Little Buddy heater and fan

[topgun2]

Back before my Oliver days I bought a Little Buddy propane heater (like THIS ONE ).  I've used every year while camping and recently added a fan (like THIS ONE ).

Unless it is VERY cold (below 25) I don't like using the onboard furnace at night - it keeps me awake and it uses both propane and electricity.  So, early in the morning when nature calls, I get up, take care of the most important business and then quickly light the heater before jumping back into bed.  Easily within a half hour the Ollie is warm enough to actually get up and get dressed.

After seeing these wood stove fans for a number of years I thought that one just might work on the Little Buddy since it does not have a way to move heated air from one end of the Ollie to the other.  Well - it works!  No batteries, no plugging it in, it simply uses the heat from the Little Buddy to actually create enough electric power to run the fan.  This, in turn, really helps move the air from the front of the Ollie to the back.

I did purchase a long propane hose for the heater so that I could use my 20 pound tanks versus the rather expensive 1 pound green bottles.  But, I've only used that hose once.  The 1 pound bottles will last about 4 to 5 days of heating each day and there are places out West (like Yellowstone) that actually recycle these bottles.

Bill

 

[ScottyGS]

Thanks for the pictures Bill.   These little heaters come in real handy if the heat goes out.  

[John E Davies]

Any issues with ventilation and moisture buildup?

I have been considering getting one of the heaters, the extra fan is very nifty!

John Davies

Spokane WA

[topgun2]

17 hours ago, John E Davies said:

Any issues with ventilation and moisture buildup?

As you most likely know - propane does release moisture into the air as it burns.  This is one of the reasons that it is recommended to open/crack a window or vent while using the cook top.  I always have the bathroom vent open and that seems to be more than enough for ventilation and moisture.  These little heaters also have built in safety sensors for propane, low oxygen and/or high CO plus tip over.  Like any space heater, they should not be placed near anything combustible.

So, the short answer to your question is - no.

Bill 

[John E Davies]

Thanks Bill, have you thought about adding this detector, to keep track of carbon monoxide actual levels, since you routinely burn  propane indoors as your primary heat source? If the number ever gets over 70 parts per million, you might be risking your long term health.

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6528-best-location-to-install-an-additional-carbon-monoxide-detector/

At least as a temporary measure, to evaluate how well your ventilation is working. As I mentioned there, the one in my garage spikes if I run a car engine nearby, but it hasn’t triggered the alarm sound.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[topgun2]

6 minutes ago, John E Davies said:

have you thought about adding this detector

Nope - I'm good as the usage is not "routine" and there are already two other CO detectors in the Ollie in addition to the one in the heater.

But thanks anyway.

Bill

[csevel]

I love the wood stove fan for your Buddy.  I've seen a few cool Youtube videos of this modification and I plan on doing that to mine someday!

[topgun2]

Because of the slope of the top of the heater housing and to get the most heat on the bottom of the fan - note how I attached the fan to the "grill" on the front of the heater with the rear of the fan resting on the top of the heater housing.  It works great in this position and does not vibrate off the top of the heater.

Bill

[SeaDawg]

I'm personally not a fan of portable gas heaters, but everyone has to make their own decisions. 

Some are more efficient than others. Some emit more co and h2o than others. Some like Mr buddy, some like wave. With my tiny  little dog, I'm not partial to either. 

I just leave the furnace on lowest setting,  and reach over to turn it up in the morning, from bed. 

That little fan is really great, though, Topgun2! Love it!

 

[John Welte]

4 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

I'm personally not a fan of portable gas heaters, but everyone has to make their own decisions. 

Some are more efficient than others. Some emit more co and h2o than others. Some like Mr buddy, some like wave. With my tiny  little dog, I'm not partial to either. 

I just leave the furnace on lowest setting,  and reach over to turn it up in the morning, from bed. 

 

We like to sleep in a cool room,  so your approach is what I would do. 

[VBistro]

On 2/20/2022 at 6:40 PM, SeaDawg said:

 

I just leave the furnace on lowest setting,  and reach over to turn it up in the morning, from bed. 

 

 

We also like to sleep cold - our bedroom windows are cracked/open year round here in CO. Well, at least until we hit negative temps….

But I have to ask, how do you just reach over and turn the heater on?  The thermostat in our ‘22 is above the aft dinette seat. Time to figure out a thermostat replacement - something with a remote!  🙂

[Hokieman]

1 hour ago, VBistro said:

Time to figure out a thermostat replacement - something with a remote!  🙂

No need to get out of bed!  The thermostat on the newer models will connect to an app on your phone.  

[SeaDawg]

8 hours ago, VBistro said:

I have to ask, how do you just reach over and turn the heater on?

In our 2008 Elite shorty, the manual thermostat is mounted in the small kitchen.

[VBistro]

On 2/21/2022 at 10:11 PM, Mike D. said:

No need to get out of bed!  The thermostat on the newer models will connect to an app on your phone.  

I'll double check our thermostat, but I don't think it is bluetooth compatible.  I did see a nice replacement online last night that also operates over wifi (good for remote monitoring for the doggos, when we have signal...).  But it was pretty pricey!

https://smile.amazon.com/Hutch-Mountain-Micro-Air-Thermostat-ASY-350-X01/dp/B08PHMW4J2/ref=rvi_2/141-6090754-5049931?pd_rd_w=8LSog&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=WAWV92HDHKB2AT32EB01&pd_rd_r=53dcd96e-0f0a-4485-b3f5-df9902576a26&pd_rd_wg=lgLX0&pd_rd_i=B09NS43KTT&th=1