Olympian Wave 3 Heater Installation – Truck Camper Magazine

Welcome to the fourth entry in October’s midsize mod-ster contest. A medium modification will be published in each email alert in October. At the end of the month we will hold a reader vote to determine the October winner. For information on the mod-ster contest, including how to enter, click here.

robert castle, columbia falls, montana olympic wave 3 facility 1996 ford f250 1991 lance 480

In installing a wave 3 heater, I wanted to save battery power and avoid noisy oven use in warmer climates.

I used a tee fitting to harness the propane to power the stove and water heater. i added a t and ss braided hose to reach the water heater access door area. another approach would have been to take advantage of the line under the stove.

Next, I removed the access door from the water heater and set it aside. I added a 2×4 spacer so that the removable tv arm will be far enough away to clear the edge of the cabinet.

I cut plywood to mount it to the arm of the TV and installed the wave 3 on it.

I added a lock to the end of the braided line and a three foot rubber hose that secures the valve to the wall.

wave 3 is stored in the daytime running position.

the wave in the night position allows maximum heat towards the cabover and I have room to pass.

I did a brief performance test. after an hour on high, it took my 480 lance, a 9.5 foot slip, from 50 degrees fahrenheit to 70 degrees fahrenheit. it was 45 degrees fahrenheit outside.

Overnight, the outside temperature dropped to 21 degrees Fahrenheit. the inside temperature was 63 degrees fahrenheit. I checked a couple of times during the night and the inside temperature varied between 35 and 40 degrees with respect to the outside temperature.

The temperature was measured at the height of the cabover bed. It was 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit lower in the dining room away from the heater bulb. it had no fan mixing the air. I plan to add a couple of computer freaks in the future to address this.

I really didn’t have room in my RV for a larger wave heater. in a larger RV, at these temps, I’d suggest finding a way for the larger 6 wave. wave 6 occupies twice the footprint and offers 150 percent of the production.

my initial opinion of wave 3 is that it suits smaller campers. you will need an oven to supplement it below 32 degrees fahrenheit. I’ll be able to use it at about 55 degrees fahrenheit on low without opening the vent more than 1/2 inch now.

sips propane. even on high, it only uses a pound every seven hours, so it would run just under a week on a 20-pound tank. he is dead silent; i can’t hear it the humidity has been kept at 37 percent with top vent and dining room window with 1/2 inch cracks for security. the co alarm has not sounded.

be sure to follow ventilation requirements and use a co detector for safety.

Installing wave 3 took about an hour of hands-on time and a few more to plan. This mod cost me around $350. In my opinion the skill level of this mod is medium.

Disclaimer: The above mods are submitted by readers of truck camper magazine. It is your responsibility to ensure that any modification project you undertake yourself is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.

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