I’ve used this heater for over ten years, used it for everything, hunting camp, fishing on the boat on cold days. It’s always kept the family warm. Great heater!
The amount of people that try to critique or didn't watch the whole video then complain about things he clearly addressed in the video in great detail is concerning, no wonder the world is in the shape its in, great video and information 👍not to mention your patience with these imbeciles gives me motivation to be more kind although lord knows it can be tuff at times
Thanks, Jason. It’s tough sometimes but I remind myself it’s much more beneficial and productive to be kind. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated!
If you opt for a BigBuddy, try to get a model #F274860. It’s green but still comes with the integrated fan. Available at Tractor Supply. www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/mr-heater-big-buddy-portable-heater-2133493?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-2133493&gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1Amopangp8wgV-tKFuG30IaxxF77ANHyKWWqrh99Q0wxBkmLA_1vDhoCVBYQAvD_BwE
Not to hijack, but.... You can probably go on Amazon and order a USB to 2.1 adaptor then jump it over to a 2.1 to 5.5 adaptor and just plug it all in without all the wiring/ soldering fun. Been awhile since I looked at my BB but that was a plan I had. Good video!
Wood stove fans are designed to sit in contact with the stove so I’d think they should all work just fine. Just keep an eye on it so you don’t get it too hot for too long. I’ve only heard of them getting too hot and melting the wire casing a few times but you could use header wrap to insulate the wiring and prevent that from happening.
The built-in regulator only works with 1lb tanks. If you want to use an extension hose that screws in place of a 1lb tank, you don’t need a regulator but you should use a filter. If you have a big Buddy, use an F271803 quick-connect hose with regulator and you don’t need a filter.
Well, this whole import fiasco over the past couple of years has certainly been a pain! They’re not making the heaters with fans right now but a wood stove fan uses heat to generate power, so that’s become a popular solution.
I dislike the cost of D batteries, so I have never tried the fan on my heater. Does it move much air? Have you tried a heat driven fireplace fan on top in comparison?
It won’t part your hair but it moves enough air to be worthwhile. Running the fan with a 5 volt USB cord opens up some cheap options as well. Haven’t tried the wood stove fans so can’t really comment on their effectiveness.
As I understand it, the issue was due to the fans being made in and imported from China. That’s since been resolved and they’re now available with fans but old stock is still out there, so watch for lower prices and look at the box before you buy one.
Well if anybody else is reading this comment always get a filter a propane filter always with anything any heater you're running propane with always put a filter on it just makes for good sense and good judgment a regulator is not a filter I have a Mr Buddy heater and mine works fantastic I didn't have to put a regulator on it because it comes with its own regulator not screw the filter in right where the regulator was then I put a hose on it I connected it to a 6.5 lb propane tank and the damn thing works fantastic
@@DubbyasDIY yes thank you for your comment and I appreciate it I always try to give the best of my knowledge it might not be the smartest of what everybody else knows but it's just the best of my ability and what I try to put out there I will never tell anybody any wrong and I comment on a lot of stuff and a lot of people don't like it because I am brutally honest that's just the way it is
The Mr Heater website describes the filter as an oil trap to catch contaminants from the hose. I"m not sure if it will filter contaminated fuel even though it is called a fuel filter since it stated to change the filter annually or the filter will contaminate the unit when it is full. A regulator at the tank would be safer since you then have low pressure going to the heater in case of a leak or hose damage. Regulated lower pressure from the tank would pick up less contaminants from the hose than high pressure. You would have to use the quick disconnect on the big buddy or you would be using 2 regulators which may effect performance. Not sure about the regular buddy. Just something to consider or be made aware of since there seems to be overlapping concerns with these units. I hope this helps rather than confuse.
@@DubbyasDIY - If I used a filter I think I would change it regularly cuz the thought of a container of oil sitting next to a heat source makes me nervous. Thank you for providing a place for discussion and information.
If you use the screw in hose, your filter will be plugging into the built in regulator on the heater. If you are using the Mr. Heater quick connect hose with regulator, you do not need the filter because the hose is on the regulated side of the regulator and it will not deteriorate, but you do need the regulator because the quick connect bypasses the built in regulator.
You can get cool thermal fans for them too just so you can blow heat out in front of them . I did this with mine & it heated my small workshop up great
Does anyone else have a strong smell of propane with the big buddy? I have it hooked up to a big tank with an inline filter. I know they are not 100 percent efficiencent but it stinks pretty bad in a garage.
That can happen, most notably on a full tank. Odorant (Ethyl Mercaptan) is added to the propane so we can smell it but they don’t always get a good mix.
As per the Mr. Heater website, they removed the fan from the MH18B Big Buddy heaters (in 2019) due to tariff restrictions. www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html They still offer the rear panel with the integrated fan (if you can find one) www.mrheater.com/complete-back-panel-black-with-fan-assembly-mh18b-tough-buddy.html
Thank you for popping the back open. I was confused about why you had a battery in the propane compartment and what the other end of the alligator clips were attached to. I love the USB cable to charge devices. What were the D cell battery terminals originally for? I can't imagine they would be there for recharging D cell batteries, were they?
The terminals connect to the fan. Though can buy rechargeable D-cell batteries now, this just gives you more options. If you open your heater, you’ll see how it’s wired with spade terminals.
When I connect the style hose you showed in this video, I can never get any gas to flow to the pilot. Do you have any ideas why it doesn't work It works fine when I use 2 little green propane bottles. Thanks
It’s tough to get the valve and retaining ring to seat properly sometimes, particularly with a new hose or when it’s really cold. If the retaining ring has seated properly, it can take up to a minute of holding the pilot switch to get gas through ten feet of hose to the pilot light. Try again and be patient.
Hi, Paul! Thanks for your question. There are plenty of really great videos showing exactly how to build ammo box power supplies with parts sold on Amazon, that’s why I didn’t go into any detail on it. Use the TH-cam search bar to find them.
I have the big buddy heater which only works with 1 lbs tanks. I had a 20lbs tank which didn’t hook. I had the buddy hose which i picked up from Canadian tire. Then 1 day i was at home hardware, they had the proper filter. The only thing is i realized I didn’t have a fan built in, we have this sitting in the spare room closet.
Looks like they’re making Big Buddy heaters with the fan in them again. www.cabelas.ca/product/10206/mr-heater-big-buddy-propane-heater-with-fan?productVariantId=51535
If you want a thermostat, Flame King heaters are the way to go. The thing is, they run full-blast until they reach the set temperature so they use a lot of propane. I run my Big Buddy on medium most of the time anyway.
Sure would have been nice to see how you hooked up the USB. What's the point in doing a video like this if you don't show how this stuff is done? My apologies. You are correct. I didn't get all the way to the end. Thank you.
It appears you didn’t watch the entire video. I explain exactly how to connect the USB cable at 6 minutes in. th-cam.com/video/vQ0pwCVOVyo/w-d-xo.htmlm
It absolutely is a Mr. Heater hose and the information provided was taken from the manufacturer’s website but I appreciate you taking the time to express your opinion.
I’ve used this heater for over ten years, used it for everything, hunting camp, fishing on the boat on cold days. It’s always kept the family warm. Great heater!
Yup! Money well spent! Thanks for watching!
The amount of people that try to critique or didn't watch the whole video then complain about things he clearly addressed in the video in great detail is concerning, no wonder the world is in the shape its in, great video and information 👍not to mention your patience with these imbeciles gives me motivation to be more kind although lord knows it can be tuff at times
Thanks, Jason. It’s tough sometimes but I remind myself it’s much more beneficial and productive to be kind.
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated!
I can not tell you how many times I run into issues like this.
Thanks Sammie. Hope you found some helpful info in it. Thanks for the comment!
Genius ideas. I now want a big buddy heater. My ProCom was stolen, then returned and broken. Next purchase definitely.
If you opt for a BigBuddy, try to get a model #F274860. It’s green but still comes with the integrated fan. Available at Tractor Supply. www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/mr-heater-big-buddy-portable-heater-2133493?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-2133493&gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1Amopangp8wgV-tKFuG30IaxxF77ANHyKWWqrh99Q0wxBkmLA_1vDhoCVBYQAvD_BwE
They no longer make this fan model.
@@joeboxter3635 they sure do it however is not shipped to MA CA and Canada, maybe other states do alittle research before misleading people
Not to hijack, but....
You can probably go on Amazon and order a USB to 2.1 adaptor then jump it over to a 2.1 to 5.5 adaptor and just plug it all in without all the wiring/ soldering fun. Been awhile since I looked at my BB but that was a plan I had.
Good video!
Yep, a 2.5mm male to USB adapter cable would definitely do the trick as well. Thanks for watching!
Ingenious. Thank you for sharing your modifications.
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment. Much appreciated!
I bought a green Mr. Buddy heater like this from tractor supply and it does have a fan.
That’ll be model #F274870. Thanks for letting me know, Miriam!
Love this video! I'm totally doing this! Thank you!
You're so welcome!
I keep two cinderblocks in my truck just for situations like this 😮😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
interesting mods thanks for sharing and have a great New Year
Thanks much! Some old, some new but all worth doing yourself.
Well done sir! Thanks for sharing
Happy to hear you found it useful!
Great stuff, best "Buddy hack" vid I've seen yet, thanks!
Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful.
Thank you for the video.
Hope you found it useful!
Anyone able to suggest a wood stove fan able to tolerate the heat from the BigBuddy? Mine doesn’t have a fan. Thanks!
Wood stove fans are designed to sit in contact with the stove so I’d think they should all work just fine. Just keep an eye on it so you don’t get it too hot for too long. I’ve only heard of them getting too hot and melting the wire casing a few times but you could use header wrap to insulate the wiring and prevent that from happening.
Good stuff.
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
I USE THE FAN THAT RUN FROM THE BUDDY HEAT. ABOUT $30.00, NO BATTERIES.
Yup, those wood stove fans are nice!
Nothing better then some good old Johnsonville brat grease dripping down the front of a lit heating element and the front of your heater! 😄
I always wrap my food in tin foil or cook it in aluminum pans. Saves me the trouble of having to clean the heater or grill. ;)
Have you cooked fish on the grate?
I don’t cook so much as re-heat food.
Mine already have a propane regulator inside, do I still to have another Propane regulator connected with the outside hose connection mod?
The built-in regulator only works with 1lb tanks. If you want to use an extension hose that screws in place of a 1lb tank, you don’t need a regulator but you should use a filter.
If you have a big Buddy, use an F271803 quick-connect hose with regulator and you don’t need a filter.
Do you need filter for the hose adapter to a 20lb thank ?
I explain that and provide the hose model number at 35 seconds into the video. #F271803 amzn.to/3Jaoelf
Alrighty I must have missed it thank you
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
you can buy tubing that doesn't need a filter.
Mine dont have a blower
Well, this whole import fiasco over the past couple of years has certainly been a pain! They’re not making the heaters with fans right now but a wood stove fan uses heat to generate power, so that’s become a popular solution.
Look at you Mastering the heater! I love it! Crazy good job and mods.
Hah! Thanks for watching!
You can put a wood burning Thermal heated fan on top no batteries needed🤷🏻♂️!!
Yep, that’s another way to go. Thanks for watching, it’s much appreciated!
I dislike the cost of D batteries, so I have never tried the fan on my heater. Does it move much air? Have you tried a heat driven fireplace fan on top in comparison?
It won’t part your hair but it moves enough air to be worthwhile. Running the fan with a 5 volt USB cord opens up some cheap options as well.
Haven’t tried the wood stove fans so can’t really comment on their effectiveness.
I used a paint tray that hangs in a 5 gallon bucket for a grill grate.
Yup, that’ll work too. Thanks for watching!
Watch out for galvanized zinc poisoning
Why did they discontinue putting fans in big buddy's heater
As I understand it, the issue was due to the fans being made in and imported from China. That’s since been resolved and they’re now available with fans but old stock is still out there, so watch for lower prices and look at the box before you buy one.
Well if anybody else is reading this comment always get a filter a propane filter always with anything any heater you're running propane with always put a filter on it just makes for good sense and good judgment a regulator is not a filter I have a Mr Buddy heater and mine works fantastic I didn't have to put a regulator on it because it comes with its own regulator not screw the filter in right where the regulator was then I put a hose on it I connected it to a 6.5 lb propane tank and the damn thing works fantastic
As per Mr. Heater, a filter is not required with the recommended hose but it can’t hurt to use one. Thanks for the comment!
@@DubbyasDIY yes thank you for your comment and I appreciate it I always try to give the best of my knowledge it might not be the smartest of what everybody else knows but it's just the best of my ability and what I try to put out there I will never tell anybody any wrong and I comment on a lot of stuff and a lot of people don't like it because I am brutally honest that's just the way it is
The Mr Heater website describes the filter as an oil trap to catch contaminants from the hose. I"m not sure if it will filter contaminated fuel even though it is called a fuel filter since it stated to change the filter annually or the filter will contaminate the unit when it is full. A regulator at the tank would be safer since you then have low pressure going to the heater in case of a leak or hose damage. Regulated lower pressure from the tank would pick up less contaminants from the hose than high pressure. You would have to use the quick disconnect on the big buddy or you would be using 2 regulators which may effect performance. Not sure about the regular buddy. Just something to consider or be made aware of since there seems to be overlapping concerns with these units. I hope this helps rather than confuse.
Right you are. It’s a canister, not really a filter at all.
@@DubbyasDIY - If I used a filter I think I would change it regularly cuz the thought of a container of oil sitting next to a heat source makes me nervous. Thank you for providing a place for discussion and information.
Awesome videos!!! Keep up the great work
Thanks for watching!
Hmm. I never ran a regulator on mine. Just a lp filter.
As long as you’re using a quality LP hose, that’s all you should need.
If you use the screw in hose, your filter will be plugging into the built in regulator on the heater. If you are using the Mr. Heater quick connect hose with regulator, you do not need the filter because the hose is on the regulated side of the regulator and it will not deteriorate, but you do need the regulator because the quick connect bypasses the built in regulator.
@Nate Larson understood. Mine did not have the quick connect only the hose going to the normal bottle hookup.
You can get cool thermal fans for them too just so you can blow heat out in front of them . I did this with mine & it heated my small workshop up great
Yeah, those seem to be the go-to these days. No batteries required! Thanks for watching!
Great video buddy I've been using one of these heaters for years and I never knew that you could add all these accessories thanks for the video
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for the comment!
Those mods are wild!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome mods
Thanks for watching!
Love the stand, just seeing this. Totally using it. Thank you!!!
You are so welcome, Seth! Thanks for watching!
Does anyone else have a strong smell of propane with the big buddy? I have it hooked up to a big tank with an inline filter. I know they are not 100 percent efficiencent but it stinks pretty bad in a garage.
That should not happen with this style heater
That can happen, most notably on a full tank. Odorant (Ethyl Mercaptan) is added to the propane so we can smell it but they don’t always get a good mix.
@@jasonsciss7203 I agree.
Consider doing a bubble test on your connections just in case.
@@mattwaters6987 Its only when its running
There is no fan in the heaters now days
As per the Mr. Heater website, they removed the fan from the MH18B Big Buddy heaters (in 2019) due to tariff restrictions. www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html
They still offer the rear panel with the integrated fan (if you can find one) www.mrheater.com/complete-back-panel-black-with-fan-assembly-mh18b-tough-buddy.html
Your best bet is garage sales or pawn shops
On the quick connect. You don't happen to have a model number by any chance? Thank you. Great vid
The Mr. Heater model number appears in the video at 38 seconds in and it’s in the description.
Thank you for popping the back open. I was confused about why you had a battery in the propane compartment and what the other end of the alligator clips were attached to. I love the USB cable to charge devices. What were the D cell battery terminals originally for? I can't imagine they would be there for recharging D cell batteries, were they?
The terminals connect to the fan. Though can buy rechargeable D-cell batteries now, this just gives you more options. If you open your heater, you’ll see how it’s wired with spade terminals.
@@DubbyasDIY My model doesn't have the fan but wish it did. It would be so much more efficient.
When I connect the style hose you showed in this video, I can never get any gas to flow to the pilot. Do you have any ideas why it doesn't work It works fine when I use 2 little green propane bottles. Thanks
It’s tough to get the valve and retaining ring to seat properly sometimes, particularly with a new hose or when it’s really cold.
If the retaining ring has seated properly, it can take up to a minute of holding the pilot switch to get gas through ten feet of hose to the pilot light. Try again and be patient.
I wanna see your diy power bank ammo can thing! Do you have any more info on that? That's awesome!
Hi, Paul! Thanks for your question. There are plenty of really great videos showing exactly how to build ammo box power supplies with parts sold on Amazon, that’s why I didn’t go into any detail on it. Use the TH-cam search bar to find them.
I have the big buddy heater which only works with 1 lbs tanks. I had a 20lbs tank which didn’t hook. I had the buddy hose which i picked up from Canadian tire. Then 1 day i was at home hardware, they had the proper filter. The only thing is i realized I didn’t have a fan built in, we have this sitting in the spare room closet.
Looks like they’re making Big Buddy heaters with the fan in them again. www.cabelas.ca/product/10206/mr-heater-big-buddy-propane-heater-with-fan?productVariantId=51535
They all work on 1 lb or 20 lb cylinders operator error 🤦🏻♂️ I have a portable buddy and a big buddy they both will work on either tank
This is an interesting Mods you got going there sir 💯👍👍
Thanks so much!
Cool idea. thx.
Glad you like it!
Will this heater be good for a small warehouse
It puts out a maximum of 18,000 BTU and is rated for up to 450 square feet.
Can you make it thermostatically controlled ?
If you want a thermostat, Flame King heaters are the way to go. The thing is, they run full-blast until they reach the set temperature so they use a lot of propane. I run my Big Buddy on medium most of the time anyway.
Sure would have been nice to see how you hooked up the USB. What's the point in doing a video like this if you don't show how this stuff is done?
My apologies. You are correct. I didn't get all the way to the end. Thank you.
It appears you didn’t watch the entire video. I explain exactly how to connect the USB cable at 6 minutes in. th-cam.com/video/vQ0pwCVOVyo/w-d-xo.htmlm
Carrying bags are crappy
Thanks for the comment! Can you suggest a better carry bag?
Ok your wrong about low pressure lines not leaching oils in hoses into heater except for the mr heater hose that you dont have !
It absolutely is a Mr. Heater hose and the information provided was taken from the manufacturer’s website but I appreciate you taking the time to express your opinion.
Not easy mods that anyone can do…
A journey begins with a single step.
you do not need a regulator, they are built in
You'll need to watch out those alligator clips don't earth out on the frame or each other when using the external power supplies!