Olympian Wave 6 Catalytic heater shuts off

[wheelerimage]

I purchased an Olympian Wave 6 Catalytic heater for my 65 Globetrotter in March 2009, from my local RV store. It has never worked properly. It lights, but after a few minutes, or a few seconds, I hear a click and the gas shuts off. In July 09, I had to remove it to send back , at my expense, to Olympian for warranty repair. They told me they fixed the problem and I recieved it back in Sept. It still had the same problem. I removed it again in October and sent it back to them at my expense. They told me they found and fixed the problem. I live in Montana and do not camp in the winter. I first used it again in May 2010 and it only lasts a few seconds before it clicks off.

I replaced all the appliances (stove, water heater, fridge) in my Globetrotter and they all work fine on propane, except for the Olympian heater. I have had to purchase a Coleman Black Cat portable heater that runs off those little green propane bottles to take the edge off in the morning. But the Black Cat isn't big enough to do the job in the fall when it is colder.

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts as to what to do. It seems that Olympian Wave Catalytic heaters are worthless junk and their service department doesn't know how to make them work.

[wingfoot321]

I purchased the wave 6000 in 2006. It worked fine for 1+ years. Would not stay lit in spring of 2008.
Had to send it back and it cost $120 to install new catalytic pad plus freight.
Olympian was sold to Campmor, the filters, fluids, company and is now headquartered in Greensboro, NC.

The technician thought I should have had a cover on it to prevent dust, etc. from getting on the pad. (I think the pads carry a negative charge which draws dust)

I think they tried to help me resolve my problem but, would never purchase another catalytic product from them.

Have since purchased a generator so I can use my furnace on dc and recharge the batteries.

[wheelerimage]

An update. Olympian has sent me a replacement heater to install. I need to send them back the bad heater to their service department in North Carolina.

[SpaceEgg]

wheelrimage - did the new heater work?

I realize this thread is a few months old, but by now you may have had a chance to install and use it?

[wheelerimage]

The replacement heater works. I used it in the Colorado mountains during September. I lived in my Airstream 4 weeks. The first try at igniting it always fails, but the second try always works so far. A good thing is that it works at 9000 feet. I bought a dust cover for it. They say that the heater pad is very sensitive to dust, and can fail if it gets dusty.

[carl2591]

so here we are some 4 yrs later and wondering how the heater is working for you.

looking to get one myself for a 30 ft unit. Would a 6 be enough for not freezing or below conditions for the most part but there may some times like that.

[BigAl]

Hey Carl,
Look up Platcat heater. Their unit uses a small fan to vent directly out of the trailer. Much more efficient and exhaust is not an issue in the trailer. Also no humidity buildup.
Al

[carl2591]

AL
is that the 6P12 unit. http://ventedcatheater.com/2.html

this website SUCKs for lack of a better word. not a whole lot of info. would like to see installation guide at least.

how does it vent,, back , top, side etc.. how about power?? a lot of questions for me.

ps do you have one??

Originally Posted by BigAl

Hey Carl,
Look up Platcat heater. Their unit uses a small fan to vent directly out of the trailer. Much more efficient and exhaust is not an issue in the trailer. Also no humidity buildup.
Al