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08-17-2012, 11:55 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 53
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Opinions wanted... How many BTU's?
I'm looking to buy an Olympian Wave catalytic heater for the Aframe pop up/A124 I am getting ready to pick up.
They make three models:
Olympian 3 1,600-3,000 BTU's
Olympian 6 3,200-6,000 BTU's
Olympian 8 4,200-8,000 BTU's
I would like to be able to keep the camper interior around 68 degrees. I wouldn't expect to be in weather below about 20 degrees. The formula I had heard was 1,000 btu's per foot of camper. Using this formula, I would need a 12,000 btu heater and this doesn't sound right but maybe it is.
Has anybody used one of these heaters before? How many btu's do I really need?
Thanks in advance.
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08-18-2012, 02:17 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,258
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My trailer has a 20k BTU forced air furnace w/electric ignition. I dont anticipate needing more heat than this will provide. The trailer is pretty snug.
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2012 FR Flagstaff T12SDTH
1996 Shadowcruiser Pop Up Truck Camper
1967 Newell Motorcoach
2003 Ford F150 5.4 V8 Triton Super Cab
2004 Nissan Titan LE 5.6 V8 4x4 Crew Cab
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08-18-2012, 10:23 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 91
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Yes I do believe you'll find a cool cat AC/heater and a propane furnace in the A124. No other heating source should be necessary.
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08-18-2012, 10:57 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 53
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The plan is to do mostly dry camping. I was wanting to bypass the Cool Cat so I can avoid using my generator in cold weather and the onboard furnace as it is noisey and a propane/battery pig.
These Olympian heaters are silent, ultra efficient with propane and use no battery power.
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08-18-2012, 11:02 AM
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#5
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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on the other hand the good thing about the heaters that come with the A-series campers is that they vent outside, whereas with the catalytic heater you'd have to keep a window at least partly open when it's in use. The CO detector, also standard on these units, could potentially be going off at odd times with the catalytic heater. It's really loud, everyone in the campground will hear it; don't ask how I know (grin).
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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-18-2012, 11:07 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 2,381
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From original post. "The formula I had heard was 1,000 btu's per foot of camper. Using this formula, I would need a 12,000 btu heater and this doesn't sound right but maybe it is." Now if this is square foot, and you only have 12 square feet, that is a small camper, about 3 foot by 4 foot. (sorry no harm intended). If it is length, then your camper must be 12 feet long. As for the heater, get the biggest one if price doesn't matter much, and it has a thermostat, then you'll be fine.
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LadyWindrider
2012 Ford F250 ext. Cab 4x4
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2008 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
2008 Work and Play 18LT
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08-18-2012, 12:25 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, Illinois
Posts: 301
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I just installed a Wave 3 ln my 27' 5er. Except for testing, I have not had a chance to try it yet.
I am fairly certain that it will not heat the whole rig. I just wanted something provide some warmth to the bedroom when dry camping in cold weather. The one test that I ran was to turn on the A/C full blast, turn on the heater, and close the bedroom curtain. I had the livingroom at 70 deg. while the bedroom was at 98 deg. This despite the fact that there is a A/C duct in the bedroom.
Joel
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2011 Silverado 2500HD Duramax, 4x4, crew cab, long bed
Palomino Puma 253-FBS, 27' 5th wheel
1994 19' Class B on Chevy chassis
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08-18-2012, 08:06 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 53
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Windrider...
The formula as I understood it was 1,000 btu's per foot of length of the trailer. I'm assuming this doesn't include the trailer tongue.
I'm thinking that the 3,000 btu model will be sufficient. It is rated for 120 square feet and my aframe measures 12' by 7' exterior box dimensions which would give me 84 square feet. Who knows what the manufacture's rated for 120 square feet means.
I'll post back with actual results in a few weeks.
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08-18-2012, 08:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Pickerington, OH
Posts: 166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maranatha
I'm thinking that the 3,000 btu model will be sufficient. It is rated for 120 square feet and my aframe measures 12' by 7' exterior box dimensions which would give me 84 square feet. Who knows what the manufacture's rated for 120 square feet means.
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I think the 3000 BTU will work fine. I use a Coleman SportCat 1500 BTU to take the chill off in cooler weather (mid 40s). I have never tried it during freezing temps. I can get by 2 nights with one canister.
Amazon.com: Coleman SportCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater: Sports & Outdoors
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Currently trailerless.
2014 Silverado Double Cab 1500 5.3L V8 w/3.42 Axle Ratio Tow Vehicle
Sold: 2012 Rockwood A122 Hardside Popup
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