Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

by Coleman

Product Features

• Powerful 3,000-BTU heating unit
• Runs up to 7 hours on one 16.4-oz. propane cylinder (sold separately)
• InstaStart ignition for easy, matchless lighting
• PerfecTemp Catalytic technology for safe, efficient flameless heat -- at the game, in the tent, in the garage or around the home
• High and low temperature settings

Product Description

Product Description

The Coleman 5038-850 BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with InstaStart Technology provides you with comfortable warmth indoors or in a tent. This catalytic heater has an electronic ignition which is not only quicker and easier that using a match, but is much more reliable in cold, windy weather.

This Coleman BlackCat heater is incredibly portable for its heat output, with an easy-to-grip handle that makes it easy to carry, and compact legs that integrate into its collar for easy storage. The BlackCat's 3,000 BTU output will operate for up to seven hours on one 16.4 ounce cylinder of propane (not included).

Manufacturer Warranty
Limited lifetime warranty

Product Description

A great portable heater to take with you on a camping trip, to a sports outing or in your golf cart, the Coleman BlackCat InstaStart Heater features a 3000-BTU heater that will run for up to 7 hours on a single 16.4-ounce can of propane (sold separately). The BlackCat features PerfecTemp Catalytic technology, for safe, efficient, flameless heat, while Coleman's InstaStart battery ignition provides push-button, matchless lighting. A convenient switch offers both High and Low temperature settings for more control. The BlackCat Heater's legs fold up for easy storage, and an easy-grip handle provides comfortable, convenient carrying. Limited 5-year warranty.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 9 inches ; 4.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0009PUQW8
• Item model number: 2000004166
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleased with performance., December 7, 2006

By 

A. Steckel (Washington, DC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology (Sports)

I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.

Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so don't expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.

Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.

Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while there's no obvious propane smell and no open flame, there's still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater - if you feel it eminating warmth, you'll know you've started it successfully.

Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a breathing hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didn't have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didn't die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.

However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, it's a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.

All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Every Penny, September 28, 2009

By 

D. Hajek (Waukesh, WI.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology (Sports)

I bought this before a camping trip I was taking in late September in Wisconsin where the weather is usually cool and damp at night. I have a large 8 person tent and was pretty impressed on how well the heater kept the tent warm. With the temp outsite the tent in the lo 50's, I was very comfortable inside with just shorts & a t-shirt.

I did some investigation into the heater before I purchased it and one of the recomendations was to burn a tank of propane thru it before you really need to in order to get rid of an odor that seems to come from the new ones (in which it is a funky odor). I don't think you need to burn a whole tank, but maybe half a tank. I had a half a tank laying around so I used that and it seemed to work.

Another thing I noticed is they say it will use a whole bottle in about 8 hours. I would say maybe 7. If I started the heater around 9 PM around 4 - 4:30 it would start getting chilly in the tent because the heater ran out of gas. I would just quick change the bottle and start it back up and just go back to sleep. It does have a lower setting and it would have probably lasted longer if I would have set it on that.

One more thing I did before buying the heater I Googled catalytic Propane Heaters and was given a link to the Consumer Product Potection Agency investigation on propane heaters and I was very confident about putting this in a closed space and not worry about Carbon Monoxide.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ProCat Tent Heater: Great Product!, January 31, 2007

By 

Alabama Lamb (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology (Sports)

I've only had the opportunity to use the Procat 3000 BTU heater once when it was 25 degrees overnight in middle Tennessee in a two-man tent. The heater worked great with minimal odor and maximum warmth. I warmed up the tent before I went to bed (never leaving it unattended) and turned it off after snuggling into my sleeping bag. The electronic ignition was great! In the morning I simply reached out of my sleeping bag with one hand and turned on the heater about 30 minutes before I arose. It did take several clicks of the switch to ignite the heater as described in the instructions. It also takes a few minutes for the whole 'pad' in the heater to begin to glow but it was worth the wait! While there is no open flame, per se, the heater gets HOT so you must ensure you have adequate space in your tent for all of your `stuff' to be clear of the front of the heater to reduce the risk of fire. This heater is made to use safely inside a tent, however, carefully read the instructions regarding proper ventilation of your tent while using the heater to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. I left a small opening in the front and rear tent flaps to allow adequate airflow. I read one review on another site that said you had to use Coleman fuel as recommended by the manufacturer; however, I used the cheapest fuel I could find with great results. If love camping but you hate the cold, this product is for you!