Uploaded November 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
After finding out that even the smallest Mr Heater propane heater was too much for my van, I went in search of other ways to heat my van. My van is super insulated and does not take much to heat it.
Candle heaters did not work out for me. In short, scentless candles smell/stink, deposit a residue as they burn and do not last very long.
I have a CO detector and it has never gone off in the van while burning my propane stove.
Propane is still the best way to heat water and air when not able to plug into shore power.
Although I am still burning propane, the moisture level from that tiny stove flame is way way less than than what that Portable buddy heater puts out. And so moisture and CO are not a big deal now.
My van is always being ventilated with my Maxxair fan. Air is drawn in at the front and out at the top. Just enough to keep a small fresh air supply circulating through the van.
Please read this so I don't have to repeat it again and again in the comments section below :)
Emissions are not a problem. The flame is set so low that water vapor and carbon monoxide are not an issue. Also, the van is continually being vented. The van is not a sealed tight box.
Watch my video to see my computer CPU heat pipe heater.
I got Bob's web site wrong in the video. Sorry about that Bob, his channel here is CheapRvliving.
Adding more comments here for repeated questions in the comments below:
I always use thermal paste.
Carbon monoxide is not and issue with proper ventilation.
The fan uses under 30 milliamps of DC current and is not a serious drain on my big AGM battery.
I don't live in this van, it's just a RV vehicle I use now and then.
The pan in the video was just a test pan. That pan is not what I would use for a final design
After finding out that even the smallest Mr Heater propane heater was too much for my van, I went in search of other ways to heat my van. My van is super insulated and does not take much to heat it.
Candle heaters did not work out for me. In short, scentless candles smell/stink, deposit a residue as they burn and do not last very long.
I have a CO detector and it has never gone off in the van while burning my propane stove.
Propane is still the best way to heat water and air when not able to plug into shore power.
Although I am still burning propane, the moisture level from that tiny stove flame is way way less than than what that Portable buddy heater puts out. And so moisture and CO are not a big deal now.
My van is always being ventilated with my Maxxair fan. Air is drawn in at the front and out at the top. Just enough to keep a small fresh air supply circulating through the van.
Please read this so I don't have to repeat it again and again in the comments section below :)
Emissions are not a problem. The flame is set so low that water vapor and carbon monoxide are not an issue. Also, the van is continually being vented. The van is not a sealed tight box.
Watch my video to see my computer CPU heat pipe heater.
I got Bob's web site wrong in the video. Sorry about that Bob, his channel here is CheapRvliving.
Adding more comments here for repeated questions in the comments below:
I always use thermal paste.
Carbon monoxide is not and issue with proper ventilation.
The fan uses under 30 milliamps of DC current and is not a serious drain on my big AGM battery.
I don't live in this van, it's just a RV vehicle I use now and then.
The pan in the video was just a test pan. That pan is not what I would use for a final design
