I attached an usb cord that hides in the battery compartment so I can run it from my power box or battery bank or any USB port. Only down side is usb is only 5v so the fan doesn’t run as fast but still works good.
I bought a cheap/generic adapter for the wall online for $6, chopped the wall plug off and used the standard plug for the back...just wired a sealed lead/acid battery to that factory plug... For those who don't want to take it apart. As long as that plug is not plugged in, can still use D batteries without taking it all apart again.
On mine I changed my fan to a 12 volt one, changed the adapter to a more standard size one and can use a 12 volt power supply or when power is out use a 12 volt battery that will last as long as a 20 lb propane cylinder.
Good option. I prefer going with NiMH rechargeable D batteries and refilling 1lb cylinders with an adapter on ebay. Lightest possible setup. Your way might be better for people wanting crazy runtime, like being out on Mille Lacs in a hard house.
Good vid. I wonder though why not use a 2.5mm plug on your six v leads and just run it out of one of the holes in the tank cover to plug in. Would leave the original system intact for D cell use if needed.
Use alligator clips to the battery terminals. or Use the Jack on the Buddy to plug in a battery. Needed is the small jack fro MY heater 1.5??? mm jack form electronics store. ... No need to rewire anything.
Thought of this 2 years ago but never thought of storing the batteries inside the canister compartments! better than my idea of retrofitting a different connector for the ac adapter and carrying a battery around with me. Big thumbs up. Now I know what I'm doing tomorrow.
wow buddy.... you came up with a new idea wow i got to do this i got a few of these laying around lol thanks again two thumps up thanks again happy new year from Alaska bug out buddy take care stay safe .P.S. i'm going to try hook up solar to this idea same as the ammo cans .never run out of power lol .ok
You can even use _two_ *18650 rechargeable* _lithium_ batteries salvaged from an old laptop to run the fan. They'll run the fan *constantly* for at least two days- they're rechargeable- and if you happen to have an *old laptop* lying around- *free.*
Could you possibly give a walkthrough on how you wired your 6v batteries in parallel with the leads? I understand it’s just pos to pos and neg to neg plus the leads but am curious what connectors you used, where you acquired the parts (I have the tools at home, just not the clips/connectors and the wiring). Also how you worked the leads into the existing wires/terminals. I know a solder job would hold much better but I haven’t done any solid soldering in years and the last time I did I felt like I was starting my first job back in high school electronics class. Hoping hook up and go quickly. Thanks in advance!
JDS Outdoors Thank you, sir! Great hack video though. I appreciate the other tip about the foam mat underneath. Did you just electrical tape the batteries together or use some type of band?
Why don't you buy rechargeable D size battery that is based on lithium Lipo internally, but is regulated by internal circuitry to output a 1.5 volt instead of a 3.7 volt with normal lithium. It holds a lot more mAh and in addition, the reduction in output voltage would mean more lasting amperage, so it might even last much longer than your bulky brick battery; and it's made the same size as ordinary size D battery so it fits right into the original battery compartment. No need to open up the heater at all for the extra wirings. There is an on board micro USB socket on every batteries for you to easily recharge it. You can find it on ebay.
There is always someone offering the "just go buy" solution to problems. Knowing which aisle in which store that the item to be purchased is at IS NOT A SKILL. Finding some unused item at home that can be "harvested" for a rechargeable battery of the right flavor IS VERY SKILLFULL.
I've only put one 20lb propane tank through my heater and the fan literally snapped at the shaft and pulled the wires out when it broke. Looked for a replacement fan on the Mr.Heater website to find out they are charging 35% of the initial purchase price plus shipping. What a piece of crap rip off.
PSHAW2009 you can just run on one since its 6v and they are hooked in parallel to keep them 6v if hooked in series it would be 12v and possibly blow the fan
People have shown the big buddy heaters AFTER THEY WERE on fire when only one cylinder was used, as it must be leaking threw to the other side and then catching the gas fumes on fire. WHOOSH... AND YOUR SCREWED.
