tberkhouse
Montana
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Joined: 05/17/2005
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I just installed a new Northstar Flameless 3,000 BTU catalytic heater in my new Komfort travel trailer. Northstar’s recommendation is 1 square inch of ventilation for each 1,000 BTU (as I have also read in many other discussion forums), so 3 square inches minimum for this model. Rather than having to remember to open windows and vents, I cut two (2) 1.5" round holes in the exterior walls and covered them with vent covers and screens to keep out rain, snow, and bugs, but always allow air in for ventilation. One vent is near the floor by the heater, and the other is high up on an opposing wall at the other end of the trailer. The total ventilation from two (2) 1.5" round holes is about 3.75 square inches. I thought this was fine until a friend told me that his Olympian owner's manual states that all catalytic heaters need 24 square inches of ventilation minimum. Does anyone know why the huge discrepancy in ventilation requirements?
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Les Curren
U.S.A.
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Joined: 07/07/2001
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If you have to have 24 square inches of ventilation, than why bother with the heater? It seems to me you would have more heat going out than the heater would produce. Three inches Sounds more reasonable.
At one time in my life I built a home made pickup camper and used it for several years. This was before campers were invented. I had two one inch diameter holes near the ceiling in the front and two one inch diameter holes near the floor in the rear. Didn't have catalitic heaters at that time. Used that rig many a year Elk hunting in Idaho, Washington and Montana. Never did die from lack of oxygen. Of coarse the wife says thats the reason for the loss of brain cells. Little does she know. Actually, I never had them to start with.
Yeah, yeah I know all the smart remarks that statement will bring on so try keeping them to yourselves and help the guy out instead.
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vikx
Washington State
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Joined: 08/03/2006
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I do not remember my cat heaters requiring 24 square inches. Don't have the manual in front of me, but my opening for a Wave 6 was oversized at 4" x 10". That was in a 12 x 36 shop office with a CO detector and never a problem.
I think your vents are fine. Most RVs are not particularly air tight anyway. I have been living/rving with the Olympian cats for over 15 years without issues. I always used a CO detector and recommend you get one. VK
* This post was
edited 09/23/09 12:54am by vikx *
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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Joined: 06/27/2004
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I think you mean CO detector, Carbon Monoxide
CO2 is carbon Dioxide, something every living Mammal gives off in the breathing, me you the dog the cat & the cow
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
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bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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Two 1.5" holes yield closer to 3.5 sq inches of area.
I think the rule of thumb for screening is it reduces the area by about 50%. (Had to calculate vent area for a whole house fan years ago.)
Sounds inadequate at 1.75 sq inches.
Dan
02 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 long tall home brew conversion
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JimQPublic2
Southern California
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Joined: 09/25/2002
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Unless the instructions say otherwise, you should probably have the required vent area in EACH intake (low) and exhaust (high) vents. That, combined with the restriction from screening suggest that you ought to go up to 3" diameter vents.
Jim
2002 Chalet Arrowhead
2004 Subaru Forester XT
Long Beach, California
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Joined: 10/16/2007
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I have had the Olycat (olympian catalytic) heaters for near 30 years now, and will say,...only untill you have used them do you know how little ventelation they really need to be safe. IMO all the vent specs are overkill. I myself try to remember to keep 1 roof vent cracked just a little, but there have been times I didn't even do that and no one ever woke up gasping for air.
My newest heater has the oxy depletion sensor on it and it has never shutdown for any reason, but supposedly it will at very high altitude. I haven't had it over 5,000 ft yet. My 15 yr old heater has no saftey sensors on it, and it will still burn good at 6800 ft.
Condensation can be a minor problem when using a very minimum ventelation.
Those that badmouth cat heaters and demand maximum vent space, have NEVER had a cat heater,...trust me !
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Two Oly Cat heaters, and towing a '05 Jeep Liberty, or sometimes towing a New Lowe fishing boat.
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