Catalytic Heater opinions?

[austinado16]

Anyone care to share their opinions/experiences using a catalytic propane heater like the Olympian Wave 6 shown below.

I've got the opportunity to buy one for $40 and the cheapest I've found them is $299 on sale, typically closer to $400 regular price.

Here are the specs and a photo below:
 
3200-5800 BTU adjustable output
1/4 lb./hr. fuel consumption
230 square feet of heated comfort (approx.)
Size: 17 7/8" H x 12 13/16" W x 4" D
Weight: 12 lbs
Can be wall mounted vertically or horizontally
Can be mounted recessed with optional kit.

I'd like to have it as a quiet heat source, and as one that doesn't use 12v.  Also, at 1/4lb/hr. of propane consumption, it's probably much more efficient than the 1981 DuoTherm unit that is our main furnace.

[flyfisherman]

Catalytic heaters always seem to smell more than the radiant heaters (like the Mr.Buddy Heater) ... plus the radiants seem more efficient ... more heat right now! The down side to the radiant heaters is that they have an open, exposed flame, so care has to be taken that they are not too close to anything flameable, or that anything does not get dropped onto them while they are in operation.

I'm not at all familar with the one you have posted  but have had (and still have a small one) of the Coleman type catalytic heaters. The small Coleman I presently have (forget the name), only puts out about 1200 btu's ... just enough to take the chill off but not any kind of real heating. I like to lite it up when on fishing trips in the late fall or early spring and leaving the camper ~ like I said, keeps the chill off so that when your away you don't come back to an ice cold PU. And I've slept by it many a night, too. But when it gets down to serious heat, the Mr.Buddy Heater will run you out of my little Starcraft! The heating range on it runs from 4000 to 9000 btu's, and on the low setting one of those 16oz disposalble tanks will last 5 to 51/2 hours at least. On high, maybe 3 1/2 to 4 hours. But the thing to do here is to connect it to a refillable 20lb tank which is a much more economical operation. My vote is for the Mr.Buddy Heater ... and there are a lot of others here on the board that have them, too, and I'm sure you'll hear from them.

For the what it"s worth department, I've had a Mr.Buddy Heater since they about came out (since 2000 anyway) and it's been the sole source of heat for my little Starcraft. Slept with it on many, many a night; but very careful where it's placed, fire hazard wise; plus making sure there's proper ventilation. My previous PU had the "furnance" and what I did'nt like about it was all the racket it made recycling on and off ... kept me awake at night and Lord knows, a fly fisherman needs his rest!



Fly

[Old Goat]

Mr. Buddy is tops. I would'nt have anything else.....

[austinado16]

Thanks guys!  I hadn't thought about the odors.  I think because the price is so silly low, I'll at least give the Olypian heater a try and report back here.  Since the Starcraft has the take-out stove, I can get a flex line to run from the heater to the quick coupling at the sink.  Should make for a pretty clean install.

I agree about the onboard furnace.  I love that it's all built in and supplies it's own outside air and venting, but ya, everytime it fires the fan up, it wakes my wife and me up.  I was laying there the other night thinking of ways to insulate the noise.....mount furnace on dynamat, and dynamat the walls on inside of cabinet, and then heavily insulate sides and top of cabinet with oven insulation.....etc.