Olympian Wave Heaters December 11, 2009, 08:03:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108376I have wanted a cat heater for sometime. I have never tripped over a place that sold them that offered installation I could trust. I am now ready to bite the bullet and let Camping World do it. I can't believe I said that. The Wave 3, the baby of the product line, says it has 1,600 to 3,000 BTU output. A electric heater normally has two output choices, say 750 or 1,500 watts. I understand how that is done. How the heck is the output from propane doubled? Next question which solicits your opinion. To heat EITHER the front or rear of an MB do you feel the Wave 3 (1,600 to 3,000 BTU] is adequate or would you suggest the Wave 6 (3,200 to 6,000 BTU]? We are not looking for a cat heater to make the rig warm and toasty, just to keep the chill off. The furnace is more than adequate to warm the rig up for bathing and dressing.Thanks for your input.Cheers, Don
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #1 – December 11, 2009, 08:48:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108377"I have wanted a cat heater for sometime."Don Go with a Wave 3. It's the perfect size for the confined interior of an LD. A Wave 6 will broil anything near it. Several here have tried a Wave 6 and abandoned them and switched to a Wave 3. For the ultimate cold weather combination, put one at each end of your LD. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602104740401/> http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602095131438/>Good luck having CW install anything.Larry
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #2 – December 11, 2009, 09:03:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108378Quote I have wanted a cat heater for sometime. I have never tripped over a place that sold them that offered installation I could trust. I am now ready to bite the bullet and let Camping World do it. I can't believe I said that. The Wave 3, the baby of the product line, says it has 1,600 to 3,000 BTU output. A electric heater normally has two output choices, say 750 or 1,500 watts. I understand how that is done. How the heck is the output from propane doubled? Next question which solicits your opinion. To heat EITHER the front or rear of an MB do you feel the Wave 3 (1,600 to 3,000 BTU] is adequate or would you suggest the Wave 6 (3,200 to 6,000 BTU]? We are not looking for a cat heater to make the rig warm and toasty, just to keep the chill off. The furnace is more than adequate to warm the rig up for bathing and dressing.Thanks for your input.Cheers, Don
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #3 – December 11, 2009, 10:39:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108379Larry hit the nail on the head, as usual: the Wave 6, even on its low setting, is often too hot for a rig like ours. I know, because like Chris, I had one. A cat heater's output is almost entirely radiant; that is, it doesn't generate hot air--it directly heats whatever it's pointed at. Think of a campfire: your front side bakes, your back side is chilly, and the air around you doesn't get much warmer. That's what a cat heater is like. That means that a cat heater's output is limited to a fairly small area. Oh, eventually the objects it's aimed at will transfer some of their heat to the air, but it takes quite awhile for that to have much of an effect. So installing a larger cat heater doesn't result in heating a larger area--rather, it results in heating a small area TOO MUCH. A Wave 3 on legs, with a 9' hose with quick disconnect, is your best bet. The heat output, by the way, is controlled by changing the flow rate of the gas--a knob on the heater lets you do that.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #4 – December 11, 2009, 11:03:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108380QuoteThe Wave 3, the baby of the product line, says it has 1,600 to 3,000 BTU output. A electric heater normally has two output choices, say 750 or 1,500 watts. I understand how that is done. How the heck is the output from propane doubled? The control is a rotary valve, similar to on a stove, but with detents, and a push-in position for pilot ignition. Flow rate of the gas determines output.Steve
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #5 – December 12, 2009, 12:53:26 am Yahoo Message Number: 108383Quote From: Don Malpas To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 5:58 PM Subject: [LD] Olympian Wave HeatersNext question which solicits your opinion. To heat EITHER the front or rear of an MB do you feel the Wave 3 (1,600 to 3,000 BTU] is adequate or would you suggest the Wave 6 (3,200 to 6,000 BTU]? We are not looking for a cat heater to make the rig warm and toasty, just to keep the chill off. The furnace is more than adequate to warm the rig up for bathing and dressing.Thanks for your input.Cheers, Don
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #6 – December 12, 2009, 08:36:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 108386I also wanted a mounted Wave 3 because of dogs running about, and it works well mounted upright under the stove in my midbath. It gets pretty toasty up front after a while especially if the cab is closed off.A couple things to note:-- A small fan can spread the heat around some -- A cover to keep dust and hair out when not in use is critical, especially if you have pets. The 'element' is hard to clean and rather delicate ( don't used canned air, from experience ). We (well she, the ex,) made one out of vinyl, in matching purple of course.David
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #7 – December 12, 2009, 09:38:45 am Yahoo Message Number: 108387Quote From: DFornessI also wanted a mounted Wave 3 because of dogs running about, and it works well mounted upright under the stove in my midbath. It gets pretty toasty up front after a while especially if the cab is closed off.A couple things to note:-- A small fan can spread the heat around some -- A cover to keep dust and hair out when not in use is critical, especially if you have pets. The 'element' is hard to clean and rather delicate ( don't used canned air, from experience ). We (well she, the ex,) made one out of vinyl, in matching purple of course.DavidDan and David, No, I wasn't concerned about it moving around while underway. And the two goldens we had until two years ago (they both passed away) would not have been a problem with a portable either. Just wanted it less klutzy and installed on a wall. I'd also figured, if need be, it would be easy to add a hinged mount so it could be swung out facing aft instead of simply facing the dinette. In use, though, I've not found the hinge mount to be necessary or even desirable. The Wave 3 does a great job of keeping the dinette cozy and toasty. It also breaks the chill and raises the temperature within the whole coach given a bit of time. What we normally do is turn both funace and heater on when we first get up, then both head for the dinette for coffee! I don't leave the Wave 3 on overnight, and only use the furnace overnight if it's really cold. So, wondering, how many use the Wave heater while they sleep??bumper
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #8 – December 12, 2009, 10:06:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 108390Like Bumper and others, I have a Wave 3 heater permanently mounted below the stove of my midbath, where it warms the dinette. A word of advice: if you go this route, mount the heater as high as you can without interfering with the oven door. When Camping World in Albuquerque did this job for me, they put the heater only an inch above floor level, with the result that it heated the vinyl flooring to dangerously high temperatures. I had to buy a silicone baking mat and use it to protect the floor in front of the heater when in use. If I were to do this again, I'd have a freestanding, portable heater on a hose, and put the coupling in the middle of the coach. If you prefer a permanent mount, you should definitely consider mounting the heater on hinges, so that it can be aimed where it'll do the most good. The easiest way to do that is to mount the heater to a small plywood square, and hinge that to wherever you're putting the heater. "A cover to keep dust and hair out when not in use is critical, especially if you have pets. The 'element' is hard to clean and rather delicate." Amen! I hope I'll be forgiven if I mention that Eureka 2 includes printable patterns (and directions) for covers that exactly fit a Wave 3 heater. There are two patterns: one for a vertically mounted heater, the other for a horizontally mounted one. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/eureka/>
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #9 – December 12, 2009, 10:44:53 am Yahoo Message Number: 108394"The easiest way to do that is to mount the heater to a small plywood square, and hinge that to wherever you're putting the heater." I found the Wave 3's metal feet to be unstable on carpeting so I made up a folding base for it. Folded, it fits nicely behind one of the barrel chairs. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/1415592287/in/set-72157602095131438/>Larry
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #10 – December 12, 2009, 01:29:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108401We have the Wave 6 with feet and the long hose. I store it in the shower when not in use and have the protective cover for it. A friend and I put a tee in the gas line for the furnace and brought the connection out under the wardrobe on our MB. Works great...mostly use it to warm up in the morning or early evening without using the furnace. Jack in snowy Reno ps: also always have two windows or vents cracked sufficiently when in use.
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #11 – December 12, 2009, 04:37:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108422" We are not looking for a cat heater to make the rig warm and toasty, Quotejust to keep the chill off. The furnace is more than adequate to warm the rig up for bathing and dressing." I just had the same itch this week and corresponded with Andy about the Cat. My decision is it just is not worth the money or hassle to have the extra equipment that a few minutes firing up the furnace won't solve(or the Heat strip-if equipped and/or 2 750watt space heaters- if on shore power). Jay Green'07RK-
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #12 – December 12, 2009, 05:17:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108425QuoteI just had the same itch this week and corresponded with Andy about the Cat. My decision is it just is not worth the money or hassle to have the extra equipment that a few minutes firing up the furnace won't solve(or the Heat strip-if equipped and/or 2 750watt space heaters- if on shore power). Jay A few minutes firing up the furnace is the BEST way to warm up your rig. It is an inefficient and annoying way to keep it warm. There are those of us who have kept the furnace but also installed the cat. On cool days, we use only the cat to warm and maintain. In frigid weather, 10 min of the furnace will take the chill off quickly, then the cat will silently and pleasingly keep us comfy for hours on end, without any thermal hysteresis and no drain on the battery.Steve
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #13 – December 12, 2009, 05:30:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108427"My decision is it just is not worth the money or hassle to have the extra equipment that a few minutes firing up the furnace won't solve..." It depends on how much boondocking you do. A cat heater is silent, efficient, and uses no battery power--three attributes that the furnace conspicuously lacks, and that can be very valuable when you spend a lot of time out on the boonies. On the other hand, if you head for hookups when it gets cold, as I usually do these days, you may not get enough use out of a cat heater to justify the cost and hassle of installing one. That was Jay's situation. Personally, I don't use mine very often these days, but I feel good knowing it's there. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #14 – December 12, 2009, 05:33:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108428"n frigid weather, 10 min of the furnace will take the chill off quickly, then the cat will silently and pleasingly keep us comfy for hours on end, without any thermal hysteresis* and no drain on the battery."Well said, Steve! That's how I use mine, when I use it. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/* loosely translates as 'regular fluctuations,' for you non-engineers ;-)
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #15 – December 12, 2009, 05:34:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108429How much do these Cat heaters cost including installation? How do you light them? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #16 – December 12, 2009, 06:07:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108432"How much do these Cat heaters cost including installation?" At Camping World, a Wave 3 is currently $360 installed for President's Club members, or about $395 for nonmembers. Since membership costs $15, it would pay to join up before buying one of these."How do you light them?" They have built-in piezo sparkers, so it's like lighting your range's burner... only you press a button instead of turning a knob.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #17 – December 12, 2009, 06:14:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108434On Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:36:49 -0000, "jaysdaze" wrote:Quote >My decision is it just is not worth the money or hassle to have the extra equipment that a few minutes firing up the furnace won't solve(or the Heat strip-if equipped and/or 2 750watt space heaters- if on shore power). Jay >Green'07RK-
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #18 – December 13, 2009, 05:38:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 108444"Loosely translate as 'regular flactuations' for you non-engineers'.......is that anything like 'delicatessen'???hehehe Gene in Sanford__
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #19 – December 13, 2009, 04:44:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108471"n frigid weather, 10 min of the furnace will take the chill off quickly, then the cat will silently and pleasingly keep us comfy for hours on end, without any thermal hysteresis* and no drain on the battery." In real-world use, what is the experience of the group in the propane usage rate of the Wave3 at the "low" and "high" settings? The TK coaches have the smallest propane tanks, thus my concern. Thanks. -Jon
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #20 – December 13, 2009, 05:01:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108472"what is the experience of the group in the propane usage rate of the Wave3 at the 'low' and 'high' settings?" Jon, I can't give you exact numbers, but I can say that the Wave 3 heaters use relatively little propane. For one thing, they deliver roughly twice as many BTUs per pound of propane as the furnace, because they're not blowing heat back out the vent to the outside. And of course they are much smaller than the furnace. OK, here's an estimate. The standard furnace in all models but the 30-footers is rated at 20,000 BTU. If the Wave 3 were exactly as efficient as the furnace, it would use about 1/7 as much propane per hour. Since it's twice as efficient, it should use only about 1/14 as much propane per hour. Off course that's just an estimate... but it seems safe to say that a Wave 3 is going to consume less than 10% as much propane per hour as your furnace does. Even with a smaller tank, you're not likely to run out anytime soon. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Olympian Wave Heaters Reply #21 – December 13, 2009, 05:13:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 108475QuoteIn real-world use, what is the experience of the group in the propane usage rate of the Wave3 at the "low" and "high" settings? The TK coaches have the smallest propane tanks, thus my concern. Thanks. -Jon Our older Olympian is rated about 2800 Btu high and 1400 Btu low, and efficiency percentage is in the high 90's. One gallon of propane contains 91,500 Btus. The furnace is about 60 - 70% efficient, and uses 20,000 or 30,000 Btu/hr while running.Steve
Topic: Olympian Wave Heaters (Read 33 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Olympian Wave Heaters (Read 33 times)
previous topic - next topic