Wave 3 Catalytic Heater?

I use one. Nicest thing about them is they do not use electric to run.
We usually crack one window and partially open a roof vent. We never had moisture problems. I got the propane feed at the back of the frig. Some take it from the stove line. No special regulator was required. They work well to take the chill off and they are very friendly with propane consumption.

I have a Wave 6 in my 24' Class C and it works great. A Wave 3 should be adequate for a TC. I had a quick-disconnect valve installed under the stove cabinet and my heater is portable. I do ventilate according to instructions and have a newer, working CO detector.

I got the cover for mine because I've heard that dust on the heating mantle will destroy it.

Here is a Wave Install in a pop up camper.
Read the comments as well, to get the full picture. It might help you with some good points to consider.
You can always turn the wave 6 down to 3000 but not the other way around using the 3000. Some people tend to stretch the season longer into the winter. You might be one of them once you see how well the heater works. More and more things going on in north country , may as well use the camper.
I can't sit still watching my camper sit still all winter long. :)
I have to go somewhere with snow.
First alert makes a battery operated CO alarm its an additional net for you. You can find them anywhere . H.Depot, Walmart, Ace.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-CO400-Battery-Monoxide/dp/B000N8OYXI



Bob

Canvas pop up?

I would pick the 6,000 Btu model.

I have a 6,000 Btu 1992 model Olympic catalytic heater in my motorhome that heats a well insulated 30' Bounder to around 70F when it is 40 or warmer outside. Below 40, I still need to run the furnace a bit to keep it at 65-68 inside. Yes I like it warm.

And you need to keep a roof vent partway open (about 3/8" on all three vents in my case) and I keep the window near the kitchen sink open about 3/8" too.

Several times I figured that opening all those windows was not worth it, and run the furnace when it is in the 55 - 60F range outside. Running the heater, even on low output would have overheated the living room where it is located.

Yes they are safe to use inside, my CO meter never tripped.

Fred.

Hi,

I would buy the Platinum Cat instead. It is vented and has a thermostat. See Sleepy's install in a TC.

I'm not familiar with the Wave heaters, but our first camper had a catalytic heater and we loved it. My favorite feature was that it was silent and used no batteries.

The one drawback is that my forced air furnace heats my holding tanks.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I would buy the Platinum Cat instead. It is vented and has a thermostat. See Sleepy's install in a TC.

Not everyone has the location or the means to do a vent, especially in a TC.

Hi Kerry,

That is why I suggested looking at Sleepy's install. He is in a tc.

I have a Wave Catalytic Heater, love it and wouldn’t be without one in my TC.

That said, you need to consider if this is something best for your use, not how others might find it works for them. What works well for summer season, might not work for heavy winter use. My use often is for 2 months without ever turning it off, as I am a 4 season user of my Wave Heater.

With use of my TC in weather below freezing and sometimes below 0F, I elected installing a Wave 6. During the real cold season, I don’t extend the Slide, so the argument of needing a bigger one if you have a slide, is moot. What I find is helpful is knowing the limitations.

As stated before, you can turn down a Wave 6 heater, but you can’t turn up a Wave 3 heater when it gets colder. Well, when it is chilly, like 55 degrees F, you might find it difficult to modulate a Wave 6 and prefer the smaller BTU of a Wave 3, without opening windows and doors. Also, Wave 6 use propane at a higher rate at it’s lowest setting than a Wave 3. All things to consider in picking what best is for you for your intended use.

Wave Heaters are not as effective when the temperatures begin to creep below 20 degree F. Not because of the mechanical issues, but the limitations of the Truck Camper to have enough insulation to ward off the cold infiltrating through. They just don’t produce enough heat to keep up with the outside drop in temperature. That is when a TC’s furnace is a boost and also for getting ducted heat into recesses of your camper and tanks (there is a reason for installing the Furnaces in close proximity of the kitchen sink!)

Also, Wave Heaters produce large amounts of moisture (by product or burning propane) the higher the setting and lack of transfer of outside dryer air, through door and window openings (normally a “tight” truck camper is a good thing, until cold season when you need a living space to “breath” more with outside air). So Wave Heaters create an issue with condensation inside cabinets, walls, ceilings with constant cold temperatures. This is one of the plusses for installing a Plat Cat Heater (like Sleepy did), beyond the obvious safety of a catalytic heater being used in a living space.

The best pricing for purchasing a Wave Heater is in the Spring season when heavy Discounting occurs for them on Amazon.com and other sites. Sort of like buying a winter coat during the summer season and swim suits during the winter. I saved $85 by buying mine in April.

No need to have adjustments for the typical regulators found in TC propane systems. But, you should have a disconnect or ball valve installed close to where you are using it, to allow quick access to shut it off if in an emergency. I have two. One within inches of my permanently installed Wave heater and the other one outside the camper at the point of connection to the propane source for this dedicated line.

I agree with the earlier poster, get a cover and use it when the Wave heater is not being used.


Would I have a Wave heater and recommend one? Yes.
Am I aware of the dangers and have taken steps to mitigate these dangers? Yes.
Would I recommend a Wave 3 or a Wave 6? Yes, but purchase one that best fits YOUR needs, not what someone recommends works for them.
What is the range of temperatures do you think the Wave Heaters excel in? I like using mine when the weather gets nippy, usually in the mid-50s. Mine works well until it gets down into the 20s and I then begin to use my Furnace to supplement the Wave’s inability to keep up with the increasing cold.

Have fun and Safe Camping!

b

I had a Wave 3 when I owned an Outfitter. If it was made I would own a Wave 4.5!! What I mean is that the Wave 3 is great probably 90% of the time but when it got really cold, I wanted a little more output. Personally think the Wave 6 is a little more than you need.

I just tied into my existing camper propane system. I removed the stove/oven and T'd into the copper line.

Bottom line is that it worked great, was efficient and silent.