Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-04-2009, 01:32 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 118
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: C60
Engine: Chevy 7.4l 454 FI
Rated Cap: 59
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

I used the portable buddy 4000-9000 BTU last year in a tent (11 x 13) had it on high the whole time. about 35f outside at night and it did a good job of keeping us warm but I would have liked it warmer!
the buddy pro are the only propane heaters I found that were indoor safe for enclosed areas and such.
I would imagine you were getting more heat from your kerosene heater than this will put out, I wish I had bought the buddy pro model for higher output but that will consume more fuel as well. you may have better results due to better insulation. not too sure but i bet the R value of my coleman tent was a problem......
I stumbled on this in my search for another topic, good read for you,
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2472&hilit

ramairws601 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 01:56 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
timbuk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: vancouver island bc
Posts: 1,028
Year: 1965
Coachwork: thomas
Chassis: chevy
Engine: 350
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

that heater will need ventilation for sure i have one and they work ok but you need adequate ventilation 4 sure
timbuk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 03:28 PM   #3
Ob1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Year: 1963
Coachwork: Grumman
Chassis: Chevrolet
Engine: Chevy 292 I-6
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

I like my Buddy! The little pilot light keeps a sensor hot. Flame goes out for any reason, the heater shuts off. I like to crack a roof vent and a window close to sleeping areas as well, just to be on the safe side. You can also get one of the propane extension hoses and run it off your big tanks rather than buy the lil green bottles.
Ob1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 05:47 PM   #4
Bus Nut
 
SeanF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 524
Year: 1993
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: IHC
Engine: Dt360
Rated Cap: 19
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

A gallon of liquid propane contains about 91,000 BTUs. Find out the BTUs/hour for your heater and your cost of propane, and you can get a cost-per-hour for running the heater. The only unknown is how many BTUs are needed per hour to heat your bus.

Last winter I used a Big Buddy connected to my BBQ-sized propane tanks. This was winter in southern Arizona, about 2,500 feet in elevation. Had a couple of weeks of sub-freezing nights. Never had a reading >0 on my CO detector/alarm, but always had a few windows cracked during use. No negative experiences with smells, condensation, etc. No drain bamage, as far as I can tell.

Last week, I used it here in NM at 6,000 feet and it went out after an hour or so because of the low oxygen sensor. So at elevation I wouldn't count on it as a sole heat source. Otherwise, no problem.

Sean

PS: Possibly-helpful heating discussion #1...and #2
__________________
Bus conversion/info here
SeanF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 08:18 PM   #5
Ob1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Year: 1963
Coachwork: Grumman
Chassis: Chevrolet
Engine: Chevy 292 I-6
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Like I said, crack a roof vent and a window or 2 which will refresh the air as the hot air exits and cool air is pulled in.

If the Mr Heater pilot light goes out, so does the heater. So, if the oxygen content falls low enough to extinguish the pilot...or a breeze blows it out...it is off. The heated humid continues to rise and exit, fresh dry air continues enter. You get cold and wake up.
Ob1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 08:27 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
TygerCub's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 784
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Genesis
Engine: Detroit
Rated Cap: 14
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Sorry, don't mean to hijack a thread, but this seems relevant... Are fireplaces the same when it comes to adding moisture in the air?

And what about CO1? Still a problem?

The largest advantage I can see using a propane/kerosene heater versus a wood stove would be the compactness of the fuel source. That, and availability ... I'd think it would be difficult to find hardwood in the desert locations. But propane is at every gas station and convenience store.
TygerCub is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2009, 08:58 PM   #7
Bus Nut
 
GoneCamping's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 704
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

I'm considering the same thing. Though I'm going to use it in a Mobile Home vs the Bus, but have the same concerns. I have only electric baseboard heat the mobile home, and my electric bill last Feb was over $200... so after that I started supplementing my heat with a Kero heater, it worked great and cut my power bill by more than half... but I didn't like the smell despite how well it kept the place warm & toasty. I also didn't trust it at night while I was sleeping, wasn't too sure about Co problems.

So now I'm looking at ventless propane heaters, of the 10,000 btu variety. Not sure where all this will lead, but it's something I want to try. And the vent free unit comes with legs or can be wall mounted, so if I want to use the bus during the winter I can bring it along...
__________________
*Cliff*

You just might be a Redneck if...
...your motor home used to be a school bus!
...Your living room has a steering wheel!
...Your home has brake lights

1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1989 Thomas Diesel Pusher (Cat 3208/Freightliner)
Chesapeake, Virginia
GoneCamping is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 12:11 AM   #8
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

We use Mr. Heaters to supplement the old Jungers that heats our 1970 something wobbly we call a hunting shack. I would imagine a 1970's vintage mobile home will be about on par with a bus in terms of energy efficiency (inefficiency?). I know they do nothing more than take the edge off. The older sunflower style do a much better job throwing out the heat than the catalytic type do. I would be weary, especially when you can get an "ice house" style propane fireplace for just a few dollars more.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 10:34 AM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Papabear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 334
Year: 1991
Coachwork: ward
Chassis: IH
Engine: dt466
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

I'll add "fuel to the fire" I use the big buddy to heat my small shop (14'x20') and used it for the bus last winter, while working on it. Ventilation is important. I kept a window cracked in the bus and in the shop, well I'm in and out all the time. When it was really cold (0 and below) I did notice come condensation on the bus windows. To heat the well insulated shop, I go through a 20 gal. tank about every three months. It keeps the shop about 65 after its warmed up (with buddy on low) I keep the shop at 45 with a base board heater when unoccupied. In the bus, it stayed around 40 to 45 on high. With no insulation in the bus. All this at 6800' altitude. I'm sure I lose some propane efficiency at altitude, but it seems to work out ok, so far.
I'll bet the Czar with chime in with the thermal dynamic, co-efficiant, bio-molecular, nuclear symplistic, phneomo thorasic, ultra-jurrasic, im-sospastic, btu loss on altitude vs. propane
I don't care who you are, that's funny.
__________________
"I've never been lost, but I been mighty confused for several days"
Papabear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 12:07 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Griff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Off-Grid
Posts: 740
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH S1723
Engine: IH V345 Gas V8
Rated Cap: 66
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smitty
...Griff- If you'll light the heater outside (let it burn for 5 minutes when lighting) then bring it in the house, it'll all but eliminate the smell. Same for shutting it off, take it outside...
Uh-h-h-m-m-m...yeah...well...I disconnected my 3 brick, ventless propane heater from the hard line so I could take it outside like you said, but I just couldn't get the durn thing to light out there (...must've been the wind...), but as soon as I brought it back in & hooked it back up, it worked like a champ again with no odors...go figure! (...how did I get in this discussion anyway...was my alter-ego posting while I slept again? )
__________________
~(G)Q Arduously Avoiding Assimilation
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 04:41 PM   #11
Bus Nut
 
Griff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Off-Grid
Posts: 740
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH S1723
Engine: IH V345 Gas V8
Rated Cap: 66
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

No, not me, it was Bender477 that posted about the kerosene heater, heh!
__________________
~(G)Q Arduously Avoiding Assimilation
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 08:41 PM   #12
Bus Nut
 
GoneCamping's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 704
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Griff... ain't that the guy that helps Al Bundy sell womans shoes??

Just as an FYI... I would take the Kero heater outside to light and extinguish every time, it still put out enough oder to bother me. I quit smoking 12 years ago and have got very sensitive to stuff like that.
__________________
*Cliff*

You just might be a Redneck if...
...your motor home used to be a school bus!
...Your living room has a steering wheel!
...Your home has brake lights

1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1989 Thomas Diesel Pusher (Cat 3208/Freightliner)
Chesapeake, Virginia
GoneCamping is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 09:06 PM   #13
Bus Nut
 
Griff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Off-Grid
Posts: 740
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH S1723
Engine: IH V345 Gas V8
Rated Cap: 66
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Quote:
Originally Posted by GoneCamping
Griff... ain't that the guy that helps Al Bundy sell womans shoes??...
Nah! In my name, the first ' f ' is silent!
__________________
~(G)Q Arduously Avoiding Assimilation
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2009, 07:46 PM   #14
Almost There
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 72
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

http://www.econo-heat.com/main.html

Hi all, haven't seen any posts about these heaters, I have two in my house and am looking to add a couple more. 3 cents an hour to run, no moving parts, no smells, nothing to collect dust and catch fire.... They do take up a bit of wall space which could be the drawback for Skoolies.
Doodlebug is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2009, 08:48 PM   #15
Bus Nut
 
SeanF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 524
Year: 1993
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: IHC
Engine: Dt360
Rated Cap: 19
Re: Mr. Heat as primary source of heating

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doodlebug
http://www.econo-heat.com/main.html

Hi all, haven't seen any posts about these heaters, I have two in my house and am looking to add a couple more. 3 cents an hour to run, no moving parts, no smells, nothing to collect dust and catch fire.... They do take up a bit of wall space which could be the drawback for Skoolies.
How many BTUs do they make per hour? From their website I couldn't see how they are more efficient (able to generate more BTUs per watt) than any other electric heater.
__________________
Bus conversion/info here
SeanF is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cabin Heating, Water Heating Locutus Heating, Cooling and Appliances 2 11-01-2014 04:34 PM
heating gusbus Heating, Cooling and Appliances 2 09-23-2013 01:57 PM
Electric Power From Any Heat Source lornaschinske Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 1 03-02-2013 08:24 PM
heating the oil BootsBus2011 Alternative Fuels | Electric, Propane, Wood & Biofuels 1 02-28-2012 07:55 PM
Modify stock heating system or seak alt heating? phillbus914 Conversion General Discussions 4 09-14-2005 05:14 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.