catalytic heater

[norbert]

well folks its that time of year to get the airstream flu.....planning little projects and maintenance...i got to thinking about the catalytic heater.....i dont know if it was factory or dealer installed as im no, 3 owner..unit in question is the CAt , model 6p12 and 3p12...according to the booklet that came with the owners manual...its been mounted in the credenza by the door..now i know cat heaters claim to be efficient and all that....but the manual states that it is a 12 volt dc propane fired vented catalytic heater ....problem is it is not vented.....i have only used it once and a window was open.....my coach was originally purchased in tacoma..the booklet has a canada gas assoc. label on it...so the question arises..was to vent canadian code...or was the installation improper......i welcome your feedback.....
norby

[thenewkid64]

There are 2 kinds of Cat heaters. Vented and non-vented.

The vented style have an itty bitty 12 VDC fan that will exhaust the bad gasses to the exterior of the trailer and you do not need to have a window open.

The non vented have no 12 volt draw, but to be safe you need to have a vent or window cracked open to allow the bad gases to exit.

If the unit is a vented one, I say add a vent and hook up the fan. The fan will create a slight suction and you will have fresh air drawn into the trailer from many little openings.

The draw of the fan is no where near what it takes to run a furnace so you will not be killing your batteries to run it.

[RoadKingMoe]

I'd say go here, order the "Safety System" with power venting, and correct the installation.

[norbert]

thanx you guys are the best.... ...now comes...will i have enuff room to install a vent kit?....was that the reason it didnt get installed? i have the larger model i wonder if the exit would go on the side(most likely) or belly? after all it is a power vent...(person afraid of putting hole in side) would i have clearance or would door smash into vent??
norby

[thenewkid64]

It depends on where the heater is mounted. I have seen some of the outlet vents that are almost flush to the skin. I would want to avoid cutting a hole in the skin if possible, but thru the floor you need to be sure you are thru the belly pan too, and what is below where the heater is?

If the heater is mounted near enough to the refer you could just vent it into the airspace behind the refer and then the exhaust would rise out the flue.

[norbert]

great suggestion brett....but i have a front kitchen...so my credenza is curbside by the door....
norby

[Rog0525]

I see that vintagetrailersupply is now selling LP catalytic heaters. Has anyone bought one? I'm tempted to buy one for my '66 GT which has been stripped of the furnace and just has a regular wall-mounted LP heater added. What exactly is the advantage of catalytic vs non-catalytic? fumes? energy efficiency? what?

[Frank S]

Hi--LP catalytic heaters for Home or RV seem to me to be the same unit except for two things. RV heaters cost 3 times more, and Home heaters state, "Not For RV Use". Anybody know why the caution on Home heaters, for RV use?????--Frank S