Tom,
IMHO, the platinum cats are great heaters. I've had
the 6000 btu model for over 10 years now.
It's resided in a couple of westys, and now it's in
my '90 westy.
Originally I saw the plat cat at a boat show in Seattle,
and I thought it would be just perfect for my vanagon camper.
Since the heaters are approved for marine use, they are
very safe and reliable.
The plat cat can run for many days on one battery charge
and the propane.
Comfortable, quiet radiant heat.
Warm glow like a fireplace.
There are different ways of installing them.
I just mounted my heater on a board behind the
passenger seat. I didn't build a cabinet.
You can read more about the vented plat cat and
installation writeup that I once posted in the archives,
under title "CAT HEATER INSTALLATION IN VANAGON"
on 10/2/97 under author "harald.nancy".

There is a lot of stuff written about this heater in
the archives.

Here's a picture of the heater in my camper:
http://members.tripod.com/~wetwesties/maryhill/MARYHI12.jpg
Thanks to Jim Arnott, member of wetwesties, for the website.

Harald
'90 westy

----------
> From: Tom VandenBerg <Vbergs@AOL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Platinum Cat Q's
> Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 7:12 PM
>
> I've decided to install a vented catalytic space heater in my 82 Westy. I
> will go with the Platinum Cat from thermal Systems, Inc.
>
> I would like any input on listmembers who have installed one of these in
> their own vans/busses. My main question is: what size did you put in?
>
> The large size (6000 btu) would seem to require the construction of a
"box"
> to put it in behind the passenger seat. This would seriously inhibit the
> swiveling of the seat to the rearward position.
>
> The smaller size (3000 btu) would fit perfectly behind the passenger seat
> down near the floor. This would allow the seat to swivel and not be in
the
> way. Would this put out enough heat to make it comfortable on cold
mountain
> nights?
>
> Thanks for any input you may have.
>
> Tom VandenBerg
> Vbergs@aol.com
> 82 Westy