Thank you! At normal winter temperatures, many people have found that leaving just the pilot light on overnight keeps the van warm enough to be comfortable with adequate bedding. To use this on low pressure I removed the built-in regulator and attached a hose which I plumbed into the line feeding my cook-top. My next post will help too. But, if you bought an RV and it already has a furnace, the decision is made for you. I am leaning towards the Wave, but don't know what size to get. If…..and that is a BIG if…..I can get my vehicle (2014 Ford Escape) to accommodate me with a fair amount of comfort, I will try it. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help! your own Pins on Pinterest If I depend on my Fantastic roof vent, it might close automatically if it rains. . But they both developed holes in the catalytic fabric, which made them dangerous to use. So maybe to solve this particular element of preparing my vehicle I will have to use a good sleeping bag. Brand New. It’s really hard to guess how cold it will be. Buddy heater could be plumbed (or hard-wired, as it were) into an RV’s existing propane supply. I would add that the Buddy heater does have two settings, but it gets hotter not less heat. I’ve heard that before Al, they don’t like high elevation. My advice is to buy based on 1) the size of your vehicle, 2) whether you might go to a bigger vehicle and 3) the severity of your winters: This is the simplest method of connecting the Little Buddy to a 20 pound tank, just hang it from the ceiling between the seats by a bungee cord, screw in a filter, and connect that to the 20 pound tank. Bob. $109.99 $ 109. Walt recently posted…#194 – Let’s Play A Game Of Musical Chairs, Walt, I’m sorry but I don’t know RV systems or the Big Buddy well enough to advise you. For most people in a van in average cold areas, either the Mr. Heater Buddy Portable Heater (4000-9000 btu) or the Mr. Heater Little Buddy Portable Heater (3800 btu) is the best choice. Do you know if the Olympian wave heaters have an oxygen depletion sensor? Installing our new Olympian Wave 8 catalytic heater Steveio has been doing upgrades to our motorhome to ward off his winter doldrums. $16.99 $ 16. 11/15/15 Sat watching the first real snow fall of the season all afternoon. For most vandwellers this is the perfect size because the lower heat is more suited to the small size of our vans. 100% safety shut-off valve prevents non-ignition fuel discharge. Your email address will not be published. Designed specifically for RVs, the Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Safety Heater is safe, efficient, and dependable. Howiet, they are really good heaters and work great in a van! So I got creative and just used my stove to warm up the van. One couple I know heats their 35 foot 5th Wheel with one and greatly prefer it to the built-in furnace. I think the truck canopy is a tad small for these? Now I have a 24+ MPG 4cyl, 4 door hatchback with a roof rack & box, and soon to be hitch and rear cargo box. This is recommended by the manufacturer. I just picked up a small Christmas tree stand (a plastic one with three screws that adjust the space where the trunk goes) for about $8. No matter where supplemental heat is needed the heaters below are sure to please. * Renogy 200 Watt Complete Kit Simple Living–Getting Rid of Excess Stuff, PAPERBACK: How to Live In a Car, Van, or RV: And Get Out of Debt, Travel, and Find True Freedom, KINDLE VERSION: How to Live in a Car, Van or RV--And Get Out of Debt, Travel and Find True Freedom. 100 percent safety shut-off valve prevents non-ignition fuel discharge. I bought a small Olympian 3000 (now called the Wave 3) when I purchased our 1992 Starcraft. 40’s at night sounds like ideal weather! 4.4 out of 5 stars 338. The moisture doesn't come from the propane tank. A gallon of propane produces the same amount of water regardless of what heater burns it. The Olympian Wave-8 heaters are both silent and efficient. Skip to main content. I’m sorry Canine, I don’t know, but I would guess it was very low. Wish I had bought the Wave6 in the first place. Rv heaters, heaters, Olympian heaters, Empire heaters. New Listing Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 6000 Btu Lp Gas Catalytic Heater. 57341 Olympian Wave-6 - 6000 BTU Htr* $499.89 $475.89 SALE 57701 Wave Heater Leg Stands - 2 pack (Black)* $20.17 57351 Olympian Wave 8 - 8000 BTU Htr* $548.88 Page 1 of 2 - Olympian Wave 3 heater - posted in The Casita Club Forum: At the risk of opening up the "unvented combustion" topic, I'll pose this question. Anyone considering any ventless heater just needs to consider that it may not work for them. Thanks to your website and YouTube channel, I’m starting to convert a van to live in, so I can follow my dreams! No it, won’t! * Renogy Foldable Solar Suitcase 100W They use their own regulator so they don’t need a filter like the others do and are less likely to plug up and need a repair. At first we used a Mr. Heater, but later moved up to a 10,000 BTU free-standing unit. From left to right you can see the three sizes of Mr. Heater Buddy heaters. This nearly new Olympian Wave-3 Propane Catalytic Heater is one of the best and safest heaters I've ever used. In future posts I’ll tell you how to connect your Mr. I know this can be done with an Olympian Wave catalytic heater, but I’d like to figure out how to do the same thing with a Mr. Make boon docking nights in the RV great again! I spotted it before it became dangerous. Which one is safer? Camco Olympian series Wave heaters can be used as portable space heaters and in most cases can be wall mounted in the vertical position. Clearances are very important and need to be followed exactly. I was thinking the 6 might be good, given the small size of the van. darn, I didn’t buy the smallest one because I could not figure out how to ‘safely’ convert it for use with a bulk bottle. (It is about 12″ at the widest part.) The Buddy heater puts out a lot of moisture and the windows are dripping wet in the morning. Heater Dust Cover Replaces The 57727 Compatible for Olympian Wave 3 Heater fits for The Wave 3 or 3100 Catalytic Heater with Portable heaters (not Wall Mounted). Realistically, I am looking at next winter for a trip south, so who knows what will happen with el nino by then. Tell us about your vehicle to find the right parts faster. I used the 3 at normal temperatures, the 8 as it got coler and both when below zero. This small camper van heater is powerful, pumping out up to 4,000-18,000 BTUs for spaces up to 450 square feet. I can’t guess what it will be like this year but with the El Nino I would guess it will be colder than average. Designed specifically for RVs, the Olympian Wave-8 Catalytic Safety Heater is safe, efficient, and dependable. This is a Wave 8 model from the Olympian heaters from Camco. I will be living in my home state of Maine for 1 full year in the van, while saving money to start my travel adventure. Most people find that to be plenty and that the middle size Buddy puts out too much heat for the tiny space of cars and vans. * Olympian series Wave heaters operate on low pressure HD-5 propane gas only and are equipped with a safety shut-off valve to prevent accidental non-ignition fuel discharge. In the winter I am in the desert so I never need it at high elevation so I can’t comment. I did read on some van life forums that this van heater stops working about 7,000 feet, but others say they’ve gotten it to work at altitudes up to 10,000. Many RVers find that opening a roof vent only ½" allows enough air circulation without heat loss and prevents excess moisture condensation inside the RV. 4.5 (0) Camco 59013 Single Stage Propane Low Press Regulator By Camco USD $19.95. Camco Olympian Wave-3 Heater By CAMCO USD $337.98. Would I be better off saving my money and use since there may not be any real improvement over the Buddy, or would I be moving up with the Wave 6? But for anything much larger you will be much happier to spend a few extra dollars and get the larger Wave 8 model. I no longer have to worry about a dead battery from the heater running all night and use way less propane. If I hadn't sold my Buddy on Ebay I would have thrown it in the lake. Hi, We have been trying to decide which auxiliary heater to get for our vanagon and wonder if some of you have either option and can comment on how it works for you. I have been enjoying the videos all full of good info. The self-generating piezo starter lasts for around 20,000 starts for consistent, long-term performance. This is just part of using a non-vented gas heater. What is the wattage of the CO/LP gas Alarm? Bob. You are going to appreciate the extra heat and the nicer features like a quick disconnect and built-in fan. Olympian recommends the Wave 8 for my size of camper but reviews that I read before purchasing indicated that the Wave 8 was too much and they wished they bought a Wave 6. Go to my website and at the top are menu buttons, click the one that says forum and then join. However the built in tank probably has less moisture in it than the portable tanks you have been buying. Camco OLYMPIAN Wave6 Installation Information (13 pages) Catalytic Safety Heater . Ming if the shell is metal, then I wouldn’t worry so much about clearances to it because the metal isn’t combustible. The Buddy heater puts out a lot of moisture and the windows are dripping wet in the morning. The Mr. Heater heaters have oxygen depletion sensors. Bob. 4 (0) Camco 59833 12' BBQ Adapter Hose By … I think such a heater would be much more efficient in an RV than the built-in furnace and would help conserve electricity/battery power while boondocking – if I could figure out how to get it connected to propane without having to drill additional holes. Al Christensen recently posted…What is a guy without a house doing at Ikea? So, would like some input from those of you that use any of the Olympian models as to how well they keep you warm and "dry". On the left is the Big Buddy, next is the Buddy Heater and then the smallest, Little Buddy. Only the original front plate and end caps are removed/recycled. It’s ideal for RVs because of its higher heat output and yet some vandwellers chose them for their other advantages: Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater: This is the middle sized heater in the Mr. Works a treat with the 20lb bottle. Thank you for all your posts and videos. I hope to never live in a house again! It does appear that the Wave is the way to go as far as ventless. If you follow the manual and give them adequate ventilation (usually just lowering your front windows by several inches is enough–but don’t guess, read and follow the manual!) To help you prepare, in today’s post I’m doing a comparison of the types of heaters commonly used by vandwellers. The unit is easy to start and looks good in the Camper. The Olympian is rated for it and doesn’t give me any problems. I have used both and can't say that there is a signified difference in the amount of moisture put out by the two heaters. Drew, it seems to be sporadic, I hear reports both ways. The bottom line is that most vandwellers are going to be much better off with a non-vented, portable heater because they are much smaller and cheaper to buy and operate and equally easy to install. I … The Little Buddy is the smallest and because of that I think it’s the best one for most car and van dwellers–unless you live in extreme cold. Tim, one porblem you might have is with clearances around them, they need quite a bit of room. This is something he wanted to do for some time. Amazon.com: olympian wave 3 heater - International Shipping Eligible. 4 (0) Camco 59035 12' Propane Supply Hose By Camco USD $49.95. RV Heaters. Once you turn the heater off you can then close the windows and retain the heat they put into the van. The Olympian models are equipped with an integral safety shut-off valve to help prevent accidental non-ignition fuel discharge. Even later, we mounted that heater on a cabinet. 4 (0) CAMCO WAVE 3 HEATER By CAMCO USD $223.90. Yes, I’ll show you another way to use the smallest Buddy heater. 2. Mr Heater vs Olympian Wave. Also for now we are … What is a guy without a house doing at Ikea? They will keep the heaters from using up your oxygen. If you are a person who runs cold or live in a very cold area, then I’d recommend the Olympian Wave series of heaters. Let’s compare the main types of heaters, vented versus non-vented. Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 5. The easy slip-on baseboard heater cover that instantly rejuvenates ugly old, yet perfectly functional baseboard heaters. I might get a “Little Buddy” for full timing out of my car/tent, or maybe even a “Portable Buddy” if I go with a larger tank and hose setup. With the lower output of this smallest heater, you can turn it on and leave it on with less time spent fussing with it. Despite it having a tip-over sensor, I wasn’t very happy with the small base that came with the heater. We have 1 Camco OLYMPIAN Wave6 manual available for free PDF download: Installation Information . Renogy® 100W Mono Bendable Solar Panel, Find everything you need to know to start vandwelling in my book! PAPERBACK: How to Live In a Car, Van, or RV: And Get Out of Debt, Travel, and Find True Freedom, Or as an eBook for the Amazon Kindle for only $2.99: I’ll put reflectix in the windows. Mar 5, 2017 - This Pin was discovered by Gloria Smith. But, that can be said for every fuel burning appliance. They come with a Quick Disconnect so they are easier to hook up and disconnect then move around or even take it outside using the green, one pound bottles. I’ve learned a lot from you and all your video subjects. Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater: There are three sizes of Mr. Heater Buddy Portable Heaters  and this is the largest, most expensive, and puts out the most heat with three heat settings, 4000-9000-18000. Al Christensen recently posted…What is a guy without a house doing at Ikea? Olympian Heater Superstore - Great Prices from PPL - 79-1994 I have 3 dogs and will plumb the heater into the LP then would like to place it in the bathroom doorway? I discovered this when I was having trouble lighting my Little Buddy and keeping it going while camped near Flagstaff. Enter Year. For example, the Portable Buddy needs at least 30″ of vertical clearance, 24″ of front clearance, 6″ on the sides and none at the back. How cold does it get at night where you camp for the winter? It can heat up to 230 square feet which is more than enough for any tent that you may use on the trip. The last time, I spent 2 years working on a 5-10 MPG big V8 Class B, only to spend 5 months on the road with it. Given that I have used these heaters for hundreds and hundreds of nights, I think I am qualified to do a long term review. They’re cheap to buy and cheap and easy to run. I have a Chalet LTW trailer (folding A-frame trailer). My Buddy and Big Buddy heaters won't work at 9000' making them essentially useless so I use e'm in my garage. Living the life of a Nomad on wheels goes a long way to solving that problem! Keep the good info coming it is a big help. It’s also an extremely good idea to add a carbon monoxide detector to your rig. There are no bad choices here, they are all great heaters! bottles. It can be done and you can be comfortable! In the vandwelling/RVing world that’s know as being a “Snowbird” because we fly away with the weather and seasons. * Renogy 100 Watt Complete Kit I plan to remove the interior paneling, and attach foam boards, then panel over them. 99. I'm considering buying an Olympian Wave 6 to replace my Mr Heater Buddy to use in my 05' Pleasure Way Excel. you will be totally safe! Then you may need the Wave 6 or Wave 8. Important Safety … Of course the colder it is outside and the less insulation the van has, the more you’ll be glad you have this size. IMO, there are other reasons to choose the Wave heater over the Buddy heaters. Of course many of us aren’t in the position to be mobile yet; you may be living in a van or RV but family or economic circumstances require you to stay where you are and that just happens to be a cold area. Its low setting is 1600BTUs which means it uses less propane and also put out less moisture (H20 is a byproduct of burning propane). Thanks for all the quick answers, good to hear from those that own and use a product. Try Prime EN Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Orders Try Prime Cart. Buddy Heaters to a bulk, refillable propane bottle and when to use the filter. Jeff. I may try to build a tent to fit over the back of the truck. Bob, Steve the clearances are very important and they make it hard in the tiny space of a small SUV. The heaters are also offered as the Wave-6 (which heat up to 3200-6000 BTU) and Wave-3 (1600-3000 BTU). I know that the nights can get pretty cold from what Bob says, so I was thinking about using the Little Buddy for a heat source. It seems the Mr Heater is ginormous and I am not exactly sure where I would put it where the dogs' tails wouldn't catch on fire, also I don't want to do the Buddy mod. My question is this…I couldn’t find a reasonable deal on a cargo van in this area, but found a great deal on a Dodge conversion van. (I thought I saw somewhere that the hose connector is a different size or something along those lines. The Olympian Wave 6 works well with a small trailer like our 8 foot long Starcraft Meteorite. To the far right is a Coleman catalytic heater which is a very nice little heater. I remember how wonderful it felt to finally be able to turn it off and know summer was near!! There probably is not any 'change' between the Olympic and Mr Buddy heaters as far as amount of moisture that comes out of the gas while it is warming the RV. Its major drawback is it’s difficult to convert to refillable propane bottles, but in a future post I’ll show you how. I missed that... My big point was to have something that was vented and not hve to worry about that. At one time my life was ruled by the time-clock but fortunately those days are gone forever!! Be it a weekend trip with your family or a camping trip with your friends, this heater will provide great results everywhere. It looks to have an inch of insulation on the roof, but that’s not enough to prevent condensation from 2 people and a dog breathing in there all night. Great Prices on All Olympian Propane Wave Catalytic Heaters. If you can’t see the heater video below, cut and paste this link into your browser: Mr. Heater Big Buddy (4000-9000-18000): Mr. Heater, BIG Buddy Portable Propane Heater, Mr. Heater Buddy (4000-9000): Mr. Heater Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Radiant Heater, Mr. Heater Little Buddy (3800): Mr. Heater 3800 BTU Portable Heater, Olympian Wave 3: Camco Olympian Wave-3 3000 BTU Catalytic Heater, Marine Grade Carbon Monoxide/Propane alarm here: Marine Technologies Combination Carbon Monoxide/LP Gas Alarm. The fan runs off D batteries or an AC adapter. This is a heating solution that is safe to sleep with the unit on, but you will need to leave a window cracked at all times to allow for combustion to occur. I’d guess they just couldn’t compete with the Buddy or Olympian heaters. This heater features adjustable heat settings, no flame, no flue or chimney, no fan or blower and no noise. 1. Hi again. Olympian Wave Heaters. He had the opportunity to purchase a new catalytic heater at a great price. Marine Technologies Combination Carbon Monoxide/LP Gas Alarm, Mr. Heater Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Radiant Heater, Mr. Heater, BIG Buddy Portable Propane Heater, Camco Olympian Wave-3 3000 BTU Catalytic Heater, How to Connect Your Buddy Heater to a 20 Pound Bottle, http://www.coleman.com/product/2000004165#.Vkjxh4S37tR, #194 – Let’s Play A Game Of Musical Chairs. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Heating your RV can be simple and uncomplicated with a radiant heater. 2. I use the Big Buddy at 9100′ in Colorado about every weekend I can get to the cabin. 4.6 out of 5 stars 50. for the moment we want an easy solution for heating, no complex installations like the propex. All of these heaters come with a low-oxygen sensor and accidental tip-over switch with auto shut-off to guarantee your safety. Coolmom has it dead to rights. They normally run $400-500, and he got it for less than half that price. Use these links and I'll make a small percentage and it will cost you nothing: Full 360° and workmanship for a … The Camco Olympian Wave Heater # CAM57331 can be used as your primary source of heat and can be setup to be both permanently installed or portable. The self-generating piezo starter lasts for around 20,000 starts for consistent, long-term performance. Olympian Wave Heaters There is no open flame to worry about, heat is radiant like an open oven door. http://www.coleman.com/product/2000004165#.Vkjxh4S37tR, Calvin, I think they are gone. It comes from the combustion of the propane which produces carbon dioxide and water. 100% safety shut-off valve prevents non-ignition fuel discharge. Is it permently installed, or just in place for the evening? I've read some reviews about the Wave 6 and many say there should be no real issue with moisture, which would be great. But what bothers me is the small space that it would be in. How does a catalytic heater work? Stay safe out there my friend. I have a Little Buddy for my conversion van and like it very much. I liked that the Blackcats because they had two heat settings, while Little Buddy has only one, and it seems to me the the Little Buddy produces a lot more water vapor, which is a big deal if you winter camp on the coast in WA or OR! HISTORY. Buddy heater. Buddy Portable Heater series and it has two settings, 4000 and 9000 btu. Then in the morning I would plan on reaching up and starting the engine to heat up the car before I get completely out of my bag. It can’t fall over and is above where your dogs move around. All I found a video from Mr. Heater that clued me in. You can leave the windows slightly open while the heaters turned on and you’ll be toasty warm. The Camco Olympian Wave 6 Catalytic Safety Heater for Mid-Sized RVs # CAM57341 is a good choice for heating up to 230 square feet of space, but it sounds like you're likely going to be better off with the Camco Olympian Wave 8 Catalytic Safety Heater for Large RVs # CAM57351 which can heat up to 290 square feet. It’s a true catalytic heater so it is safer than the Mr Heater Buddy series and it’s low setting is 1500 btu which is better for a van or car. They are the very best value for the price. The Camco Olympian RV Wave-8 LP Gas Catalytic Safety Heater features a self-generating piezo starter lasts for 20,000 starts. Al Christensen recently posted…What is a guy without a house doing at Ikea? I’m making Videos with my good friends James and Kyndal on their YouTube Channel. It’s a true catalytic heater so it is safer than the Mr Heater Buddy series and it’s low setting is 1500 btu which is better for a van or car. Discover (and save!) If you are in an RV then I recommend the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater (4000-9000-18000 btu). Take a look at this chart and you’ll see the pros and cons of each and you can let your circumstances make the decision for which is right for you. Other than the first picture you didn’t talk about the Coleman catalytic heater, I’m curious as saving space (over the mid size) is big thing. Their propane usage is minimal (far less than an equivalent dollar amount of electricty for an electric heater) and the heaters are safe. Topic: Mr Heater Buddy vs Olympian Wave 6: Posted By: Makin' Do on 09/30/15 09:33pm I'm considering buying an Olympian Wave 6 to replace my Mr Heater Buddy to use in my 05' Pleasure Way Excel. From United States. Learn how your comment data is processed. FREE Shipping. The Buddy Heater I’m touching has a filter installed and is hooked up to a 20 pound bottle. I don’t know if this Escape thing is going to work. But if you join my forum and post this question there I’m sure you will get all the help you need. Not even its pilot would stay lit, sputtering and flickering and dying until we finally gave up. Personal observed difference between my Mr Buddy and Olympian 8000 heaters. The Mr. Its cheaper given that it uses less propane because it uses low pressure propane vs the Mr. Heater Buddy which uses high pressure. I had the middle sized Mr. Heater Buddy but I sold it and bought this one and I prefer it. The portable heaters are cheap to buy and super easy to install and a forced-air furnace is just the opposite; it’s expensive and requires a high skill level. You may think you don’t like the caveat “if used properly” but that applies to every fuel burning appliance. If I stick to full timing long enough this time, I might get an old Aerostar or Astro van and spend a month converting it. It is available in paperback for $6.71 from Amazon.com here: Brand: Camco | Category: Heater | Size: 1.81 MB Table of Contents. Free 2-day shipping. See them here: Heater Comparison; Mr Heater Buddy versus Olympian Catalytic Wave 3. Very happy with my Wave 6. Even the smallest of these heaters put out much more heat than will come in by giving them adequate ventilation. Unfortunately, it’s a fiberglass cap. The thermal mass of the van and its contents will continue to radiate heat over night so if you run the heater before bedtime and adequately insulate the van, it should be surprisingly warm the next morning. Glad to help Jeff! On the other hand, I feel the Little Buddy is much safer, and you know what? But that chilly October night, the little auxiliary heater simply would not stay lit. I’ve had two Coleman Blackcats, and I thought they were great. If you can’t afford that, get the 6 or 8 alone. The’re good heaters and have been around for decades so you can safely buy one. Olympian Catalytic Heater, Wave 3: When I lived in a box van in Alaska for 6 years I used Olympian heaters as my only source of heat and I must tell you I consider them to be superior in nearly every way to the Mr. Heater Buddy heaters. Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: Aux heater : olympian wave 3 vs. Mr. Heater buddy ? It would be very close to just about anything wherever it would be sitting. I have a series of videos comparing all these heaters. Today my life is ruled by my own internal thermostat, if the temperature isn’t what I want it to be, I just turn the key and drive away  to where it’s more to my liking! HOWEVER, they’re calibrated to work below 7,000 feet. Required fields are marked *. According to the company the Wave-3 is safer than other propane heaters because it doesn't allow harmful gases into the air as the others do.