Mr Buddy heater install

[Lee]

Hi,

Completed the Mr Buddy heater supply line install and thought I would share.

I "T"ed into the furnace gas line that is under the fridge. Put a ball valve and flex hose.

Modified the air inlet grating by notching out one of the louvers. Installed 2 hinges and a hook to keep the door closed.

Take care

[Steve S]

I'm curious, how does it vent?

[canesfan]

I was wondering about that too. ^

[Lee]

It's a catalytic heater rated to work inside without venting.

Instructions recommend leaving 1 window cracked open 1 inch and also the roof vent open 1 inch as it does consume oxygen.

Here's a link to the one I have:

http://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-po...a-version.html

It's alittle to much for my small TT as even on low it will run you out. Reason I got it to begin with is that it came with the quick disconnect gas fitting.

[Steve S]

I personally think that you're playing with your life if you use this in a trailer. Even the disclaimers say that you can only use it indoors in a few States and no where in Canada.
BTW what's wrong with just using your furnace?

[Lee]

Hi,

I linked to the wrong model. Here is the one I have:

http://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater.html

Here is a quote for the user manual:

This heater is safe for indoor use in small recreational enclosures, having means for providing combustion air and ventilation, such as enclosed porches, cabins, fishing huts, trailers, tent trailers, tents, truck caps and vans. It may be used for emergency indoor heating when connected to a disposable 1 lb. propane cylinder and for indoor use in commercial enclosures, having means for providing combustion air and ventilation, such as construction trailers or temporary work enclosures.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Steve S

I personally think that you're playing with your life if you use this in a trailer. Even the disclaimers say that you can only use it indoors in a few States and no where in Canada.
BTW what's wrong with just using your furnace?

I exclusively dry camp in the high altitude Cascade mountains (3500ft). This heater users zero battery power to operate. The furnace is battery hungry!!!

On 10 day trips I no longer need to recharge my duel batteries as I have also replaced all light bulbs with LEDS.

Read the info concerning this heater and you will see it is made for indoor use. Just crack a window and a roof vent for ventilation.... which most folks do already to keep condensation down. I also have a CO2 monitor installed and a low Oz monitor just to be safe.

[JRTJH]

If you're using your Buddy heater on large propane tanks, be sure to use the inline filters !!!! The oily "odorant" that's added to propane (so you can smell a leak) will get trapped in the oxygen sensor in the heater and foul it so it won't operate. When that happens, the Buddy heater safety feature (O2 sensor) becomes inoperative and the heater won't shut off in a "low oxygen" environment. When that happens, using the heater in an enclosed area becomes very risky, maybe even dangerous.

I've got two Buddy heaters, one with an inoperable oxygen sensor that will keep burning until it uses all the oxygen in an enclosed area (Ice fishing shanty). We found out the hard way a couple years ago when we couldn't keep the heater going while we were out "tip-up" fishing and using the shanty to get warm. Every time we'd open the shanty, the heater was cold, get it started again, warm up, go back out on the ice, get cold, go back to the shanty and the heater was cold. Fortunately, the gas flow safety was working or it might have become a big boom along with not staying lit.

Just be careful with that heater. If you want catalytic heat, you might look at the Olympic heaters. They are designed for RV use and are much safer than the Buddy heaters.

[Lee]

Hi JRTJH,

I use a quick disconnect line plumbed into the supply line to the furnace using the TT's bottles as depicted in the pictures.

It is my understanding from research that the filter is not required in this method.

Your comments are most welcome.

[notanlines]

Lee, I'm with Steve on this one. I also am afraid you're playing with your life. I certainly hope you take every available precaution when using this device. Another thing that makes me nervous is the "quick connect propane connection." Be very careful; we don't have enough members just yet!

[Lee]

Folks,

I sincerely appreciate the concern over my use of this heater.

But,.... please take into account that this heater is designed FOR SAFE OPERATION in an RV, tent, cabin, truck canopy, etc.

I installed a "Ball" valve so there is no gas in the line except when I am using the heater,.... no worries with leaks. The heater has a built in O2 sensor and,... I installed a stand alone O2 sensor in the TT. Also, the TT came with a CO2 detector.

I used this heater on a 12 day elk hunt trip this past Oct. and it worked great. Just keep a window in the front of the TT cracked an inch and the roof vent in the bathroom in the back of the tt cracked and all is good.

If you want to talk scary, one of our hunters runs a burner on the stove top on low all nite in his Rig to keep the chill out. The rest of us have preached at him till the cows come home concerning this but he still continues.....

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Lee

It's a catalytic heater rated to work inside without venting.

Instructions recommend leaving 1 window cracked open 1 inch and also the roof vent open 1 inch as it does consume oxygen.

Here's a link to the one I have:

http://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-po...a-version.html

It's alittle to much for my small TT as even on low it will run you out. Reason I got it to begin with is that it came with the quick disconnect gas fitting.

Originally Posted by Steve S

I personally think that you're playing with your life if you use this in a trailer. Even the disclaimers say that you can only use it indoors in a few States and no where in Canada.
BTW what's wrong with just using your furnace?

X2! to the second post, that heater is consuming oxygen to burn, sorry I will listen to my furnace rather than live with a silent killer!!!

[chuckster57]

If you go back and read, the O.P.'s original reason for installing this heater is its ability to heat the trailer without using battery power. He also stated that while using it, a couple of fresh air sources are open.

Since we don't boondock, this isn't something I would use, but I have seen this and similar devices in customers units.

[canesfan]

Nice install. I would do what John suggested and use the filters though. I'm not a doom and gloom type of person and it sounds like you are taking safety precautions. Just don't forget to open windows/vents. Stay safe.

[Lee]

Hi,

I contacted the Mr Heater cooperation and inquired as to the use/need of the filter when using a regulated low pressure gas supply line such as my install. I told them that as far as I understood, I would not need one in my application. Here is their response:

"You are correct because the fuel source going to the hose feeding the heater is already low pressure that you don't need a fuel filter. The fuel filter is only needed if you are supplying high pressure to one of the internal regulators on either side of the heater. In that case, you would need a fuel filter to filter out the oils and the plasticizers that are coming out of the hose due to the high pressure gas flow. I hope this helps. Have a great day! "

Posting this for others that may be considering this set-up.

Thanks to all for the comments/concerns.

[fatcatzzz]

Thanks for clearing this up.

[Hodgy]

.

I carry one of those buddy heaters in the truck all winter, great safety item. I can see the advantages of using one in a trailer. The furnace does suck a bunch of power to run and I hate the sound of the blower.

I would think that heater would be to hot to run all night, they throw a lot of heat.

I will have my Buddy Heater with me camping, if just for a back-up. I believe in redundancy.
I have a back-up generator to my back-up generator at home.


.

[Lee]

Hodgy.. thanks for the comments.

I recently returned from a 13 day Elk hunt up in the mountains here in central Washington. We got snowed on and had temps in the low 30's upper 20's. The heater worked great,.... almost to great.

With the heater on it's lowest setting,... I would still wake up in the middle of the nite and turn it off as it was to warm in the TT.

Then, when the alarm would go off to go hunting I would fire the heater off on medium, start the coffee to percolating and climb back in bed till the coffee was done. By that time the heater had the TT comfortable.

Thanks,