Propane Heaters

[Dahlia47]

Hi! Been a while!

I am looking for a propane heater. I will be buying a propane alarm just to be safe. I need something small and safe. I'm not too sure the Mr buddy would be the best fit. My ttt is about 10*6*6 if I remember correctly. I was given a whole bunch of Coleman propane tanks. They are full and need to be used. After they are gone I will get a 5 lb tank.
Any suggestions? Anything new on the market?

[S. Heisley]

This guy camps in Alaska with a teardrop and uses a Heaterbuddy. Take a look at his hacks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjj8mCEuAnM

[tony.latham]

I am looking for a propane heater.

Well, without a doubt, the Propex is the best propane heater for a teardrop. They are tiny.

I did an installation post over here:

https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=72075&p=1271154&hilit=propex+heater+installation#p1271154



The catch is they are expensive. But they only use .3 pounds of propane an hour (and they aren't on much while heating a teardrop cabin. Thermostatically controlled. Vented outside so they don't add moisture inside and use a small amount of 12-volt juice. Much less than a diesel heater.

https://vancafe.com/propex-hs2000-6500-btu-interior-gas-heater/

I won't own a teardrop without one. They really extend our camping season.

Tony

[Dahlia47]

They are safe? I am planning another trip without any electric available. Its going to be cold. I dont want us to get gassed. I read about some safety precautions. Leaving windows cracked, monitors, any others?

[RJ Howell]

They are safe? I am planning another trip without any electric available. Its going to be cold. I dont want us to get gassed. I read about some safety precautions. Leaving windows cracked, monitors, any others?

I've looked into Propex and it's the cost that has slowed me down, but.. I tend not to camp in that kind of weather for more than a day. They claim electric draw at 1.4amp and 6500 Btu's iirc (2000 model that I was looking at). These types (separate vent exhaust and hot air supply) are the better ones out there. Propex has one of the better sizes for heat & electric draw I've found so far.

I like these much more those diesel heaters everyone is promoting! It's just the cost...

I use a small Mr Buddy, but for what your doing..not so much.. We only run ours in the evening and morning to get the chill out.

[tony.latham]

It's just the cost...

I know. I got lucky and picked up an open box Propex from another builder for $400 shipped. I almost bought another one on eBay last month that went for $451 plus $50 shipping from the U.K.

Keep looking...

Tony

[Pmullen503]

Using any unvented propane heater in an enclosed space is not a great idea. Besides oxygen and CO2 worries, you can get a small amount of CO and a lot of water vapor.

Better to invest in good sleeping bags. I have two sleeping bags (one is a cold weather "Mummy" bag) and a polar fleece bag liner. Between the three pieces of kit I'm good from 65F to -15F.

[bdosborn]

I'd look at one of these if I still had a teardrop. This guy sure did his homework on how they work.


Still happy with the diesel heater in the van though....
Bruce

[featherliteCT1]

they ... use a small amount of 12-volt juice. Much less than a diesel heater.

My diesel heater on low draws about an average of 2 amps/hr, based on actual use. Low will cook me out of my trailer in 30F temperatures, if I do not have a window open. So, I use about 16 Ah in an 8 hour period.

My understanding is that a Propex HS2000 heater averages about 1.6 amps/hr, based on anecdotal evidence. So, it would use about 12.8 Ah in an 8 hour period.

How do those Propex numbers compare to your actual experience?

[tony.latham]

My understanding is that a Propex HS2000 heater averages about 1.6 amps/hr, based on anecdotal evidence. So, it would use about 12.8 Ah in an 8-hour period.

It only uses the 1.6 amps while burning. On any given night --for us-- it'll consume about 2-3 amps.

Tony

[RJ Howell]

they ... use a small amount of 12-volt juice. Much less than a diesel heater.

My diesel heater on low draws about an average of 2 amps/hr, based on actual use. Low will cook me out of my trailer in 30F temperatures, if I do not have a window open. So, I use about 16 Ah in an 8 hour period.

My understanding is that a Propex HS2000 heater averages about 1.6 amps/hr, based on anecdotal evidence. So, it would use about 12.8 Ah in an 8 hour period.

How do those Propex numbers compare to your actual experience?

My hesitation for a diesel heater is output and no duty cycle (well and another fuel to carry). Please correct me if I misunderstand. Diesel heaters are low BTU and meant to run constantly as the propane heaters are higher BTU and duty cycle (if so equipped w/thermostat). I really can't get a good non-biased evaluation of fuel costs between the two, so no idea on which has lower cost.

Since I use a small buddy heater and that same 1lb bottle also services my cooktop, I really can not even tell you how much I use for heat.. I am abut to switch to a smaller 3K BTU heater running off butane (fuel matches up to our single burner cooktop). Switching mainly for connivance of storage, setup and operation.. well and the Buddy heater just over powers us.

[RJ Howell]

I'd look at one of these if I still had a teardrop. This guy sure did his homework on how they work.

Still happy with the diesel heater in the van though....
Bruce

Nice posting! I didn't realize the temperature range of operation!! I just bought a stocking stuffer for myself (that I will share with wifey).

[tony.latham]

I really can't get a good non-biased evaluation of fuel costs between the two, so no idea on which has lower cost.

The Propex burns .3 pounds per hour when they run for an hour. They don't need to run but a few minutes to heat a teardrop.

But... we have an 11-pound propane tank we run the Propex and the Partner stove from and we can go about fifty or more camp nights before needing a refill.

Miserly.

Tony

p.s. One of the reasons I went with a Propex was to avoid the dual fuel issue.

[rbtrary]

they ... use a small amount of 12-volt juice. Much less than a diesel heater.

My diesel heater on low draws about an average of 2 amps/hr, based on actual use. Low will cook me out of my trailer in 30F temperatures, if I do not have a window open. So, I use about 16 Ah in an 8 hour period.

My understanding is that a Propex HS2000 heater averages about 1.6 amps/hr, based on anecdotal evidence. So, it would use about 12.8 Ah in an 8 hour period.

How do those Propex numbers compare to your actual experience?

My hesitation for a diesel heater is output and no duty cycle (well and another fuel to carry). Please correct me if I misunderstand. Diesel heaters are low BTU and meant to run constantly as the propane heaters are higher BTU and duty cycle (if so equipped w/thermostat). I really can't get a good non-biased evaluation of fuel costs between the two, so no idea on which has lower cost.

Since I use a small buddy heater and that same 1lb bottle also services my cooktop, I really can not even tell you how much I use for heat.. I am abut to switch to a smaller 3K BTU heater running off butane (fuel matches up to our single burner cooktop). Switching mainly for connivance of storage, setup and operation.. well and the Buddy heater just over powers us.

Correction: it's the opposite, diesel fuel has way more heat energy (btu's/gallon) than propane; one reason it's so efficient and economical.
Propane's efficiency decreases the colder it gets so you will consume more propane.
The diesel heater does cycle high/low but the flame never goes out so it maintains a constant even temperature.
The propane cycles on and off.

https://thermalintelligence.com/diesel- ... fuel-cost/
https://www.powerblanket.com/blog/propa ... generator/

[tony.latham]

Correction: it's the opposite, diesel fuel has way more heat energy (btu's/gallon) than propane; one reason it's so efficient and economical.

Well, in the middle of Idaho right now, propane is $2.39 and diesel is $4.39.

But since Propex and diesel heaters use such a small amount of fuel, I don't think the economics is much of an issue.

Tony