Heating-Little Buddy

[Grandma]

<p>Today's newspaper [Dec 10, 2012]:</p><p>"a garage exploded in flames Sunday afternoon...after gasoline fumes in the garage...were ignited by the flame of a propane space heater...two men were working on a vehicle ...the garage became saturated with fumes which detonated...The garage was gutted, and a large van inside the garage was destroyed by flames...two are in critical condition"<br /><br />DUH!&nbsp; There is a warning on the instructions.&nbsp; <br /><br />I am a newbie and I tried posting this somewhere else and then lost it<img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">...anyway I wanted to place this warning.&nbsp; We got a Mister Heater and we love it.&nbsp; It heats up really well in our van.&nbsp; We just made a mistake and put it on the counter [we have a conversion van with sink, micowave and Fridge]&nbsp; It made the ceiling hot.&nbsp; But, we learned our lesson!&nbsp; <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" class="bbc_img" /></p>

 

[rverscorner]

Just fyi ... propane pressure is dependent on temperature and not the size of the container. At a given temp the pressure will be the same in a 1 lb, 20 lb, 100 lb or any other container.<br /><br />The regulator reduces the pressure to 11 inches of water column (about 1/2 psi)

 

[VanTrekker]

My Mr. Heater Buddy makes the ceiling&nbsp;a little warm above where it is mounted on the side door.&nbsp; <br /><br />To remedy this, I have a little 12V automotive fan that I plug in and point toward the door.&nbsp; It disrupts the flow of heat toward the ceiling and keeps the doors and ceiling cool while better circulating the air.

 

[bk2valve]

Just a note here about propane systems:<br><br>On my last trip I&nbsp; had two small fires in my van due to propane leaks...and this with professionally made up hoses, etc. I used a small 1 gallon propane bulk tank with a single hose to "t" and a hose to the single burner propane cooker and one to the Mr. Buddy single. <br><br>It was dramatic and frightening and made me super grateful for a handy, fairly new ABC fire extinguisher. (also for a friend who I was camped with who had a vacuum and genset so I could clean up the mess made by the extinguisher and all the bicarbonate of soda, etc.) <br><br>The first time was a tiny leak at one of the brass "T" flare fittings...which could be fixed, it was a manufacturing flaw in the "T"....I replaced the "T". The next came from the regulator that the small green one pound bottles screw into (and the hose for my application) . It is a regulator that came with the burner and is only about three years old. It leaked and I have no idea why or how. <br><br>As a result, I have taken out all propane and plumbing and am going to a single burner butane cartridge stove like some of you all use already and I will use the green disposable bottles for Mr. Buddy. Thankfully I am not in my rig fulltime or even much when a heater is needed.<br><br>I am not suggesting anything more than be extremely careful and personally I would spring for a propane leak detector were I to go back to using propane. They are expensive although they usually come stock with any RV that uses propane.<br><br>Just my experience and take what you will and leave the rest. Not at all trying to scare anyone, just passing it on so maybe you will be super careful. <br><br>I have said to others that propane is not as dangerous as they might think but to check your fittings often with soap and water for leaks and I failed to do what I preached just this one trip...weird but a very cheap and thorough lesson for me.<br><br>Peace,<br>Bri

 

[Coffee Tim]

Thanks for the Heads Up,&nbsp; you are appreciated!&nbsp;

 

[owl]

There are millions&nbsp;of commerially produced RVs out there and everyone of them use propane. Propane is very safe if used properly. Even electric heaters cause fire.

 

[caseyc]

I have both the Little Buddy and Big Buddy propane heaters.&nbsp; I have&nbsp;noticed that my Little Buddy heater is the better choice for heating up my Ford E150 low top conversion van.&nbsp; The Little Buddy gives off just enough heat to sufficiently warm up my van when temps go down below 40 degrees.&nbsp; The Little Buddy is also a nice compact size that can rest low near the van floor.&nbsp; I also use a small USB powered fan connected near the dashboard and is pointed towards the ceiling so that the warm air is blown back to the van where my bed is.&nbsp; I also have both front windows cracked down about 1 inch for oxygen.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Big Buddy heater unit seems almost too large for my cramped interior space, and worse, seems to give out just a bit too much heat even at the low setting.&nbsp; I figure I will use the Big Buddy heater for other things such as outdoor situations when more heat is needed.&nbsp; The only drawback to the Little Buddy is that the 1 pound propane cannisters only power the heater for maybe several hours, and will then immediately shut off when empty.&nbsp; The other minor irritation is that the on button is a bit stiff and requires extra push to get the igniter to start, but I guess that's normal, so no big deal.

 

[Safaribob]

Hi All:<br><br>I believe this may be the right post to get a question I have answered by people in-the-know but please bear with me:<br><br>I have an E-350.&nbsp; It was originally built out with a Suburban propane furnace and a 2-burner propane range.&nbsp; Only the range remained when I bought it.&nbsp; I have a Mr. Heater Tough Buddy (4-9K BTUs) that I've used the 1 pound green canisters with.&nbsp; There is a frame-mounted 30 lb. tank on the van.&nbsp; I took the attached picture of the under-the-sink propane plumbing setup.&nbsp; The vertical part of the copper line feeds the range and the T'd line for the furnace is still present and accessible toward the rear of the van but capped.&nbsp; With the T'd line I suppose I can use the Buddy appliance connected at either the front or rear of the van. I don't have plumbing experience to know what adapters to look for at a hardware store.&nbsp; I did buy the the Mr. Heater bulk fuel filter and the quick-release hose setup for stand-alone tanks but when I saw that the male fitting would not work with the plumbed fittings, returned both.&nbsp; Could that hose have been used with some sort of reducing adapter to serve my purpose?&nbsp; If so, what do I get or ask for at a hardware store?&nbsp; Is there a hose &amp; adapter kit I can order online?&nbsp; Thanks in advance.<br><br>P.S.&nbsp; The van has good ventilation and a working CO2 detector (I am learning about these things on this forum--Thanks, Bob Wells &amp; you others!)

 

[ccbreder]

If that is a length of plastic tubing as part of your gas line, don't use it until it is repaired.<br>As for plumping propane, copper tube with compression fittings, flared fittings, as well as pipe threaded fittings, use the right pipe dope or tape on the pipe threads for gas.<br>Hardware stores may or not have the required fittings to adapt different existing propane conections, but between hardware, plumbing, propane dealers, or camper supplies, I have always been able to hook-it-up. The fittings in your photo are flared fittings, they are best, but require a special tool and some skill. Compression fittings are my last choice. Always, always, and every once in a while, check for gas leaks using bubbly leak detector or some dish soap. good luck, c2b

 

[Safaribob]

C2b, thanks for your reply.<br><br>The plastic tubing you see is the sink drain.&nbsp; I have the gas rated thread tape and leak detector solution.&nbsp; Thanks for the reminder.<br><br>You said above: Hardware stores may or not have the required fittings to adapt different existing propane connections, but between hardware, plumbing, propane dealers, or camper supplies, I have always been able to hook-it-up."<br><br> When I've asked at the local biggest RV supplier (and they are big) about hooking the Buddy or an Olympian Wave 3 up to the frame tank, I meet resistance because they don't see this type of application as a recommended use--they don't want the liability.&nbsp; I can't imagine a propane dealer jumping on board with the idea either so as to recommend the connection parts, do you? (Rhetorical)<br><br>You sound as though you know what parts to get to achieve the goal so you would not have to explain the application you have in mind to anyone.&nbsp; is my flared fitting a standard size?&nbsp; Am I trying to do something like go from 1/2 to 3/8ths?<br><br>I promise to have someone come behind or even alongside and check my work.<br><br><br>Thanks.<br><br>Bob

 

[Tinman74]

I <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">do not</span></strong> believe compression fittings are ever to be used on gas line applications,&nbsp; Check this out with propane dealer if any question.

 

[ccbreder]

I have to agree with Tinman73. I should have reviewed my post with more care. Compression fittings will come loose and leak.

 

[ccbreder]

You will need to adapt from your system copper tubing to the Buddy connection that fits the green one pound cylinder. I don't know what size your existing copper. Starting from my 3/8" copper; 3/8 flare to 1/4 " ipt; gas cock (valve); flex hose ipt end; hose to adapter at Buddy heater. The adapter hose I bought was not the cheapest but it had a iron pipe thread I could use to attache to my system, and the adapter to screw into the Mr Buddy. Don't use tape or dope on flair fittings. It is only used on ipt. Iron Pipe Thread. Again while I have successfully used compression fittings at my cabin, they will come loose with vibration and leak gas.

 

[Lostinspace]

Why not use a sweat fitting to go from copper to flex.&nbsp; Once it's sweated on it'll never leak.

 

[ccbreder]

my flex hose already had a IPT on the end and it would be much complicated to have a sweat fitting (soldered) adapted. soldered&nbsp;connections&nbsp;will work between copper lines but require more skill to have gas tight, and if they leak the line must be purged to re-solder.

 

[bk2valve]

I would be concerned about using copper at all. Unless it is protected somehow against vibration it can develop stress cracks....You can have hoses made up at any propane dealer and they will be perfect for mobile use. Just be sure to check fittings often....<br>Bri

 

[Lostinspace]

Well when you were talking about compression fittings I assumed that meant you were dealing with copper.&nbsp; My bad.&nbsp; <BR><BR>So yes I wouldn't recommend copper for propane either.&nbsp; You need flexibility.

 

[ccbreder]

Yes. copper is used for propane. The question was about hooking a Mr Buddy to the existing copper propane system.&nbsp; Again, my mistake, do not use compression fittings on your propane system, movement will cause leaks.

 

[bk2valve]

<span id="post_message_1276667700">Yes. copper is used for propane. The question was about hooking a Mr Buddy to the existing copper propane system.&nbsp; Again, my mistake, do not use compression fittings on your propane system, movement will cause leaks.</span>

<br><br>I did some research to get a little more learning on this and here is what I turned up:<br><br>http://www.ehow.com/how_7617523_update-propane-lines-camper.html&nbsp;&nbsp; and:<br><br>http://home.earthlink.net/~derekgore/rvroadiervfulltimingwhatisitreallylike/id44.html<br><br>Sooo,&nbsp; I see that black iron and soft, seamless copper are recommended in plumbing an RV for LPG.<br><br>I prefer the rubber hose that is sold as a source for Mr Heater products but I see it is not for everything.<br><br>Thanks ccbreder,<br>Bri

 

[ccbreder]

derikgore page has lots of information. thanks for the link. Our problem is the adapter hoses have the required end to the Mr Buddy, but the other end is to connect to a portable bbq bottle. To connect to a permanent vehicle tank we need an end with pipe thread or copper tubing size. It is difficult&nbsp; to explain with all the variations possible on the vehicle end. I need to rest my brain now. thanks all