ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 7, 2017 20:00:52 GMT -8
Does anyone have a photo of a wave heater installed in their trailer?
Also, has anyone ever inset it into a recess of any kind so it doesn't stick out as far?
Just looking at options as I have a space at the bottom of a coset that might work, but I wouldn't mind it being set in a bit, as long as it wasn't a hazard.
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msgoehring
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Post by msgoehring on Apr 7, 2017 20:42:42 GMT -8
It's not in my trailer, but it is what we plan on doing with ours: 132_zpsea9c1910
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Post by vikx on Apr 7, 2017 22:02:35 GMT -8
Wave 3s are NOT to be inset, according to the manufacturer. With a special metal insert, the 6s can be inserted. With a small vintage trailer, a Wave 6 will COOK people.
I am not against the above install, but the corrugated yellow gas line is not legal in any RV. Modern code dictates black iron under the trailer, copper up into the trailer and to the appliance. Rubber hoses are also not allowed inside.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 8, 2017 5:23:52 GMT -8
Here is our wave3. I removed the original (large) heater and put in the wave3 with a cabinet above it. It puts out plenty of heat and will cook you if you don't let the camper temp drop below 30 degrees. If you wake up and the camper is 25 degrees it takes a long time to recover. So Canada may need more heat than NC. It radiated heat so whatever it's facing warms up fast. In our case it faces the dinette. Wave 3=3000btu Wave6 =6000btu Mr. Heater=9000btu We have a Mr. Heater and it gets in the way inside a small canned ham but it sure warms things up...instantly.
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 8, 2017 6:22:19 GMT -8
Do you find that with the heat facing the dinette, the rear gaucho area will eventually heat up?
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 8, 2017 8:02:43 GMT -8
Do you find that with the heat facing the dinette, the rear gaucho area will eventually heat up? In a freezing camper...Eventually. It also really depends on your definition of "heats up". My wife says over 50 is warm and I say over 70. Facing the middle of the camper makes the heat distribution better but unless it's hidden like above it may get in the way. I have family that lives where the winter temp can reach -10 degrees. Trying to raise the temp in a camper 80 degrees needs some serious BTUs. Others may disagree, but I think them wave3 can raise the temp 40-50 degrees max and it will take over an hour in the rear away from the unit.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Apr 8, 2017 9:24:39 GMT -8
Do you find that with the heat facing the dinette, the rear gaucho area will eventually heat up? Lady W… Mine is mounted exactly like NCcamper's, but we used a piece of aluminum as the backing against the wood of the wardrobe. Mounting the Wave near the entrance acknowledges that this is most likely where heat loss takes place, which like in residential radiant baseboards, you place them under windows and other heat loss exposures. It's also important to know that Waves emit purely radiant heat with a limited spread. So, like a flashlight, the heat beam heats mostly where it is pointed and in a limited spread. So you will feel the most warmth and comfort while sitting at your dinette table. That's not to say that one heated air molecule will not transfer heat to its neighbor and heat the entire trailer interior, including your sleeping area. I have measured temperature near my bunk and the temp does indeed increase the ambient temperature significantly, but it certainly doesn't feel toasty like up front. So that's the difference you will experience front and back. There is no open flame with a Wave, but it does consume interior oxygen. Most of our vintage trailers are anything but “airtight”, esp. if you have jalousie windows, but cracking your ceiling vent and one window a tiny bit is a cautious approach while sleeping.
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 8, 2017 14:51:13 GMT -8
Has anyone tried using a fan to "blow" the warm air around, or does that not work with radiant heat? Sorry if these questions sound a bit naive, but in Canada where I live we pretty much have massive furnaces in every trailer, so I am unfamiliar with this technology, but I won't be using my vintage trailer except during the summer and maybe into the fall. The lowest temp will likely be about zero degrees celsius, which I believe is 30 degrees in the usa.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Apr 8, 2017 15:44:46 GMT -8
Has anyone tried using a fan to "blow" the warm air around, or does that not work with radiant heat? Sorry if these questions sound a bit naive, but in Canada where I live we pretty much have massive furnaces in every trailer, so I am unfamiliar with this technology, but I won't be using my vintage trailer except during the summer and maybe into the fall. The lowest temp will likely be about zero degrees celsius, which I believe is 30 degrees in the usa. 30 degrees will still require some significant heat inside the trailer. I believe the Waves can be mounted on feet and moved around your trailer. You would just need to have gas supply lines in the likely places you would want the brunt of the heat. I had considered mounting a second Wave (across from my bunk on the exterior of the bathroom wall only about 15" from the side of the bunk). But that kind of proximity would make you sweat!… so I thought better of it. If it's that cold I get in a sleeping bag and as I said in my previous post, the front mounted Wave definitely gives you a reasonable ambient rise in temperature in the back bunk area… that plus a good blanket (or a “bunkmate” ) in the fall season and you'll be very comfortable. The whole idea of active heating in a small trailer is mostly there for when you're awake and active so you don't have to walk around inside with a parka on, not so much as a heat source for the whole night. But I wouldn't hesitate to run mine at night if I felt I needed it while sleeping. A fan will consume electricity, if you're off grid, make noise and create a barely lukewarm draft, which you don't want when it's cold! IMO.
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Post by vikx on Apr 8, 2017 20:35:49 GMT -8
If camping in freezing temps, a Wave 6 might provide more heat. Waves tend to "sweat" the windows if outside temps are at freezing or below.
Anyone who has an original vented heater should keep it if in good condition. They are designed to provide passive heat and work very well. Many are rusted out, unfortunately...
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 9, 2017 6:17:35 GMT -8
Thanks for all the replies. I am going to look at replacement vented heaters too as an option. I know they are expensive..but, we camp in the mountains almost every summer, and I don't want tot be fighting the cold. We have had the odd time it drops to about 14 degrees when still within the camping season. There is one other calatyltic heater I am looking at. It is the similar to The Wave, but also vents out the wall. It's here... ventedcatheater.com/2.htmlWaiting on pricing info etc. Also, here is a photo of a small replacement furnace from camping world. It is 12x17x20 I see there are places to install vents. I still have a vent hole on the side of my trailer. I assume I could tie into one? Is this likely to be abled to be configured into a new set of cabinets I build? If so, is this grey front on the unit the part that shows in the trailer? I am thinking maybe someone has a cool vintage grate cover, from an older furnace they could sell me if I go this route? I have no idea what brand was in the original Golden Falcon's but I am hesitant to buy anything used on craigslist that would be running while we sleep. I would not trust it. So if I go forced air/vented it will have to be new. Thoughts....
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Apr 9, 2017 16:27:49 GMT -8
There is one other calatyltic heater I am looking at. It is the similar to The Wave, but also vents out the wall. It's here... ventedcatheater.com/2.htmlWaiting on pricing info etc. LadyW. I had originally inquired with the guy who makes the “vented cat heater”. He makes them to order and does not seem particularly interested in satisfying anyone as a customer, LOL… I think it's a hobby for him, so you may be waiting a while for pricing as well as delivery. Hope not. Cat heaters produce drastically less carbon monoxide than open flame furnaces, but if oxygen becomes depleted from even the low temperature (750 degrees) combustion of the cat, you can produce more carbon monoxide than normal because of the inefficiency caused by the lack of oxygen in the cabin. So, the only advantage his actively vented (i.e. there will be a small electric fan operating while the heater is running) cat heater has over the Wave, is that you are are eliminating that dilemma and reducing the small possibility of asphyxiation. But this can also be just as completely accomplished by creating even minor openings (a cracked open ceiling vent and lower window) and in most of our trailers, that ventilation happens anyway because of non sealed windows, gaps under the door, etc. Other than that, his heater operates identically to the Wave. So the fan/venting has nothing to do with circulating the heat through the trailer, if that's what you thought. By the way, an active open flame furnace is subject to the same laws of physics: carbon monoxide needs to be as close to fully vented as possible and oxygen needs to be replenished to the cabin. If you are considering a fan forced air, open flame furnace, just do a search through this forum and you will find what its disadvantages are: high gas consumption, electric consumption, noise, when it runs:you're warm… when it cycles off: you're cold. Plus the aforementioned carbon dioxide/oxygen issues. With all of that said, the user, in this case you, will prefer one over the other. After all, they all produce heat and keep us warm! It's a matter of preference and what your concerns and standards are for use. But if it were me, and cold overnight temps were an issue and a hardship, I would have 2 cat heaters in strategic locations: one near the front living area and one near the bunk. I'd run the bunk one at night and vice versa for the front during the day. (Or a single Wave that you move back and forth, day and night). If you would rather not worry about venting windows, etc., you would go with the vented cat guy's product. My bias is that I have no desire to have a noisy open flame furnace in my small, flammable (single exit!) trailer, but I know many swear by them .
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Apr 9, 2017 18:35:07 GMT -8
An original factory vented furnace really pours out heat. Mine had basically two setting...cook and freeze. And they drink propane. Gulp, gulp, gulp.
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Post by vikx on Apr 9, 2017 20:17:04 GMT -8
Any modern "furnace" uses 12 volts to run the fan which is required for it to heat. If you are off grid, the fan will deplete the battery before morning.
Waves are great in that they don't require power and may be a great back up option along with a furnace.
The grey part on the above furnace appears to be the exhaust. The panel is sold separately from the furnace. You might do some shopping around, too. Camping World tends to be very expensive...
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Apr 9, 2017 20:22:03 GMT -8
Good to know about it draining the battery. We will normally be at electrical campgrounds but also want the off grid option. We did just buy a 100 watt solar panel but have not yet figured out what that can do for us. We will need to do some calculations and see if we can maybe add an extra battery and how long the bank of power will last
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