I've used mine with a 20lb tank adapter and it kept my family at 75° all night for 4 days in sub 20° ambient Temps. My kids and I slept on top of our bags it was so toasty! Tent setup was a $200 8man coleman(nothing special)
I love my Mr heater buddy originally bought it for power outages but I bought the smaller one to take camping, I do the same heat till I sleep then turn it back on in the morning. Thank you for the video ❤
Waiting to get out and test it, looking for CO meter that can show lower than 25 ppm. Based in what I've seen and read Mr Heater should be fine. I'm am not offering advice, just sharing what i have learnt. Check out guides on what is classed as dangerous levels of CO lots out there. Not sure I would ever have it on in the same space I am sleeping in. Rather a low wattage electric blanket powered an Allpowers power lithium station.
I'm so glad to see someone using a real low level CO meter!! All the regular CO detectors will only read CO if it's at dangerously high levels to set off the alarm.
I love videos like this, and I'm glad you took the time to really test it out. I think it would be interesting to see a comparison in a non-canvas tent - the iKamper canvas is super breathable, and I wonder if that would make any difference. The biggest risk seems to be with fire, so I'm glad you don't leave yours on overnight. I personally know two people who have burned their tents down with these heaters (thankfully both were ok). One was due to bedding touching it, and the other seemed to be from a leak that developed by the control knob. I did a video where I showed pictures, and still had the Mr. Heater fan boys tell me the Buddy Heater is perfect in every way.
Dude that's a great point! Even if this thing got tipped over and it shutoff the fuel, the heat alone would at the very least melt the fabric. When I'm sleeping with anyone else up in the tent, I also set it in an aluminum baking pan to give it a more solid base. Would love to do that comparison! I bet it would make a difference in the amount of ventilation required.
My first Mr Heater Buddy is decades old. I have always wondered about using it in my tents and always used mine with ventilation. Also started it and warmed the tent. Turned it off and went to bed. Started it if needed on the night and shut it off again. But that morning heat up is priceless! I also sometimes bring my Honda generator and a small ceramic heater and let it run all night. Right up until run out of gas before the morning warm up. 😂
Its better to be safe than sorry. I used my buddy heater on a hot tent deer hunt. At night, when going to bed, I turned it off. After the 2nb night, I kept it on with the vents open. I didn't see any condensation inside the tent. I also kept the heater close to the middle of the tent away from anything that might catch fire. I trust the heater, but I'm always on the safe side.
Very well done vid man! Clarity and informative. Yes, i also understood your disclaimer. However, I'm quite convinced the science behind your experiment is solid! Thanks for the valuable info and insight..👍
I have a My Buddy that I have been using for years in my 8 x12 small wood shop to keep me warm in winter and it's worked great. It has vents at both ends. I also have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in there and the alarms have never went off. I do change the batteries annually. I also keep two in my 10 x 20 small cabin I have in my back yard as an emergency shelter god forbid something happen to the house as we just had earthquakes the other day. Trying to be somewhat prepared.
excellent video...well done, fast, to the point. I like how you included a humidity sensor. I considered a diesel heater but they are not as portable. One must consider as well that many homes are heated with propane via small units inside rooms. I have had a propane heater in my master bedroom for years.
Well done on your experience. you're 💯% correct on the OSHA data. I'm curious about the cu.ft^3 of your area. Please remember CO is slightly lighter than air (0.96 < 1) so CO monitors should be placed mid-level or higher. As you know, CO is a deadly gas you can't see, taste, or smell. Again, this is a helpful video that reinforces the need to respect CO and to take precautions to be safe rather than sorry 😞
I am one of these and haven't used it yet. Since I work at night and spend a lot of time in my car working, it's very cold. I want to leave the engine going. However, having a heater is nice.It's better than being cold excellent test thank you kevin
Yes it's safe I just used one this weekend. With my wife and son, kept us warm.. just keep it away from Blankets and long as there's ventilation you'll sleep comfortably
I used a buddy heater in my class B rv with outside temperature of 19ºF. Had to use it on low. I did not crack a window and worked out just fine. The one pound canister lasted all night on low. Good video.
Used my Mr heater big buddy in my 10x18 core tent for the first time on medium setting, not gonna lie, i was a bit worried but took a carbon monoxide detector (just in case), we slept comfortable. But yes, always have ventilation!
After burning down my RTT with a buddy heater, I switched to a diesel heater. After constant trouble with a diesel heater I settle with a Propex heater. Flawless. Completely flawless. I highly suggest the Propex
May I ask how did your RTT burn down with a buddy heater? Cuz looking up Propex heaters, it seems like they go for about $1k +/-. Pretty pricey, so I would prefer to figure out how not to burn down my tent with a buddy heater, with your insight.
I lived in the bed of my f-150 with a camper top at the Ohio Michigan State line for over a year and thru a very cold winter and I heated with the two burner heater buddy (20# tank) The way I got away from carbon monoxide and condisation was to crack a window at front and rear of the bed to have a cross breeze and ventilation
How about carbon dioxide CO2? I bought CO2 meter a little over a year ago to test the levels in my house. We heat our house with wood, so there is no central system circulating the air in the house in the winter. The first night in our bedroom, I awoke to pee at 2:30 and was shocked the CO2 level was up to 1300 ppm, that with 2 adults and a cat in a 12x12x8 room. Later, at 4:30, it was up in the 1600s. They say the safe range is green up to 999ppm; warnings from 1000 to 1999ppm are yellow; and dangerous from 2000 and above are red. Alarmed, I built a fresh air exchanger for the bedroom and later a large system for the whole house. Last month, just before Xmas, we went on one of our week-long camping trips. We have a 5m canvas bell tent with ventilation in the peak, some windows cracked, and we leave the door zippers open 16" so our cat can come and go at night. Out of curiosity, I brought the CO2 meter along and was shocked when, in the early morning hours, it was reading 2400ppm, then a few hours later, in the 2600s, well into the red danger zone. This is with the Buddy heater on low. I don't know quite what to think about this. We have camped with the exact system in the same tent with the same Buddy heater hooked to a 20Lb tank for 5+ years with no apparent problems, but I am alarmed and not sure what to do about this. Normally, the outside readings are from the 400s to the 600s. In the house, they say 800s are good, well over 2000, very bad! This is in a large bell tent with 3 or more times the volume of a 10x12 cabin tent. I think you are very smart to turn the heater off at night when the children are sleeping. I am in my mid-70s and pushing up against my expiration date anyway, so I try not to sweat stuff like this too much.
One other option when running off a 5# tank is that you can regulate the propane at the tank valve, and still run your heater set to low. It's much more comfortable that way!
I have used this heater for about 4 years going camping by the lake, it's about 6-hour run time on a 1-lb cylinder, does really good for me and keeping the entire tent warm in the winter time I think it does pretty good
I use a four-season FTT and rely on camping gear at night for sleep comfort. However, I use a medium-sized tent to process data (astrophotography) and use a similiar propane heater for the tent in the mornings when it's cold. Note: I've slept on the ground in the past and fought the cold all night. So, a FTT was an obvious solution for me. Additionally, a FTT pays for itself in ~30 (+/-) nights camping. Thanks for the video.
As with most experiments, one should always leave oneself an out. These heaters do a nice job of warming it up. Best practice is to test, like you said, the setup you’re using. If you’re into camping in the conditions that require a heat source, then you should definitely test it out before you go using the heater.
Just got back from 4 day night camp 34 degrees at night. ---OK just vent the tent for sure period--. We ran it all night , this thing heated up the tent to an amazing warmth . Did not miss any heat through venting as this thing puts out so much heat. We have a big buddy with a fan built in. The fan is a big safety factor, it keeps the heat moving so as not to even allow any heat build up on ceiling. I was checking often. we were in a 10X14 Coleman instant tent bout 6.5 feet ceiling height. Procedure is heat tent up on high for about 7 minutes then turn down to Medium was perfect. Got to use your head .
Great video! Immediate thought is do they make one that’s less heat output. I’ve slept in 15F and less. At that point, I have to start engine several times a night. I presume sleeping at below freezing temps wouldn’t be that big of a problem with this heater.
hey rhino I have researched this heater when it first came out in the later 90s and again about 5 years ago. Your experiment is well instrumented. What I found by emailing the folks at My Buddy was this: the oxygen senser does not and can not (not sophisticated enough) measure/monitor the space where it is being used. Nor does the CO monitor for the same reasons. What these two monitor is the heater itself, one "sniffs the ceramic panels for CO emissions verifying the combustion is complete (which is the inside safe claim) and what you saw a 1/2 of the EPA value of is the tolerances' of the monitor. The oxygen sensor monitors the fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber, if I does not "see" the correct O2 Value It cut off the unit, same with the CO2 monitor. It does not monitor the space your in, It can't. Now what the instructions tell you to do is put it next to a openish window, this allows the unit to get a good unobstructed source of fresh air. What I do is bring a 3 Inch Dia. PVC pipe about 8 inch long, set up the heater like you did, and zip the pipe into a window zipper, down low right next to the heater. This also reduces the cold air intrusion that a openish window would allow into the area. I also have a annex on my Tapui RTT which adds a 7X 7 enclosed Room around the ladder area, attaches to a overhang awning and when I use it I set the heater down there next to a zippered wall, rig the PVC pipe and leave the upper sleeping area exit door Flap open. the heat rises up into the upper sleeping quarters but does not get to the too hot mark, which gets the heater out of the sleeping area all together. Hope this Helps
Trying that this weekend with my Thule Approach and annex. Going to also hang a rechargeable mini fan at the awning and angle it to blow the warm air into the RTT.
Mr heater buddy is awesome everywhere. ✌️ put a TEG fan on top w garden staples. Will move the heat for free because the heat just goes straight up otherwise. At home i use a small elec fan behind it
I have used the big buddy heater in my ice shelter many times. I use a carbon monoxide tester inside my tent. It also has a low oxygen sensor on it that will shutoff the unit. I open two windows and vents so I have plenty of cross flow. You need to open two vents and you should be fine.
Yes, its safe, this has been tested over and over and over again and used by real prople for decades. Only downsides are propane consumption and condensation.
And fire risk. I personally know two people who burned down their tents from these. One was his own fault, since his bedding touched it, but the other caught fire from a leak up by the control knob. Looking through the comments I already see two more people who had a fire.
@@RevereOverland If you burn your place down with any type of heater it's your own fault. There are a lot of Ventless propane heaters on the market. My Big Buddy heater says right across the front of the box for indoor use. I'm pretty sure if people were dying from these things it would be all over the news with lawsuits everywhere. As with any type of gas use your head and don't be reckless.An electric heater can be fatal.
Does have a heat exchange and an exhaust it's very very different Everybody should avoid using any sort of heater we're the exhaust is inside of your living area
I use a MR Buddy religiously but I would NEVER use it overnight. I have a friend who's buddy unfortunately died in his camper from this and recently a homeless man living in a tent passed away for the same reason. They're GREAT to have and use but I always use them with an abundance of caution.
Can you provide any factual proof of these deaths and cause? I am curious because the Buddy heaters are our preferred method in Alaska if not using a wood stove because of their portability and reliability. I have never heard of a death caused or contributed to a Co2 issue regarding them. Thanks👍
@@RoninforgedI’ve started to use it during the day to heat up my living room during the day. I have a wood stove but wood is getting so expensive so is gas and electric that I prefer to use the Buddy daytime giving me more time to do other things instead of tending to the stove. Didn’t know is so widely used there, good to know.
@@carmenmartinez2882 Yeah, they are awesome, and many Alaskan’s use them as emergency heat when power failures hit during the winters here. Last year we used two buddy heaters for two rooms in our home after a major wind storm knocked out power for days, we stayed warm and even did instant hot cocoa and coffee on a makeshift cooking grate that attaches over the heating element. We also use them for our hunting camps and a single cylinder little buddy in our winter vehicle kits in the event we end up stuck out on the roadways due to accidents, avalanches, or other freeway closures. Anyway, I can say they are worth every penny and have always worked when needed. On a side note, we do use Co2 meters whenever we use them in closed spaces as an additional safety precaution, but we have never had a dangerous level detected, which gives us more faith in them. I hope this helps you feel confident in your decision, be well and have a great 2024!
Be interesting to see if the presence of a person inside breathing the oxygen would decrease the oxygen level to an unsafe point with/without ventilation. As others have said, every setup is going to have some variance as well. Your findings were interesting none the less!
You added water not dried any air. Relative humidity isn’t a good way to measure moisture because it’s only relative to the temperature and the dew point . When you started your test you said that it was 50 degrees out with a rh% of 50 . That gives you a dew point of 32 degrees (which is incredibly dry).And you finished the test you had a temperature of 100 with a rh% of 20 , that’s a dew point of 52 degrees . You raised the dew point 20 degrees. Anything that would be colder than that(sides of the tent) would condensate. Propane combustion has a lot of water in it .Burning 1lb of propane produces 1.6lbs of water.
Good job shutting it down before sleep. If you are going to use the Mr heaters with a large tank. Be sure to add an online filter. Otherwise, you will clog the heater and it will quit working. And it's not simple to clean those lines.
Good test but, a carbon monoxide detector is normally set 10 feet away or like my RV is 20 feet away and 18 inches off the floor. I have a wood/coal stove in my RV and never have had any issues with carbon monoxide. I also have a Diesel heater and never have had any problems with that either. And I stay in an area where the winter time temps get below -10 When I first got the RV trailer, it came with a propane fireplace. I never had any problems except for the tank freezing up in winter. Why I have a Diesel heater and wood/coal stove, but I also have a cold air vent under the stove.
@@tonytenaglia7397 it's a good question, but honestly it would be too hot for anyone to stay in there without opening windows (which would defeat the purpose of the test)
Great video Kevin, very interesting to see the O2 and CO levels and how they vary over time. I agree, no surprise to me either but good to know what we "think" we know and what is published is still confirmed in a real test. These are great heaters, they heat up a small space so fast!
I have winter camped numerous times in a tent on snowy grounds either with friends with up to three people in a tent, or with my German Shepherd. The lowest outdoors temperature I experienced was -32C. Forget about your propane heater and get good sleeping bags and pads for the expected temperatures. Body heat is enough to keep temperatures comfortable during the night
I agree. Eat a high calorie meal before bed and you will generate enough heat to keep yourself warm in a decent sleeping bag or quilt. All these buddy heaters and diesel heaters are unnecessary complication.
My question if you would have started it outside then brought it in after it warmed up would that had mad so those initial numbers didn't move much? Also if in elevation where there is ower concentration of oxygen would it be more concerning? 8,000 feet the oxygen level is about 2/3s of sea level.
I just had one of these catch fire inside my small car during -15F. Melted all the safety features and thank goodness I noticed all the light. Opened the back and kicked it out with my foot and burned my leg and sleeping bag really bad.
I hovered next to one in Jackson Wyoming at 20 below zero when my water pump went out and I had to wait a week for the part after a week my lungs hurt so bad and I only hovered around it for like 2 or 3 hours at the end of the day everyday. There is not a low oxygen sensor on that heater Buddy the low oxygen sensor is a little teeny flame that stays lit in front of the burning pad and it keeps that little teeny piece of metal hot and if that piece of metal gets cold it it shuts off the gas valve. Eventually my heater buddy quit working because of that stupid little thing and I had to take it apart and take all the valve bodies apart and take all the safety s*** out of it to get the sucker to light again. And I guarantee you there is no carbon monoxide sensor and no oxygen sensor in there. There is only two valves in there that shut off the gas one shuts it off if it tips over the other one shuts it off if that little teeny flame goes out.
Take it ice fishing in a completley enclosed tent and leave it running throughout the night never had a problem even with an additional carbon monoxide/ low oxygen detector.
How did it run the whole time with everything closed up? I know for a fact they wont run that long without a lot of fresh air if youre in the tent with it cause it will run out of oxygen and turn off. Im looking for ways to keep it running better but without having to let in too much cold air
So many people are using propane stoves in thier tents. Buddy heater are the same concept without being able to cook on it. Just vent like you would cooking. Just like at home have a carbon minoxide detctor.
Yes if you like living in a rain forest….Done it for decades but im magic…..Webasto is the way to go…. Stop video after couple of minutes to post and scroll on….
You don't need these heaters. They are unnecessary complication. Invest in a layering system that consists of a base layer, a mid-layer, and an outer layer. Merino wool and down will keep you very warm both inside and out of your tent. For sleeping, you can wear this gear to bed with a decent sleeping bag, or invest in a down bag or quilt and a sleeping pad with R value for added comfort. Eat a high calorie meal before bed and your body will produce more than enough heat to keep you warm throughout the night with this setup. This solution is 100% safe and you can wear it both in and out of your tent. No need to purchase fuel, CO2 detectors, etc. Thanks for doing this research to show the potential dangers associated with these heaters in confined spaces.
True but when it’s 5F out the space I’m sleeping in eventually becomes freezing which results in my nose dripping which keeps waking me up so while my body may be nice and cozy, breathing in below freezing air results in discomfort which prevents a good night sleep so in these conditions I’d love a little heater.
@@michaelfreundI do a lot of snow camping, but not at temps as low as you're talking about. I recently started using a lightweight fleece beck gaiter pulled over my face when sleeping. Works well to prevent the sniffles, and since it's lightweight the fleece doesn't have a lot of water holding capacity so doesn't get too icy.
@@michaelfreund totally understand! The point of my comment was to make the point that these heaters are not absolutely necessary for camping. The overlanding movement has added complexity to camping so much so that it can endanger your life. Carbon monoxide exposure while sleeping can and will kill you, so if you can go without these heaters, all the better. If you need one, make darn sure you have safety precautions in place. Happy camping.
I don't think you watched the video all the through my man. Plus no amount of layering truly keeps you comfortable all night at 0F. Why not take added comfort if it's easily accessible?
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What has your experience been like with a heater in your tent?
I've used mine with a 20lb tank adapter and it kept my family at 75° all night for 4 days in sub 20° ambient Temps.
My kids and I slept on top of our bags it was so toasty!
Tent setup was a $200 8man coleman(nothing special)
@@patrickmontgomery8117 sounds like a great setup!
I love my Mr heater buddy originally bought it for power outages but I bought the smaller one to take camping, I do the same heat till I sleep then turn it back on in the morning. Thank you for the video ❤
Waiting to get out and test it, looking for CO meter that can show lower than 25 ppm. Based in what I've seen and read Mr Heater should be fine. I'm am not offering advice, just sharing what i have learnt. Check out guides on what is classed as dangerous levels of CO lots out there. Not sure I would ever have it on in the same space I am sleeping in. Rather a low wattage electric blanket powered an Allpowers power lithium station.
Do you think that the little buddy would act differently with a human being breathing in the small space?
I'm so glad to see someone using a real low level CO meter!! All the regular CO detectors will only read CO if it's at dangerously high levels to set off the alarm.
I love videos like this, and I'm glad you took the time to really test it out. I think it would be interesting to see a comparison in a non-canvas tent - the iKamper canvas is super breathable, and I wonder if that would make any difference.
The biggest risk seems to be with fire, so I'm glad you don't leave yours on overnight. I personally know two people who have burned their tents down with these heaters (thankfully both were ok). One was due to bedding touching it, and the other seemed to be from a leak that developed by the control knob. I did a video where I showed pictures, and still had the Mr. Heater fan boys tell me the Buddy Heater is perfect in every way.
Dude that's a great point! Even if this thing got tipped over and it shutoff the fuel, the heat alone would at the very least melt the fabric. When I'm sleeping with anyone else up in the tent, I also set it in an aluminum baking pan to give it a more solid base.
Would love to do that comparison! I bet it would make a difference in the amount of ventilation required.
@@RhinoOffroad when I had one I used it with a cookie baking tray too!
My first Mr Heater Buddy is decades old. I have always wondered about using it in my tents and always used mine with ventilation. Also started it and warmed the tent. Turned it off and went to bed. Started it if needed on the night and shut it off again. But that morning heat up is priceless! I also sometimes bring my Honda generator and a small ceramic heater and let it run all night. Right up until run out of gas before the morning warm up. 😂
Thank you for taking the time to do this. Happy travels
Its better to be safe than sorry. I used my buddy heater on a hot tent deer hunt. At night, when going to bed, I turned it off. After the 2nb night, I kept it on with the vents open. I didn't see any condensation inside the tent. I also kept the heater close to the middle of the tent away from anything that might catch fire. I trust the heater, but I'm always on the safe side.
Totally agree!
Thanks! I've literally wondered about the safety of these heaters inside. ❤
Very well done vid man! Clarity and informative. Yes, i also understood your disclaimer. However, I'm quite convinced the science behind your experiment is solid! Thanks for the valuable info and insight..👍
I appreciate that, thanks!
I have a My Buddy that I have been using for years in my 8 x12 small wood shop to keep me warm in winter and it's worked great. It has vents at both ends. I also have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in there and the alarms have never went off. I do change the batteries annually. I also keep two in my 10 x 20 small cabin I have in my back yard as an emergency shelter god forbid something happen to the house as we just had earthquakes the other day. Trying to be somewhat prepared.
Thanks for the experiment, answers my concerns. Ventilation is a must for me and definitely recommended.
@@danimal9775 hey I appreciate the support!
Great vid! I appreciate your approach with the time lapse of the monitors throughout the test. Happy camping!
@@dannybeezy appreciate it, glad you found it helpful !
excellent video...well done, fast, to the point. I like how you included a humidity sensor. I considered a diesel heater but they are not as portable. One must consider as well that many homes are heated with propane via small units inside rooms. I have had a propane heater in my master bedroom for years.
Appreciate it!
Well done on your experience. you're 💯% correct on the OSHA data. I'm curious about the cu.ft^3 of your area. Please remember CO is slightly lighter than air (0.96 < 1) so CO monitors should be placed mid-level or higher. As you know, CO is a deadly gas you can't see, taste, or smell. Again, this is a helpful video that reinforces the need to respect CO and to take precautions to be safe rather than sorry 😞
I am one of these and haven't used it yet. Since I work at night and spend a lot of time in my car working, it's very cold. I want to leave the engine going.
However, having a heater is nice.It's better than being cold excellent test thank you kevin
I'd love to see one more test with the windows opened a little for ventilation. Just like you would use it while camping.
I'll try to do a follow up with that one of these days. Good idea 🤙
@@RhinoOffroaddid you ever do this???
By chance did you ever redo this experiment? @@RhinoOffroad
@momoneyhabits I didn't. I figured that since it was below limits with them closed it can't be any worse with them open I guess?
@@RhinoOffroad true. I'm gonna pick one up for a trip we have later this month. Got the wife going out with me so gotta be sure she's comfortable
thanks alot I'm van Camping while I work so everyone had me scared but I fell like I have proper ventilation for me and Mr.buddy.
Yes it's safe I just used one this weekend. With my wife and son, kept us warm.. just keep it away from Blankets and long as there's ventilation you'll sleep comfortably
I used it in a tent*
I used a buddy heater in my class B rv with outside temperature of 19ºF. Had to use it on low. I did not crack a window and worked out just fine. The one pound canister lasted all night on low. Good video.
Used my Mr heater big buddy in my 10x18 core tent for the first time on medium setting, not gonna lie, i was a bit worried but took a carbon monoxide detector (just in case), we slept comfortable. But yes, always have ventilation!
After burning down my RTT with a buddy heater, I switched to a diesel heater. After constant trouble with a diesel heater I settle with a Propex heater. Flawless. Completely flawless. I highly suggest the Propex
May I ask how did your RTT burn down with a buddy heater? Cuz looking up Propex heaters, it seems like they go for about $1k +/-. Pretty pricey, so I would prefer to figure out how not to burn down my tent with a buddy heater, with your insight.
Did it get too close to the side of the tent or?
@@SoloHiker1 correct, but it wouldn’t happen with a diesel heater or propane heater
It is a propane heater
Yea which model did u have@@-DestinationNoWhere-
I lived in the bed of my f-150 with a camper top at the Ohio Michigan State line for over a year and thru a very cold winter and I heated with the two burner heater buddy (20# tank)
The way I got away from carbon monoxide and condisation was to crack a window at front and rear of the bed to have a cross breeze and ventilation
How about carbon dioxide CO2?
I bought CO2 meter a little over a year ago to test the levels in my house. We heat our house with wood, so there is no central system circulating the air in the house in the winter. The first night in our bedroom, I awoke to pee at 2:30 and was shocked the CO2 level was up to 1300 ppm, that with 2 adults and a cat in a 12x12x8 room. Later, at 4:30, it was up in the 1600s. They say the safe range is green up to 999ppm; warnings from 1000 to 1999ppm are yellow; and dangerous from 2000 and above are red. Alarmed, I built a fresh air exchanger for the bedroom and later a large system for the whole house.
Last month, just before Xmas, we went on one of our week-long camping trips. We have a 5m canvas bell tent with ventilation in the peak, some windows cracked, and we leave the door zippers open 16" so our cat can come and go at night. Out of curiosity, I brought the CO2 meter along and was shocked when, in the early morning hours, it was reading 2400ppm, then a few hours later, in the 2600s, well into the red danger zone. This is with the Buddy heater on low.
I don't know quite what to think about this. We have camped with the exact system in the same tent with the same Buddy heater hooked to a 20Lb tank for 5+ years with no apparent problems, but I am alarmed and not sure what to do about this. Normally, the outside readings are from the 400s to the 600s. In the house, they say 800s are good, well over 2000, very bad!
This is in a large bell tent with 3 or more times the volume of a 10x12 cabin tent.
I think you are very smart to turn the heater off at night when the children are sleeping. I am in my mid-70s and pushing up against my expiration date anyway, so I try not to sweat stuff like this too much.
One other option when running off a 5# tank is that you can regulate the propane at the tank valve, and still run your heater set to low. It's much more comfortable that way!
Great tip!
Thanks
Erreh! Great video and info, brother! See you on the trail one day!
Can't wait 🤙
I have used this heater for about 4 years going camping by the lake, it's about 6-hour run time on a 1-lb cylinder, does really good for me and keeping the entire tent warm in the winter time I think it does pretty good
dude thanks! this is exactly the video I needed for this weekends trip
I use a four-season FTT and rely on camping gear at night for sleep comfort. However, I use a medium-sized tent to process data (astrophotography) and use a similiar propane heater for the tent in the mornings when it's cold. Note: I've slept on the ground in the past and fought the cold all night. So, a FTT was an obvious solution for me. Additionally, a FTT pays for itself in ~30 (+/-) nights camping. Thanks for the video.
As with most experiments, one should always leave oneself an out. These heaters do a nice job of warming it up. Best practice is to test, like you said, the setup you’re using. If you’re into camping in the conditions that require a heat source, then you should definitely test it out before you go using the heater.
Yes. Been doing it for years.
Just got back from 4 day night camp 34 degrees at night. ---OK just vent the tent for sure period--. We ran it all night , this thing heated up the tent to an amazing warmth . Did not miss any heat through venting as this thing puts out so much heat. We have a big buddy with a fan built in. The fan is a big safety factor, it keeps the heat moving so as not to even allow any heat build up on ceiling. I was checking often. we were in a 10X14 Coleman instant tent bout 6.5 feet ceiling height. Procedure is heat tent up on high for about 7 minutes then turn down to Medium was perfect. Got to use your head .
Thank you very informative and answered all my questions
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, this is informative.
Great video! Immediate thought is do they make one that’s less heat output. I’ve slept in 15F and less. At that point, I have to start engine several times a night. I presume sleeping at below freezing temps wouldn’t be that big of a problem with this heater.
I have a Mr Buddy but the diesel heaters look like a great option, too.
Great vid, very informative. 💯
Thanks Greg!
thanks
May I ask what carbon detector, temp/humidly detectors you were using, would love to get one for safety and just being aware? Thanks, great video!
Sure thing. Here is the orange CO/O2 detector: a.co/d/5D77lMC
hey rhino I have researched this heater when it first came out in the later 90s and again about 5 years ago. Your experiment is well instrumented. What I found by emailing the folks at My Buddy was this: the oxygen senser does not and can not (not sophisticated enough) measure/monitor the space where it is being used. Nor does the CO monitor for the same reasons. What these two monitor is the heater itself, one "sniffs the ceramic panels for CO emissions verifying the combustion is complete (which is the inside safe claim) and what you saw a 1/2 of the EPA value of is the tolerances' of the monitor. The oxygen sensor monitors the fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber, if I does not "see" the correct O2 Value It cut off the unit, same with the CO2 monitor. It does not monitor the space your in, It can't. Now what the instructions tell you to do is put it next to a openish window, this allows the unit to get a good unobstructed source of fresh air. What I do is bring a 3 Inch Dia. PVC pipe about 8 inch long, set up the heater like you did, and zip the pipe into a window zipper, down low right next to the heater. This also reduces the cold air intrusion that a openish window would allow into the area. I also have a annex on my Tapui RTT which adds a 7X 7 enclosed Room around the ladder area, attaches to a overhang awning and when I use it I set the heater down there next to a zippered wall, rig the PVC pipe and leave the upper sleeping area exit door Flap open. the heat rises up into the upper sleeping quarters but does not get to the too hot mark, which gets the heater out of the sleeping area all together. Hope this Helps
This is great info! Appreciate you sharing it I'll have to check that out.
Trying that this weekend with my Thule Approach and annex. Going to also hang a rechargeable mini fan at the awning and angle it to blow the warm air into the RTT.
Super helpful info, thanks a lot for sharing it.
Mr heater buddy is awesome everywhere. ✌️ put a TEG fan on top w garden staples. Will move the heat for free because the heat just goes straight up otherwise. At home i use a small elec fan behind it
Great tip
I have used the big buddy heater in my ice shelter many times. I use a carbon monoxide tester inside my tent. It also has a low oxygen sensor on it that will shutoff the unit. I open two windows and vents so I have plenty of cross flow. You need to open two vents and you should be fine.
Yes, its safe, this has been tested over and over and over again and used by real prople for decades. Only downsides are propane consumption and condensation.
Yes and all your clothes absolutely stink. Of Burnt propane.
And fire risk.
I personally know two people who burned down their tents from these. One was his own fault, since his bedding touched it, but the other caught fire from a leak up by the control knob. Looking through the comments I already see two more people who had a fire.
😮
@@RevereOverland If you burn your place down with any type of heater it's your own fault. There are a lot of Ventless propane heaters on the market. My Big Buddy heater says right across the front of the box for indoor use. I'm pretty sure if people were dying from these things it would be all over the news with lawsuits everywhere. As with any type of gas use your head and don't be reckless.An electric heater can be fatal.
I went through two of these in 3 months and the second one almost burned down my house
I run a 18000 btu master propane heater in my RV. I just ran it for 3 days straight in this Arctic blast, with No issues
Does have a heat exchange and an exhaust it's very very different
Everybody should avoid using any sort of heater we're the exhaust is inside of your living area
I’ve been using them for several years
In my tiny ice shanty there an awesome
Heater no problems
I'd imagine venting the tent would drop the CO to less than 10ppm. Great video.
Ive been using a Big Buddy for like 15 years now. With a 20lb tank. In my living room. I run it on medium. Old windows & doors allow air in.
Excellent video, thank you!
Thank you!
Great video. When you turn off the heater at night do you also close the propane valve on your tank?
Thanks! To be honest I just leave it on (usually out of desire to keep the heat in)
I use a MR Buddy religiously but I would NEVER use it overnight. I have a friend who's buddy unfortunately died in his camper from this and recently a homeless man living in a tent passed away for the same reason. They're GREAT to have and use but I always use them with an abundance of caution.
Can you provide any factual proof of these deaths and cause? I am curious because the Buddy heaters are our preferred method in Alaska if not using a wood stove because of their portability and reliability. I have never heard of a death caused or contributed to a Co2 issue regarding them. Thanks👍
@@RoninforgedI’ve started to use it during the day to heat up my living room during the day. I have a wood stove but wood is getting so expensive so is gas and electric that I prefer to use the Buddy daytime giving me more time to do other things instead of tending to the stove. Didn’t know is so widely used there, good to know.
@@carmenmartinez2882 Yeah, they are awesome, and many Alaskan’s use them as emergency heat when power failures hit during the winters here. Last year we used two buddy heaters for two rooms in our home after a major wind storm knocked out power for days, we stayed warm and even did instant hot cocoa and coffee on a makeshift cooking grate that attaches over the heating element. We also use them for our hunting camps and a single cylinder little buddy in our winter vehicle kits in the event we end up stuck out on the roadways due to accidents, avalanches, or other freeway closures. Anyway, I can say they are worth every penny and have always worked when needed. On a side note, we do use Co2 meters whenever we use them in closed spaces as an additional safety precaution, but we have never had a dangerous level detected, which gives us more faith in them. I hope this helps you feel confident in your decision, be well and have a great 2024!
Be interesting to see if the presence of a person inside breathing the oxygen would decrease the oxygen level to an unsafe point with/without ventilation. As others have said, every setup is going to have some variance as well. Your findings were interesting none the less!
Yup that's a great point. Maybe I'll do another test this winter
Excellent song…what is it?
You added water not dried any air. Relative humidity isn’t a good way to measure moisture because it’s only relative to the temperature and the dew point . When you started your test you said that it was 50 degrees out with a rh% of 50 . That gives you a dew point of 32 degrees (which is incredibly dry).And you finished the test you had a temperature of 100 with a rh% of 20 , that’s a dew point of 52 degrees .
You raised the dew point 20 degrees. Anything that would be colder than that(sides of the tent) would condensate. Propane combustion has a lot of water in it .Burning 1lb of propane produces 1.6lbs of water.
thanks for the video. very interesting. also where did you get the carpet for the floor?
Lowes sells them in 12" squares
@@RhinoOffroad To Lowes it is! thanks!
Good share… thanks!
Very interesting information
Great educational content
Good job shutting it down before sleep.
If you are going to use the Mr heaters with a large tank. Be sure to add an online filter. Otherwise, you will clog the heater and it will quit working. And it's not simple to clean those lines.
Good test but, a carbon monoxide detector is normally set 10 feet away or like my RV is 20 feet away and 18 inches off the floor.
I have a wood/coal stove in my RV and never have had any issues with carbon monoxide.
I also have a Diesel heater and never have had any problems with that either. And I stay in an area where the winter time temps get below -10
When I first got the RV trailer, it came with a propane fireplace. I never had any problems except for the tank freezing up in winter.
Why I have a Diesel heater and wood/coal stove, but I also have a cold air vent under the stove.
I wonder what the readings would show had you stayed in the tent as well. What would the impact of a person breathing being added to the variables
@@tonytenaglia7397 it's a good question, but honestly it would be too hot for anyone to stay in there without opening windows (which would defeat the purpose of the test)
Good for knocking the chill out of the air co detector is a must crack window a bit i use one its been safe
Great video Kevin, very interesting to see the O2 and CO levels and how they vary over time. I agree, no surprise to me either but good to know what we "think" we know and what is published is still confirmed in a real test. These are great heaters, they heat up a small space so fast!
Thanks Mike!
Definitely interested in a heater. What type of deals you have on them???
I don't unfortunately! I bought mine from Amazon
Is there a video on you carpeting your tent?
I have winter camped numerous times in a tent on snowy grounds either with friends with up to three people in a tent, or with my German Shepherd. The lowest outdoors temperature I experienced was -32C. Forget about your propane heater and get good sleeping bags and pads for the expected temperatures. Body heat is enough to keep temperatures comfortable during the night
Sure, but why suffer if you don't have to?
I agree. Eat a high calorie meal before bed and you will generate enough heat to keep yourself warm in a decent sleeping bag or quilt. All these buddy heaters and diesel heaters are unnecessary complication.
@@carmenmartinez2882 not sure I follow but hope you stay warm.
Ice fisherman know that ventilation and a fan are the key. We lose a few anglers every year unfortunately.
Really? That’s not good.
I think the condensation is mostly a problem when the propane tank is inside the tent with the heater.
Where did you get the carpet for the tent?
Lowes! 12" carpet squares peel-n-stick
I would like to know where you got those meters
Amazon
Is your Google broken?
@@Icutmetal you need to have over 100k followers to be a youtube smartass.
I lived in Arizona in a tent an used one of those.. I put it in middle of tent with a metal chair. I'm still alive.
What do you set the heater on in your tent, ie piece of plywood ? Just bought one, thanks for posting.
I usually set it in a baking sheet or tin
My question if you would have started it outside then brought it in after it warmed up would that had mad so those initial numbers didn't move much? Also if in elevation where there is ower concentration of oxygen would it be more concerning? 8,000 feet the oxygen level is about 2/3s of sea level.
I just had one of these catch fire inside my small car during -15F. Melted all the safety features and thank goodness I noticed all the light. Opened the back and kicked it out with my foot and burned my leg and sleeping bag really bad.
Show me the lawsuit. Did you post anything on your youtube page with photos or anywhere else?
Have you tested it on high altitude? We live in Colorado and it's quite easy to be above the 7500ft maximum altitude for the O2 sensor. Thoughts?
Does Altitude affect these results?
Great question! Might have to run another test
possibly different readings with people breathing inside the tent
Can we have the same test but with venting??
I could, I just think the only change in result would be a smaller dip in Oxygen concentration and in CO levels.
How long does it keep the tent warm after you turn the heater off?
Not long!
What elevation did you perform this test?
@@denverjones986 about 1000ft
@RhinoOffroad Thanks I'd love to see this done at 10,000'
I hovered next to one in Jackson Wyoming at 20 below zero when my water pump went out and I had to wait a week for the part after a week my lungs hurt so bad and I only hovered around it for like 2 or 3 hours at the end of the day everyday. There is not a low oxygen sensor on that heater Buddy the low oxygen sensor is a little teeny flame that stays lit in front of the burning pad and it keeps that little teeny piece of metal hot and if that piece of metal gets cold it it shuts off the gas valve. Eventually my heater buddy quit working because of that stupid little thing and I had to take it apart and take all the valve bodies apart and take all the safety s*** out of it to get the sucker to light again. And I guarantee you there is no carbon monoxide sensor and no oxygen sensor in there. There is only two valves in there that shut off the gas one shuts it off if it tips over the other one shuts it off if that little teeny flame goes out.
No matter what kind of heater you use, turning it off while you sleep is the only sure way.
hold up. the Mr Heater Buddy has a low O2 shutoff?
Yessir!
If you add 2 oxygen-sucking, co2 emitting people to the tent?
Were you in the tent sleeping?
Nah not for the test. Wouldn't sleep in the tent with all the vents closed
There is no CO meter in it?
@@tonyglasstv2685 there is
@@RhinoOffroad Hi yes it has low oxygen cut off but no CO ppm cut off
Take it ice fishing in a completley enclosed tent and leave it running throughout the night never had a problem even with an additional carbon monoxide/ low oxygen detector.
How did it run the whole time with everything closed up? I know for a fact they wont run that long without a lot of fresh air if youre in the tent with it cause it will run out of oxygen and turn off. Im looking for ways to keep it running better but without having to let in too much cold air
All the windows were closed. I'm sure the fabric breathes a bit, but nothing at all was cracked open.
How do you know who's the pilot at the party? Don't worry, they will always tell everyone they talk to
So many people are using propane stoves in thier tents. Buddy heater are the same concept without being able to cook on it. Just vent like you would cooking. Just like at home have a carbon minoxide detctor.
Interesting venting would be safer and if we took a lesson from our first American people .
We should vent our sleeping area.
Awesome rig and heater.
Did you know that they are not recommended above 7000 feet above sea level?
@@temperedstate8963 yes, it's definitely harder to light due to the lack of density, but I've used it up at 10,000 ft
Condensation comes from breathing. Try sleeping in there also
Sadly, even lesser amounts of Carbon Monoxide “builds up in the human body. So even low exposure adds up in the body. Very important and thank you
Yes if you like living in a rain forest….Done it for decades but im magic…..Webasto is the way to go….
Stop video after couple of minutes to post and scroll on….
I live in MN we have tens of thousands of people on the ice with these all winter. I will say every year they find someone dead from these things.
Simple answer, use only when you are awake. It's cheaper anyway
Diesel Heater
Buddy heater
...and if we add a human (or two) who sleeps in the tent, the oxygen level must be dropping because of our usage of it...
Imo this test is innacurate because there isnt a human breathing out CO2.
That will effect the CO2 reading.
That's true, but I didn't want to use myself as a human testbed.
@@RhinoOffroad you could probably add it in by calculating it anyway
You don't need these heaters. They are unnecessary complication. Invest in a layering system that consists of a base layer, a mid-layer, and an outer layer. Merino wool and down will keep you very warm both inside and out of your tent. For sleeping, you can wear this gear to bed with a decent sleeping bag, or invest in a down bag or quilt and a sleeping pad with R value for added comfort. Eat a high calorie meal before bed and your body will produce more than enough heat to keep you warm throughout the night with this setup. This solution is 100% safe and you can wear it both in and out of your tent. No need to purchase fuel, CO2 detectors, etc.
Thanks for doing this research to show the potential dangers associated with these heaters in confined spaces.
True but when it’s 5F out the space I’m sleeping in eventually becomes freezing which results in my nose dripping which keeps waking me up so while my body may be nice and cozy, breathing in below freezing air results in discomfort which prevents a good night sleep so in these conditions I’d love a little heater.
@@michaelfreundI do a lot of snow camping, but not at temps as low as you're talking about. I recently started using a lightweight fleece beck gaiter pulled over my face when sleeping. Works well to prevent the sniffles, and since it's lightweight the fleece doesn't have a lot of water holding capacity so doesn't get too icy.
How about “you do you” and let everyone else decide for themselves.
@@michaelfreund totally understand! The point of my comment was to make the point that these heaters are not absolutely necessary for camping. The overlanding movement has added complexity to camping so much so that it can endanger your life. Carbon monoxide exposure while sleeping can and will kill you, so if you can go without these heaters, all the better. If you need one, make darn sure you have safety precautions in place. Happy camping.
I don't think you watched the video all the through my man. Plus no amount of layering truly keeps you comfortable all night at 0F. Why not take added comfort if it's easily accessible?