Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I didn't have any design or function problems with my unit, at all. It worked fine right out of the box. For my purpose (heating a tent or a small bedroom in case of a power outage), I'd buy it again (and the price is right). BTW, the Winter temps in northwest WA are usually pretty mild at sea level, so although the 1500 BTU output isn't much, it is all I need.
The very first time I lit my unit, I was puzzled why it took 5 or 6 clicks of the insta-start spark to light it, even though Coleman predicts this in their instructions. By telling you to start clicking the spark right after opening the valve, I suspect Coleman is making sure you don't let a large amount of propane build up before you hit the button. In other words, I suspect it takes the same amount of time to click the starter 5 or 6 times as for the unit to build up enough propane to light. When it does, there is a small poof of blue and yellow flame. True, if you waited a few minutes after you open the valve to click the starter, one click might be enough to light the unit, but you might also lose your eyebrows (or worse).
One thing for sure... run your heater outside or maybe in your garage for a LONG time when it is brand new. In fact, I'd say use up a whole container of propane to break it in. The reason for this is that the smell this heater puts out when it is new is nasty! Ever get a rug stuck in the rotating brush of your vacuum cleaner, and the rubber drive belt starts to smoke? Well, it's like that smell TIMES TEN! I couldn't find any mention of the odor or warnings about toxicity in the Coleman booklet, so Coleman must not think is is harmful. But, believe me, it sure is unpleasant and Coleman should mention the idea of "breaking in" the heater when new. After I ran about 3/4 of a tank of propane through my new heater, the smell was completely gone. But, fair warning... break this puppy in, before you bring it inside with you.
Otherwise, no complaints, and I'd buy it again and recommend it to you. Stay warm out there!
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Coleman SportCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart TechnologyWhether you're sleeping in an electricity-free cabin or an outdoor tent, the Coleman SportCat PerfectTemp propane heater will warm up any camping adventure. The SportCat, which attaches to the top of a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder, provides plenty of warmth when you need it, with an output of 1,500 BTUs for up to 14 hours per tank. As a result, those chilly fall and spring evenings won't seem quite so inhumane while you sleep. The heater is also easy to light: just flip the electronic ignition switch and you're set. No messing with frustrating matches or finicky gas valves. And thanks to the SportCat's stable, detachable base, you can rest the heater on pretty much any surface. Also equipped with an integrated handle for easy carrying, the SportCat delivers all the warmth you need for your camping expeditions.
Note: proper ventilation is required for the SportCat to work safely.
About Coleman More than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman, and the company he founded would change life in America. A man plagued with such poor vision he sometimes had to ask classmates to read aloud to him, Coleman saw a brilliant light in 1900 in a drugstore window that stopped him in his tracks. He inquired about the light inside and discovered he was able to read even the small print on a medicine bottle by the illumination. The lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline under pressure instead of coal oil. Soon afterward, Coleman started a lighting service that offered a "no light, no pay" clause--a big step forward for merchants who were burned by inferior products that rarely worked--and drew substantial interest from businesses that wanted to keep their lights on after dark.
In the ensuing years, Coleman expanded its product line well beyond lanterns. The company's current catalog is thick with products that make spending time outdoors a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for days on end, comfortable airbeds that won't deflate during the night, a complete line of LED lights that last for years, powerful portable grills that cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more. Coleman has truly fashioned much of our outdoor camping experience, and expects to do so for generations to come.
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