catalytic heater in tent; WILL I DIE???

[boknows]

OK, so I am going camping this weekend in the pacific northwest and might even see some snow. Bringing the wife and kids and like to make it comfortable for them so they can enjoy the experience. I bought a catalytic heater and fabbed it to mount to the top support bar of my EA 1800 RTT, please feel free to comment...........

playing in the garage, kids love it:jumping:

~Jason

 

[paulj]

The instructions for that heater should have suggestions on how large of a vent you need (a square foot or two). I suspect the peak vents on your tent are enough. Plus most tents aren't that air tight. However you should only plan on using this heater when getting into and out of bed, not at night while sleeping. A good sleeping bag should be your primary means of protection from the cold. And I'd periodically feel the tent above and around the heater, to make sure it isn't getting hot.

 

[boknows]

Yes, that's the plan. Into the tent and in the morning for dressing with periodic checks on heat above it. Just wanted to check here and feel the pulse of the crowd.

 

[boknows]

Mods please delete my thread

Just read down a bit, like 3 posts and found another thread on this exact topic, should have searched but I was on the way out the door for dinner. Mods, feel free to delete thread.

~jason

 

[StumpXJ]

I have the same heater, and I am fairly sure it wont work in the inverted position that you have it. The cylinders are not designed to work upside down.

~James

 

[K2RVR]

let us know if it works inverted like that, I love the setup and hate it on the floor...

 

[boknows]

I have the same heater, and I am fairly sure it wont work in the inverted position that you have it. The cylinders are not designed to work upside down.

~James

Interesting, I surely don't want to ruin the heater. I tested it last night and it seemed to work great for the 5 minutes that I ran it. Will let you know how it turns out this weekend.

 

[mhiscox]

I've got catalytic heaters all over the place and am a fan of them. You do need to be aware of the ventilation requirement--which is pretty small, a couple of square inches per 1000 BTUs will do--and it is best not to use them when sleeping. I believe that most of the fatalities associated with these heaters happen when snow or something else blocks the ventilation the users thought they had, and you never know what might happen.

That said, many of the cat heaters sold these days are equipped with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor that will close the gas valve if the oxygen level gets too low. Don't know about yours but, regardless, in a tent, there's probably more danger from burns using the heater than from asphyxiation.

I, too, am curious about the upside-down propane cylinder. I would have thought that liquid propane would have gotten into the heater. So I'm pretty interested, but be careful.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I would certainly not recommend using that heater in the upside down position. When you do that you are feeding it liquid propane rather than vapor. I think that's potentially very dangerous. I could be wrong, but I would suggest contacting Coleman and asking before using it like that.

Those heaters were designed for inside use, and do not produce much CO, but there is still the issue of oxygen depletion. Check the owner's manual. I don't have mine handy, but I believe they suggest something like 6 square inches of ventilation. I can't imagine any tent is tight enough to be a problem though.

I have that same heater, and the main thing I don't care for is fuel consumption. Even on the low setting I only get about 6 hours out of a cylinder. I've got an old Primus catalytic heater that puts out more heat and gets about 8 hours on high.

 

[boknows]

So, I called Coleman USA and apparently, the very first women who answered the call also serves as the technical specs and in house engineering expert. Go figure:yikes:

She stated that it would NOT damage the regulator or valve running in the upside down position and would not pose a greater risk, However.....due to the angle and direct feed of Gas it would not be efficient and the would not recommend using that way for that reason.

Thought I might have had a good thing going............Back to the drawing board

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

I've used a cat heater in my tent for years and I'm still alive. As others have said, as long as there is enough ventilation you will be fine. Or if you're like my sister you knock it over so it burns a hole in the tent assuring proper ventilation. :shakin:

 

[Dave]

Do you have a larger propane bottle on your AT? If so, could you run a hose from the larger propane bottle into the tent and to the heater?

 

[eleblanc]

they don't heat alot. I have a eeziawn 1800. And each night i start the double mantle lantern and leave it running for half a hour before i hit the tent. I then shut it down for the night. And in the morning before i get out of the slipping bag, i start it up. Heats the place good and fast.

Two weeks ago i was in NH and i'm sure we were reach freezing temps during the night. I tried those heater and they aren't strong enough.

 

[StumpXJ]

Well, its good to know at least that its ok to run it upside down! I was thinking of my small propane torch... when it gets turned upside down, scary things happen at the flame head.... I wonder just how much less efficient it becomes when inverted as apposed to right side up?

~James

 

[overlander]

As an extra safety precaution, a battery operated carbon monoxide alarm would be a good addition to a tent with a heater in it. The are widely available in pilot supply stores for use in cabins of small aircraft. With an audible alarm, they can wake you up before you drift into indefinite sleep.