Big Buddy Heater

[joecool911]

Wife got me a Big Buddy Heater for Christmas.  Got the Hose/Line to tap into the house propane system.  12' hose and quick coupling.

 

I know this has been beat to death...literally. What do you guys think about running it all night with all the proper precaustions? Ventiliation, CO detector.  I figure this is a forum full of guys that are sound minded.  I am leaning towards doing it.  I want a CO detector with digital read out. Maybe a cheapo and a digital units.

 

I ordered a PlatCat over a year ago and no dice.  Called him once and he said he'd get on it.  Now I'm thinking of saving the money and just going Buddy.

[MnTom]

From what I see, the only thing I would want for indoor heating is a CO detector. Chances of it putting out CO are slim, but with any flammable gas it is a possibility.

[Killer223]

i have and use on in my 5th wheel while camping, never an issue yet. the factory furnace now has a inverter in ti's place. they work great.

[Mopar1973Man]

We got a Big Buddy heater as well for a fall back heater source in case of wood stove issues (chimney plugged up, lack of wood, etc.) I've never used one through the night but we've used it for a about 1 winter chasing the bitter cold mornings and then shutting it down. No issues here.

 

Like its also nice for the shop for those day I just need some quick heat and don't want to fire up a wood stove.

 

Also have a torpedo propane heater as well.

[joecool911]

Enjoying this so far, but as to my primary concern...run overnight while sleeping with CO detector and a window and roof vent cracked?

[Killer223]

I keep my 5th wheel trailer sealed up. And no problems. But maybe keep a vent open just to be safe. It's all up to you really. Mine we only light on low and it runs all night From say 10:00 at night to around 5:00 am. No stinky smell. No problems really. It's works good with the fan on.

[joecool911]

I keep my 5th wheel trailer sealed up. And no problems. But maybe keep a vent open just to be safe. It's all up to you really. Mine we only light on low and it runs all night From say 10:00 at night to around 5:00 am. No stinky smell. No problems really. It's works good with the fan on.

And you're still alive to tell about it. Some guys on other forums really bash anyone who considers sleeping with the unit on. Glad you're still here! Thanks.

[hex0rz]

I have thought about this same thing for my trailer. Getting all the heat of my fuel instead of having to lean on the trailers furnace that uses a heat exchanger..

 

Although, I have always been leery about such a thing as you hear about stories of people dying because they used their oven to heat their house, etc.

 

I have had to deal with people dying from CO poisoning as well. It was from exhaust of a vehicle so its a little different in that instance. But the principal remains, the risk of CO poisoning.

 

I would love the idea of using a heater just like you speak of, but I would NEVER use it while I sleep. You will never know it until its too late and your standing before God!   Hence why people like to commit suicide in this manner.

 

Atleast when you are awake, you can tell when you are starting to become affected by CO. As well, FYI, CO is VERY hard to remove from the body. Once you get an amount in you, your ability to keep an appropriate amount of oxygen in the blood is diminished.

 

Not trying to be a party pooper, but just want to inform you of the risk before you do it.

 

EDIT: Don't skimp on a CO detector. Buy a good one. You mention using it for safety and then skimp on quality. As well, CO is near the same density as air. So its going to be buoyant. Cracking a vent high or low is not as good as it will be somewhere in the middle.

Edited December 28, 2013 by hex0rz

[Killer223]

I agree to some degree, these heaters are marketed as indoor safe. They are cataleptic so in theory remove that bad. They have 02 sensors. But still be carefull.

[hex0rz]

I agree to some degree, these heaters are marketed as indoor safe. They are cataleptic so in theory remove that bad. They have 02 sensors. But still be carefull.

Alright, so I looked it up. I thought we were speaking of the torpedo style heater? Its the smaller portable unit that uses propane canisters, right? They said indoor safe, but still said under emergency conditions. So, what do they classify it as such?

 

As well, what in the world do you mean by, "cataleptic?"

 

A condition characterized by lack of response to external stimuli and by muscular rigidity, so that the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed. It is known to occur in a variety of physical and psychological disorders, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, and can be induced by hypnosis.

 

You mean, "Catalytic?"

[joecool911]

It's not catalytic. Ceramic.

[Killer223]

Yes autocorrect on my phone. My bad.

[MnTom]

I believe they are talking about this type of heater instead of a torpedo type.

[Killer223]

Ceramic is the catalysis. That's what turns carbon dioxide into well h2o. In turn making it ok to be used indoors. Se as the catalytic converters on cars. Ever see water running out the tail pipe.

[Mopar1973Man]

I believe they are talking about this type of heater instead of a torpedo type.

 

Exactly what I got here for indoor use.

 

Then I got a torpedo style for the shop...

[joecool911]

Found a Kiddie brand battery operated CO detector that can be mounted on wall or table top. It's $35 and has a digital read out. My thinking is that since I have cabinets on either side of the bed with tops about head height, that would be an optimum location. I try to buy all battery operated devices with AA sized batteries. I buy them by the 48 pack at Cosco. Headlight, GPS, etc purchases are all influenced by battery size. I made the propane connection last night and it leaks. Going to get in there with two wrenched and crank down the flaired fittings today. It's in a tight spot and tried it with one wrench last night. Need to remove a couple cupboard doors to get both arms in there. It's a laying on the floor endeavor in the 3' wide walkway. Not easy access.

[MnTom]

Something that seems to work with flared fittings is to loosen the nut and retighten it. I don't know why that works, but it does.

[joecool911]

I got in there this morning. Got close to a full turn more on the fittings. I think I'm good now, but will let her go for the day and do a leak test tonight. I smell nussing. Sgt. Schultz.

Edited December 30, 2013 by joecool911

[flagmanruss]

They say not to do it but we used a radiant kero heater all night in a tent in primitive camp.  We used a 3" tube under the tent flap to bring in fresh air & one through the door flaps behind our bed to vent.  We tested CO & never set off the alarm.  WE slept in a bed up off the floor.

 

We use new type CO detector in the camp trailer with the furnace on all night & have had no issues.  CO is heavier than air.  We sleep in a bed up off the floor.  Our CO detector is ON THE FLOOR next to our bed.  Any build up of CO would start at the floor level so should trigger before we breathe too much.  I think these combo CO/Smoke/Fire detectors mounted up high are flawed, code be damned. 

 

Heat exchangers can fail.  The shop at my ex's...  had a oil/hot air furnace with a cracked fire box.  Just a steel plate laying on top of the crack. Not used for sleeping, so no issue.   

[hex0rz]

  I have seen more than one argument over CO detectors and their placement... Its kind of humorous at times.

 

ALSO:

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/ice-storm-power-outages-lead-carbon-monoxide-deaths/story?id=21341326

 

http://www.firstalert.com/faqs/co-alarm/is-carbon-monoxide-heavier-than-air-what-is-the-diffusion-of-carbon-monoxide-in-air

 

Edited December 31, 2013 by hex0rz