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BCam's avatar
BCam
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014

Olympian Wave 3 Heater - Don't mount it horizontally

Olympian heaters are advertised as being suitable for both vertical and horizontal installation. However, I've been working on installing an Olympian Wave heater in my trailer and, after mounting it horizontally, couldn't get it to work. After doing some Google searches I found an Open Roads posting, which, in part, includes the following sentence:

"Camco specifies that Wave 6 and Wave 8 heaters can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, while the Wave 3 can only be mounted in the vertical position." The poster also had problems with his Wave 6 in the horizontal position.

Although this contradicts the mounting instructions and everything else I've found online, it appears to be the case since mine works perfectly when mounted vertically. I'm posting this so that others don't spend the fruitless hours I spent troubleshooting my installation.

Thanks to terryrey for his posting that confirmed my suspicions.

Terry's posting can be found here:
http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26832526.cfm
  • Hi All.

    We have had a OLY WAVE #6 Propane Heater for a good many years now wiht out so much as on problem. We have used it in our TT we had for many years, then in our 5th wheel Travel Trailer, for another good amount of years

    Both times it was used as a "Portable", with a Propane Hose long enough to go from one end to the other end. That way we put the heat where we wanted it.

    Now its in it last home, a 1998 Rexall. Still is "Portable", and still have enough hose to reach from one end of our Motorhome to the other end of the Motorhome.

    If you would have read the directions carefully, you would have found out how it was to be mounted, before you cut anything up.

    Now as to your friends Wave #6 Propane Heater. It is "Critial" to keep your "OLY WAVE PROPANE Covered at all times, when ever it is not used. If that Cat Pad get Dirty, that's the end of that Pad." And to sent it back to OLY, its almost as expensive to have it repaired as to just buy a new one That Cat Pad is very expensive.

    At a guess, we probably have close to 20 years on our Wave #6 Propane Heater. I have heard of one other RV'er on this Fourm, that has had his even long with no problems either.

    Since we mostly do all Bon-Docking, we never use our Motorhmes Furance, just as we did with our TT and the 5er. I do keep it in good running condition, just in case of "Emergencys.

    Our Wave #6 puts out 6000 btus. Our Mr "BUDDY" Heater puts out 9000 btus also. and our MR "BIG BUDDY" HEATER, puts out 18,000 btus. Since we do a lot of Winter Boon-Docking, we think that 33,000 btus of Portable Heaters is more than enough to keep us warn. If you know what you are doing, Propane Heaters are just as safe as one makes them. Plus it sure can increase you time as to how long you want to stay out Boon-Docking. And no "Dam Noise". And no drain on the Battery Bank. All of our lights are LED's, so their really easy on our Battery Bank anyways.

    Good LUCK. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill & our two Small "Yorkie Kids" who love to go as much as we do.
  • I recently installed a wave 8, to replace an aging Olympian 6
    The instructions Do specify which direction of Horizontal can be used

    How ever I wonder about horizontal use
    The gas jet/entry belongs at the bottom of the pad for best efficiency
    This is not the case when mounted horizontal

    Ours is used free standing on legs and we point it where we want heat
  • I have no idea. But, I am wondering if mounting it on the left or right side would make a difference?
  • Interesting. My Wave 6 is unmounted. I just hook it up and move it where I want it. Haven't tried using it in a horizontal position.

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