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Northstar 850SC Heater

billmilner
Explorer
Explorer
I installed a Olympian Wave 3 heater in my NS850SC for boondocking. Question is should I expect this to heat my camper when temps outside are 30F, cause it won't. Maybe cause the canvas sides or the heater just not working? Thank you Chris
6 REPLIES 6

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
jaycocreek wrote:
billmilner wrote:
I installed a Olympian Wave 3 heater in my NS850SC for boondocking. Question is should I expect this to heat my camper when temps outside are 30F, cause it won't. Maybe cause the canvas sides or the heater just not working? Thank you Chris


I have used the Wave heaters in Motorhomes/Fifth wheels/Travel trailers/Pickup campers and tents..They do a great job if you pick the correct size of heater..My Wave heaters in pickup campers worked really good in hunting weather..Not as well in tents..I would suspect that a Wave 6 would be a better option with canvas walls.

I used a Wave 6 in a 10X14 tent down into the teens and it kept the middle of the tent warm but the closer you got to the walls,it chilled down.When I used the Wave 8 down to 3 degrees hunting in a 30ft trailer,the Wave 8 coupled with the factory furnace kept the pipes from freezing and the front room nice and toasty.

There are alot of anti catalytic heater posters, which the majority have never owned one..I cannot give a real answer to your issue because I have never owned a pop-up but they work dandy on hard walled campers.


Thought I don't have one in my TC (have conventional forced air) you won't find me dunning a catalytic heater. I use them in my hunting blinds in the winter. Usually a Big Buddy though. Keep me from freezing my butt off.

I would not recommend one in a pop up TC (what I have as well) there is substantial heat loss through the canvas, winter package or not. Forced air works better.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Get a proper vented heater with a thermostat.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

jaycocreek
Explorer II
Explorer II
billmilner wrote:
I installed a Olympian Wave 3 heater in my NS850SC for boondocking. Question is should I expect this to heat my camper when temps outside are 30F, cause it won't. Maybe cause the canvas sides or the heater just not working? Thank you Chris


I have used the Wave heaters in Motorhomes/Fifth wheels/Travel trailers/Pickup campers and tents..They do a great job if you pick the correct size of heater..My Wave heaters in pickup campers worked really good in hunting weather..Not as well in tents..I would suspect that a Wave 6 would be a better option with canvas walls.

I used a Wave 6 in a 10X14 tent down into the teens and it kept the middle of the tent warm but the closer you got to the walls,it chilled down.When I used the Wave 8 down to 3 degrees hunting in a 30ft trailer,the Wave 8 coupled with the factory furnace kept the pipes from freezing and the front room nice and toasty.

There are alot of anti catalytic heater posters, which the majority have never owned one..I cannot give a real answer to your issue because I have never owned a pop-up but they work dandy on hard walled campers.
Lance 9.6
400 watts solar mounted/200 watts portable
500ah Lifep04

SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Explorer
We have had an 850SC as one of our previous TCs.

Those vinyl soft walls will lose quite a bit of heat. We had stayed in ours overnight at 20 degrees F, but the furnace cycled VERY frequently.

I believe that NS does offer some sort of a "sub zero package"
John & Cathy
'12 Chevy 2500HD CC 4x4 sb
'16 Cougar 25RKS w/ Andersen rail mount
'13 Eagle Cap 850 (sold). B4 that a few other TCs and a TT

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
A Wave heater (infrared) heats objects not the air (like a conventional forced air heater) so technically, it won't heat the camper like a forced air heater will. It has to heat objects in the camper which, in turn radiate the heat. While more efficient far as propane consumption and no electricity used, I prefer the forced air heat myself in my pop up TC. Other issue with a Wave heater is it produces a lot of water vapor from burning the propane.

In a pop up, you will never feel 'warm' with a wave heater n o matter how long it runs.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

Jim
Explorer
Explorer
Not enough BTUs at only 3,000. That enough to take the chill off but you'll still need a coat & gloves most likely. Think you need a Little Buddy 5,000 to 9,000 BTU at least.
Jim@HiTek
Have shop, will travel!
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Winnebago Journey, '02
Cat 330HP Diesel, 36.5', two slides.