Using a Wave 8 Heater in my 2005 Greyhawk 29GS

[C42]

Hi all -


I recently purchased a Wave 8 catalytic heater and am looking for the best way to set it up for usage. It will not be wall-mounted, but rather free-standing.


It sounds like the easiest approach is to run the low-pressure hose through an open window to the heater. Not ideal (who knows how long the tank will last before it "walks" away? Looking into securing it now and getting some ideas from the forum..)...


The Greyhawk also has a "quick coupler" function - but not certain if it is low-pressure or suitable for a heater since they talk about using it for a BBQ grill. Also, I see nothing on my LP system that resembles the quick-connect described in the documentation.


Could the Wave 8 be connected into the on-board LP so that an external tank is unnecessary? No one up here that I have approached (even my propane company) was willing to attempt that - so - I don't know if I am asking for the impossible/dangerous..


Thanks in advance -


Chana

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Are you aware that burning propane inside causes higher humidity inside the space?

 

[C42]

Are you aware that burning propane inside causes higher humidity inside the space?

Thanks for responding...

>higher humidity...

Certainly. That's why I use Damp-Rid containers and two small dehumidifiers. I know that electric heat is nice and dry - but - for me it's going to be impracticable on a regular basis since I don't plan on utilizing RV parks (with electric hookups) except in a dire situation. (Most RV campgrounds look like a bunch of sardine cans lined up...I'd move to NY city if I wanted to be that close to my neighbors...especially camping..)

Most heaters that I've seen that are powerful enough to be useful are in the 700/1500 watt range. I tried out my 1500 watt heater the other day and my generator fuel usage increased by 75% from 11.5 hours to 2.5 hours with the increased load.

Most solar generator stations can run a 1500 watt heater - but only for a short period. I had an Ecoflow Delta Pro (3600 watts) - and even it would only be able to run it for about 2 hours (as expected).

So - yes - I understand about the moisture issue - and understand that it needs to be dealt with. Thanks....

 

[dwaynebmsg]

How about a diesel bunk heater? They are self-contained, put out serious heat and are vented outside. The output is adjustable and they use 12 volt power to operate the fan and igniter. The heater core in a car of mine ruptured and I would have had to remove the entire dash assembly to replace it. (it was a beater car) I bought one of these last year and mounted it in the trunk. I ran the exhaust pipe down through the bottom of the trunk (outside) and ran the heater pipe into the cabin through an opening in the back deck. May sound odd but it worked like a champ. It puts out a lot of heat and will run for hours on 1 gallon of diesel. You can also conect an external fuel tank. Just go on ebay or Amazon and type in diesel heater. I am planning to use one to keep the pipes and tanks in my basement from freezing. No humidity problem either.

 

[C42]

How about a diesel bunk heater? They are self-contained, put out serious heat and are vented outside. The output is adjustable and they use 12 volt power to operate the fan and igniter. The heater core in a car of mine ruptured and I would have had to remove the entire dash assembly to replace it. (it was a beater car) I bought one of these last year and mounted it in the trunk. I ran the exhaust pipe down through the bottom of the trunk (outside) and ran the heater pipe into the cabin through an opening in the back deck. May sound odd but it worked like a champ. It puts out a lot of heat and will run for hours on 1 gallon of diesel. You can also conect an external fuel tank. Just go on ebay or Amazon and type in diesel heater. I am planning to use one to keep the pipes and tanks in my basement from freezing. No humidity problem either.

Hi -


Thanks for your response.


This is not something that I can do myself - either from a technical aspect - or with the lack of help where I live. I also run a gas rig - not diesel. I am aware that diesel is a great heat - unfortunately, not really realistic under the current circumstances.


Thanks for your ideas though. . .

 

[pconroy]

Hi -
Thanks for your response.

This is not something that I can do myself - either from a technical aspect - or with the lack of help where I live. I also run a gas rig - not diesel. I am aware that diesel is a great heat - unfortunately, not really realistic under the current circumstances.

Thanks for your ideas though. . .

Just to chime in, a lot of people w/ gas rigs and diesel "Webasto style heaters" just carry a jug of diesel w/ them. I don't have one, but thought about it and apparently, they're not heavy on fuel consumption.

The advantage is that it's a completely dry heat.

As for installation, yeah you'd have to do some hole making and pipe routing. Which is a bit of a shame because they're a great way to pump heat in.

 

[pconroy]

And a question - if the Wave 8 uses propane, why not run the furnace? Granted they're not as efficient, but if you're heading South, perhaps you only need to run the heat infrequently?

 

[rndsommer4]

I did 9 nights in Vermont (November) a few years ago on a relatives property too far away to plug in. Coverings over all the windows at night to help trap in the heat went a long way to cut back on my propane furnace use. Was out and about during the day and the sun would heat up the inside pretty good. We were parked in a clearing. I'm sure thermal blankets of some sort would help tremendously. We put those aluminum sunshades over all the windows as I precut them to size to use in the hot summer then just put regular blankets over the windows at night. I also pulled the thin curtain across on the cab over bunk and the cab privacy curtain. Little things like that limit the propane use tremendously.

 

[C42]

I did 9 nights in Vermont (November) a few years ago on a I also pulled the thin curtain across on the cab over bunk and the cab privacy curtain. Little things like that limit the propane use tremendously.

Thanks for your response...!

Actually, I am doing ALL of those things already ...I close off the cab area with three layers of blankets (including a heavy, handmade quilt) and curtains with insulation in the front windows- as well as thermal insulation and two curtains in the cab area. I use three layers of curtains/blankets in my bedroom windows and the cabinets in that room also have extra insulation that I installed. I also use layered throw rugs on the floor throughout the rig. I have vent pads that give me an additional 2" off insulation and cuts off air from the three of them. I have also put new weatherstripping around the door to prevent cold air coming in.

I devoutly wish that all those things were doing something to cut my propane usage - but so far - not really. The only thing that seems to be helping is we've had a bit of a warm spell this week...!

I really do appreciate your response - helps me know I'm on the right track!

 

[rndsommer4]

Thanks for your response...!

Actually, I am doing ALL of those things already ...I close off the cab area with three layers of blankets (including a heavy, handmade quilt) and curtains with insulation in the front windows- as well as thermal insulation and two curtains in the cab area. I use three layers of curtains/blankets in my bedroom windows and the cabinets in that room also have extra insulation that I installed. I also use layered throw rugs on the floor throughout the rig. I have vent pads that give me an additional 2" off insulation and cuts off air from the three of them. I have also put new weatherstripping around the door to prevent cold air coming in.

I devoutly wish that all those things were doing something to cut my propane usage - but so far - not really. The only thing that seems to be helping is we've had a bit of a warm spell this week...!

I really do appreciate your response - helps me know I'm on the right track!

In 9 nights I used a little more than 3/4 tank of propane which I thought was decent for low mid 40s at night. I've burned more in 4 nights up at Lake George without all the extra steps and insulation in a cold October trip. Very hard to find a way without burning fuel or running down batteries. Good luck

 

[Spower001]

I use my Wave 6 every winter, it is great!
I run a hose from my onboard propane (grill) attachment outside in through a window to the Wave. I have the Wave sitting on a board on a small fold up step at the rear of my trailer. It is out of the way and heats up the place nicely! A lot less propane use then the furnace and quiet!! Oh and doesn't run my batteries down while boondocking

Oh also, I put a little fan on top of it that turns when heated up so it pushes more hot air into the trailer.

 

[C42]

Hi!

Thank you SO much for responding. This is exactly what I want to do...but - while my 2005 Greyhawk owner's manual says that: "Your unit is equipped with an LP gas “quick coupler” connection and support bracket for easy installation of the optional BBQ grill. The “quick coupler” is directly connected to the LP gas system of your trailer." - I can't find it.

I have attached a picture of my propane setup...could you tell me which/if there is a quick coupler connector on this system? As an FYI, the SAE side of the connection well when attached to the on-board propane tank - but only with an adapter that the propane shop uses. We checked it out this morning - and they are going to see if they can get me an adapter - but - since I leave in a few days, not certain if that will work...

Is it dangerous to hook up to the propane tank directly? I have another 20# tank in the basement as back-up as needed...should I just plan on using that instead of playing with the on-board propane tank.

Any ideas/thoughts/dire warnings/etc. greatly appreciated!

 

[Spower001]

Hi!

Thank you SO much for responding. This is exactly what I want to do...but - while my 2005 Greyhawk owner's manual says that: "Your unit is equipped with an LP gas “quick coupler” connection and support bracket for easy installation of the optional BBQ grill. The “quick coupler” is directly connected to the LP gas system of your trailer." - I can't find it.

I have attached a picture of my propane setup...could you tell me which/if there is a quick coupler connector on this system? As an FYI, the SAE side of the connection well when attached to the on-board propane tank - but only with an adapter that the propane shop uses. We checked it out this morning - and they are going to see if they can get me an adapter - but - since I leave in a few days, not certain if that will work...

Is it dangerous to hook up to the propane tank directly? I have another 20# tank in the basement as back-up as needed...should I just plan on using that instead of playing with the on-board propane tank.

Any ideas/thoughts/dire warnings/etc. greatly appreciated!

I don't know anything about your tank, sorry. But it does seem it would be way easier to take your 20lb tank, put it outside and run a hose from it through a window to the Wave. I used to do that until I got tired of hauling an extra tank around, I'm a full timer.

 

[C42]

Thanks, I appreciate your response.


I'm just concerned about the tank being stolen more than anything...it's just another thing to be worried about when camping ..and I'd like to decrease those as much as possible. Thanks very much!

 

[Spower001]

Thanks, I appreciate your response.


I'm just concerned about the tank being stolen more than anything...it's just another thing to be worried about when camping ..and I'd like to decrease those as much as possible. Thanks very much!

I traveled all over using the tank outside, never had a problem with theft *

 

[JFlightRisk]

snip...

The Greyhawk also has a "quick coupler" function - but not certain if it is low-pressure or suitable for a heater since they talk about using it for a BBQ grill. Also, I see nothing on my LP system that resembles the quick-connect described in the documentation.

I don't know if this helps, but a propane quick connect looks like the brass part of this:

https://propanegear.com/rv-quick-connect-install-kit/

I'd look all around the passenger's side slightly underneath, or inside any storage compartment. They can sometimes be elusive, unless the original owner removed it for some reason. I wish you luck on your quest for a solution. Be safe.

 

[pconroy]

So I'll take a stab at this. Someone has already installed a "Propane Tee Valve", also called by the brand name 'Extend-a-stay" on your tank. That's good. It's circled in yellow on my picture.

The two connectors I've got in red are where you can hook up a hose to either: (1) Feed your RV with propane from a BBQ tank or (2) hook up a grill or heater to feed it *from* the RV.

You can either (1) put Propane into your RV or (2) pull propane from the RV's tank for a grill or heater.

Since we're talking about feeding your heater - (2) - what you absolutely MUST do before you hook anything up is find out whether the Wave 8 heater has a pressure regulator already in it. Or not. But I'm guessing you've already done that.

If you could peek inside the plastic grey box to the right, after the Propane Tee, you'd see a pressure regulator in there. It's job is to take the High Pressure Propane in the RV Tank and drop it (regulate it) down to a Low Pressure.

On my 2016, the Low Pressure coupler is for appliances that do NOT have a regulator and it's by the rear wheel, passenger side. On mine, you can follow a propane line coming from the tank and heading back. It looks like an "air hose" coupler to me.

 

[pconroy]

Whelp - I just dug thru 9000 pictures looking for one where I've pointed out the low-pressure connection. Wouldn't you know it? Nothing really good. I found one of where I show my wife how to connect the external BBQ tank to feed the RV...

And two where the low pressure connector is >>>>>barely<<<<<< visible. Circled in red. Sorry.

 

[Rocksride!]

Say what you want this is what I did at my camp. Temps 20-30s. Bought a Mr Buddy heater, heavy duty 10 ft hose, new 20 lb cylinder and propane detector. Put cylinder in a box with propane detector inside FW. Ran hose full
Length away to heater. All inside my FW and left overhead exhaust vent open. So with two 30 lb tanks hooked to my stove, fridge and all the lines running thru my FW that can leak and blow up anytime I said oh well. So how many BBQ blow up daily with tanks sitting inches under an open flame. If I had a hole to run it outside I would have. But just think about what I said. So what if the tank is inside or out. A leak will happen from a hose or fitting. The leak will continue until something ignites the gas. So the chance of a leak at the tank fitting are the same as the hose or the hose fitting at the heater. The tank in a box 10 feet from the heater with a propane detector to me is just as safe.