>Marshall Ruskin
> >>
> >>
> >
> >