cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Propane heater

325turbo
Explorer
Explorer
Just purchases a Mr Heater Big Buddy, and found you're not supposed to use larger than #20 bottles according to instruction pamphlet. Is there no way to hook into an existing line ?
13 REPLIES 13

325turbo
Explorer
Explorer
I appreciate it Fred. You said your rig has a 15" W.C. Mr. Big Buddy says it takes 11" W.C.

SaltiDawg
Explorer
Explorer
I tried... ๐Ÿ˜‰

325turbo
Explorer
Explorer
I am as bewildered as you are Fred.

325turbo
Explorer
Explorer
I am as bewildered as you are Fred.

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Explorer
Something about a high pressure propane tank only a few inches away from a flame has always puzzled me.

I have a Olympic Catalytic heater, it runs on low pressure propane from my RV's 15" water column propane system. So if a open line in a propane system is leaking into a glass of water 18" tall, it will bubble out slowly if less than 15" deep in the water, but over 15" deep, and the bubbles will stop. That is less than 1 pound per square inch of pressure, so barely any pressure at all.

The propane tank is designed to withstand about 400 PSI before the relief valve opens.

Normally at around 75F, the pressure will be around 100 PSI. Yet if warmed to 120F the pressure can double, and - again I don't understand the idea of having a 1 pound propane tank next to a heat source.

Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a

Porsche or Country Coach!



If there's a WILL, I want to be in it!



I havn't been everywhere, but it's on my list.

Kangen.com Alkaline water

Escapees.com

325turbo
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you all for your responses. I found out it can be done, now I need to know how. Their customer service rep. said they didn't mention #30 tanks because it is promoted as portable, and they couldn't see someone carrying a larger tank. Honest. That answered that question, now I need to know how.

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
SaltiDawg wrote:
However, pressure is not related to tank/cylinder size.


I know very little about propane .... but that jives perfectly with what our stick house propane supplier told me about our newly installed home propane system.

They stated that the pressure of propane coming into our home was not related to the amount left in the tank supplying our home or to the base capacity of whatever tank they installed for our home.

I was relieved to hear that ... as that meant our kitchen stove burners and living room fireplace would burn the same ... right to the end of the propane in the tank!

(Discounting other factors, of course ... such as outside ambient temperature.)
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

SaltiDawg
Explorer
Explorer
MrWizard wrote:
...
The reason it's rated Not over 20# portable tank, is the larger the portable bottle, the more pressure developed
The buddy regulators are not rated for higher pressure bottles


MrWizard,

No disrespect, but your answer is not correct.

Pressure in a propane cylinder is a function of the temperature of the contents, not at all related to the cylinder or tank size. A larger cylinder will generally provide for a larger surface area of the liquid/gas interface and thus result in a higher flow rate or capacity capability with a larger bottle.

However, pressure is not related to tank/cylinder size.

I do enjoy your posts.

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
Yes you can plumb it to your RV l.p. line
The reason it's rated Not over 20# portable tank, is the larger the portable bottle, the more pressure developed
The buddy regulators are not rated for higher pressure bottles
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

scbwr
Explorer II
Explorer II
I just got a Big Buddy with the adapter hose and it worked with a 5 lb. tank. I don't know why it wouldn't work if you had a T connection on your larger propane tank and connected the adapter hose. But, you will be limited by the length of the adapter hose...not sure if you can get one in longer lengths.
2012 Newmar Bay Star 3302
Blue Ox Avail
BrakeBuddy Advantage
2015 Malibu

"Get busy living, or get busy dying."
Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

TurnThePage
Explorer
Explorer
There's your answers. I have both, but have yet to use the external supply feature big buddy.
2015 Ram 1500
2022 Grand Design Imagine XLS 22RBE

Tom_M1
Explorer
Explorer
I have the smaller Buddy heater which works on high pressure only. I removed the regulator from the heater and plumbed it into the low pressure line that feeds my cook-top. It works great.
Tom
2005 Born Free 24RB
170ah Renogy LiFePo4 drop-in battery 400 watts solar
Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible on tow dolly
Minneapolis, MN

beemerphile1
Explorer
Explorer
The Big Buddy has a low pressure connection and also a high pressure connection, take your pick. Order the correct hose from Mr Heater.
Build a life you don't need a vacation from.

2016 Silverado 3500HD DRW D/A 4x4
2018 Keystone Cougar 26RBS
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900