Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 09:26:48 -0800
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: re hot air for cold nights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> For those interested in staying warm I just got a ZODI self contained
forced air
> heater. I got the recommendation from the list last winter. After
waiting for
> them to retool the unit they re-released it recently and it is cheaper
than
> before. The base unit is around $150.00. It provides 10,000 btu's of hot
air
> with no odor, carbon monoxide, or moisture. The unit needs to be located
> outside your van. They use flexible hoses that you would run into the van
to
> provide the heat. I have an extra mesh window frame that I will modify to
> accept the hose for this. There is no thermostat, but I have figured out
a way
> to light it and control temperature from inside my Westy. It doesn't have
all
> the hands free convenience for a Carver or factory unit, but it is alot
cheaper,
> not a permanent install, and it is very portable, so I can take it along
on cold
> days when I am outside at the races, sitting around, or working under the
car
Graham,
this heater seems a bit complicated to me...
just at a quick glance down side would seem to be:
1. the set up of it...
2. those propane canisters won't last long... probably not all night
3. a lot of heat lost outside before the warm air even gets inside...
4. having to hook it up to the battery...
5. price is higher than the "Buddy" heater described below:
New to hardware stores (Lowe's carries them)
Buddy portable propane heater:
truly portable with 1 lb propane canisters... pick it up by the handle and
move with it!
two settings, 4,000 btu and 9,000 but
can hood to 20 lb external tank with propane hose
price: $95
they advertise 6 hr of use with the 1 lb canister but don't say on with
setting... but knowing American advertising for what it is I'm sure that
would be on 4,000 btu setting so I would guess about 2 or 3 hours on 9,000
btu setting...
they advertise 110 hours with the 20 lb tank and assuming that is on the
4,000 btu mode that would mean maybe 50 hours on 9,000 btu mode
disadvantage of all these small canister heaters is the number of canisters
you have to buy.... and I guess you throw them away? can they be recycled???
Could go through 10 canisters in a weekend!!! But the portability of the
Buddy heater is fantastic... just pick it up and move it around like a brief
case.
Still, I'd choose the Buddy over the Zodie for it's simplicity, portability,
and price.
Anyone know if an 2nd propane tank like the stock Westy tank (under
passenger side) could be set up to work at the high pressures of these
propane canisters that are used with the Buddy heater???
Bill
