Mr Buddy heater question

[vtchris]

Can I run a Mr Buddy heater on just the pilot light?

[hugemoth]

Yes you can run just the pilot light on the buddy heater with no problem. Sure it'll use a small amount of oxygen. There is no oxygen sensor in these heaters, instead the pilot light burner is designed to go out if there is insufficient oxygen, that's why they don't work at high altitude.

[wbwood]

Mr heaters website recommends not sleeping with it on. But with no mention of asphyxiation. More or less that it could bumped into. Matter of fact they say not to even leave them unattended.

See last question on this page.

[westend]

vtchris wrote:
This unit is sold with an automatic shut off if it senses low oxygen....I thought it was designed to use on low (or high) while sleeping. Of course I would keep a window cracked to be on the safe side.

You are betting with your life on that oxygen sensor. Personally, I wouldn't have an open flame appliance inside my RV whether I was sleeping or awake, without having lots of ventilation. Why would I want to breathe CO, other hydrocarbon byproducts, or have a low oxygen environment?

[vtchris]

This unit is sold with an automatic shut off if it senses low oxygen....I thought it was designed to use on low (or high) while sleeping. Of course I would keep a window cracked to be on the safe side.

[dakonthemountai]

I can't see the danger or problem?.. When the heater is on low or high the pilot light remains lit doesn't it? At least it appears to on mine. I leave the pilot lit on my water heater often during the winter and it keeps the water very warm (even heats it up after a few days!) which keeps the under sink area of my camper warm enough to not freeze. However, if the low setting does get your RV too hot I don't really think the pilot would heat it enough, but I've never tried it. I would most certainly NOT leave it on all night while I slept though.

Dak

[mlts22]

The Pilot setting is for the knob to be held down until air is purged from the lines and propane is flowing. Yes, you -can- leave it like that, but it isn't something stated in the manual as something worth doing, and the manual states to use other positions (off/low/med/high) for heat settings, so it isn't something recommended.

If I had to say an answer, I'd say neither yes or no. Instead, my answer would be "never tried". One can try, but it will be at their own risk.

[westend]

You will need to have a window and vent open when the heater is in use, whether you have it on low or just the pilot on.
Don't asphyxiate yourself, trying to save a few pennies of propane and closing off all windows and vents.

[Crazy_Ray]

BURN 4 tea candles JMO

[weathershak]

Yes

[ryanallie1]

Hi All.

Its really a very simple question to answer. No, the "Pilet Light" is just for lighting the Mr. Heater.

All you have to do is light your Mr. Heater and just run it for a few minutes then turn it off when it get comfortable enough for you. The RV will stay warm for quite a while.

We do almost nothing but Boon-Docking, and we are never cold. We use the "Mr. Heater", and we use the "Big Buddy", Mr. Heater also. Plus we have 4 Ceramic Heaters as well. And thats not to even memtion the Motorhomes 35,000 BTU Furance, which we never use, except to keep it working correctly in case of an Emeragency.

We could run everything at once if we had to. We can go past or Motorhomes 30 AMP Limit, anytime we fell like it. Check out our Signature, we have way more Generator Power than one reallys needs, but in nice as heck to have it if its ever needed. We also never have to ever worry about ever being with-out "Power"

Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill, & our 2 Little "Yorkies Kids" who love to go Boon-Docking as much as we do.

[vtchris]

At temps in the 30-40's overnight the low setting is too warm and yet just that pilot light on is just right. Seems to me the pilot light would burn less propane than having the unit on low with a window open. It has that oxygen sensor so that shouldn't be a problem. I ended up sleeping without it on at all and woke with it 40 inside and 32 outside. Tonight I will try it with the pilot on all night. I like the 4-9,000 BTU for it's ease of controls and it's compact size and when I want to warm up my space it does it fast. On the low setting it is perfect most of the time. I tried the smaller size and didn't like it. Thanks for all your help.

[wbwood]

MrWizard wrote:
IMO: if LOW is to 'warm'

get a smaller heater with with less BTU output or open a few windows

Agree

[B_O__Plenty]

Eventually it could burn up some oxygen but it's doubtful it would be enough to cause any harm. Still can't figure out why you want to. It won't produce any amount of appreciable heat..They're so easy to light why waste the propane?

B.O.

[vtchris]

But is there any harm or danger?? That is what I really need to know.