Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

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Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

September 27, 2022, 08:25:57 pm

Today I ran a propane line in the lounge area of my MB for a Camco Olympian Wave 3 heater. My MB has the option where the drivers side couch is replaced with 2 barrel chairs and a small cabinet between them. The cabinet is situated directly over the propane tank and I thought it would be a good place to run the propane line along with a valve and quick connect. Warren (WhiteElk) had done a similar install under the stove of his MB and it inspired me to give it a go. You can read about Warren's installation here.

I wanted to keep the number of propane connections to a minimum in order to reduce the chance of a leak. The original plumbing had a 3/8" NPT Male x 1/2" Flare adapter coming out of the regulator so I bought this 1/2" Flare x 1/2" Flare x 3/8" NPT Male Tee and kept everything 1/2". I bought a flaring tool and 6ft of 1/2" soft copper (type L) tubing at Ace Hardware. 6ft was way more than I needed, but the extra length allowed me to practice my flaring technique. I took a cue from Warren's installation and bought this MB Sturgis Quick Connect and Ball Valve Kit along with a 1/2" Flare x 1/2" NPT Female Elbow and 1/2" x 2" brass nipple.

I used pipe thread sealant made for propane on all NPT connections. I also tested all connections; first with soapy fluid, then with an electronic gas leak detector. I also covered the new gas line with black split loom where it passed outside, same as the Mothership did. If you look closely where the 1/2" copper tubing passes through the cabinet shelf and floor, you'll see some snap bushings that were left over from a different project. I needed a spacer between the inside of the cabinet and the brass elbow, so I improvised by using the cap off of a milk container (see red spacer in picture). Tomorrow, I'll seal the area under the coach where the copper tubing comes up under the floor with 3M 5200 Fast Cure. Now I'm all set for the winter
- John

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Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #1 – September 27, 2022, 08:45:30 pm

Impressive, clean install! I’ll save this thread for easy access to your guide, and Warren’s, for when I tackle this. This is especially helpful to me as my RB has the same barrel chair option.

Thank you!
Jason

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #2 – September 27, 2022, 08:57:03 pm

Quote from: SRQG8 - September 27, 2022, 08:45:30 pm

Impressive, clean install! I’ll save this thread for easy access to your guide, and Warren’s, for when I tackle this. This is especially helpful to me as my RB has the same barrel chair option.

Thank you!
Jason

Jason,

When you do your install, drive the drivers side rear wheels up on blocks or use levelers if you have them. I had to make the (2) 90 deg bends first, then feed the tubing up from the bottom of the coach. The extra room that the levelers gave made it much easier.

- John

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #3 – September 27, 2022, 09:25:58 pm

That's a sweet lookin' install, John. Straight and plumb. Nice work.
jor

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #4 – September 28, 2022, 02:23:09 am

Nice, I like a Factory looking installation.
Our 2003 23.5' Front Lounge has a similar table between the barrel chairs that contains the coach's batteries.
The propane tubing was brought up through the floor, on the front side of the table, and the valve mounted behind the front barrel chair. It is used to run a Wave 3 for very cold winter camping.
For most of our heating needs, the wall-mounted Wave 3 in the bath, is adequate. The propane for the bath heater is sourced from behind the stove, an easier way to tap into pressure-regulated propane.

Cat heater in lounge | Flickr

Bath catalytic heater | Flickr

Larry

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #5 – September 28, 2022, 06:01:51 pm

So we still feed our Cat 6 or Cat 8 heater from a standard 15lb tank which sits between the two front seats in the cab of our 98~MB.
We mostly use the heater in front on its legs below the refrigerator aimed into the mid cabin where the dinette and kitchen is for the MB models. This has worked well for us when we are skiing and cold camping in our LD. We crack the emergency vent, and one window in the cab on the leeward side of the prevailing wind. We have our back lounge as a bedroom so we don't hang out in it until we go to bed. We like our bedroom cooler so with the Cat 8 in the kitchen the heat is distributed the way we like it. I have thought of the many well done plum in project we see here on LDO, but not gotten around to it. One advantage to our portable tank setup is the availability of access to the many outlets that either refill or exchange the portable tanks, seems finding refilling places is getting harder now a days. My only concern is that the regulator for this setup is located at the connection point for the tank. So if there were a possibility of a slight off-gas from the regulator it would be in the cab and not outside. My guess that situation would be more likely to occur in summer with higher temperatures?

Karen~Liam
98 ~ MB
NinA

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #6 – September 28, 2022, 07:08:11 pm

Quote from: Larry W - September 28, 2022, 02:23:09 am

The propane for the bath heater is sourced from behind the stove, an easier way to tap into pressure-regulated propane.

Larry - what was the access to the back is the stove like? Did you have to pull the stove out, get to it from a side cabinet, from underneath?

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #7 – September 28, 2022, 09:05:38 pm

Quote from: Jane and Scott - September 28, 2022, 07:08:11 pm

Larry - what was the access to the back is the stove like? Did you have to pull the stove out, get to it from a side cabinet, from underneath?

The stove is held in place with four screws.
After removing the stove's top, turn off the proan=e tank's valve and then disconnect the propane line under the top. The stove can then be removed. It isn't very heavy and can be set on the table or on a couch. On a good day, removal takes less than five minutes.
Once the stove is removed, the propane line is available to tap into, adding a tee for the Wave heater's fuel supply. This is how we accessed propane for Warren's rig and is my most used method for gaining access to regulated-pressure propane.

Larry

l

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #8 – September 28, 2022, 11:31:35 pm

Thanks Larry - I was thinking in my mind oven not just the stove (top) part.

I know Andy pulled his LD oven to put in a larger one in at least one of his LDs. But I would guess pulling off the stovetop (which I have done to clean) would show how the oven could be removed and replaced.

Jane

Re: Camco Olympian Wave 3 install in MB rear lounge area

Reply #9 – September 29, 2022, 07:07:56 am

Jane, I think what Larry was saying was to lift the stove top to access the propane line for disconnect, remove the 4 screws and then slide the whole stove/ oven assembly out. Not too hard and not heavy.

Jon

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