Carbon Monoxide Test using a Propane Heater in a Tent - 16 Hour Test. (Mr. Heater) 

firespinnr hmmm. I may have to do a test video , but gotta see how I can safely do it, since I’m sure it’s guaranteed that there will be oxygen depletion, and the environment may not be safe. Stay tuned!

That was my immediate concern at the get go. Maybe should have mentioned this at the beginning of the video. I looked up myself before seeing your comment.

See this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vbWAv7FPPKQ.html

Edward Shin bs co is lighter and in a confind space you are totally right but if venting and co is coming past you , since it's lighter than air you could get high levels and only time can get rid of it in your body .

As if

wingmanalive cheers to that! 🤙

Wow! I was reading your comment and it brought back alot of memories and made me realize how old I'm getting! On our family camping trips, we did the same things. Even used Coleman grill in tent for a source of heat, now I use a propane heater in deer hunting stand with no problems, still alive today.

Sounds like fun

It's been well documented in like everywhere propane is safe,,,this was a waste of time good for Hits to make money on YT,,,I'm 59 grew up in around the redwoods camping everywhere LoL 😜

wingmanalive You forgot to mention running with scissors too!

Ours too! Love it!

Gerard Ellis brilliant. Thanks for the additional info! 👍

Jason Barta so which detectors should I purchase and where should I put them? I want to be warm but being alive is more important lol. Thank you

Prepperjon there are detectors that will detect at 5 ppm. They can be a bit more expensive but they detect at minimal levels. I found one here: www.trutechtools.com/DEFENDERLL6070?gdffi=82d4608f40bc44b8876f395eb04c4801&gdfms=656AF2BB919149528AE050ECB402AA53&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpvzZBRCbARIsACe8vyKsPda0_BiMZ3zTxwAE6tqb6Z7ZIzQrW8cOaM8o00JLPbJm7pLtdqIaAhpCEALw_wcB

Prepperjon I would also suggest placing the CO meter at, or a little higher than the highth of your head while sleeping. This way you can confirm safe levels of CO where it will mtter most.

My comment exactly as a retired Firefighter Hazmat certified tech. That only sounds if it reaches a certain present for a certain present time , also co2 does not come out very fast u get it in your blood and hope you survive long enough to get it down. My 2 cents , on that box it says do not SLEEP WITH IT ON!!!

@@prepperjonpnw6482 well ours at the fire department cost over 8000,oo you could ask for a demonstration most department will be glad.

My uncles came with one of these heaters. It's mounted inside. But it's literally the same thing. When you turn it on the ventilation fan comes on too! Hardly even noticeable

more like always fully inspect your gear before each use/trip

RC Hobbyist Extreme - mine is a 3 brick and will roast you out of a tent that size. 😆

Make positively sure the hose is no where near the front. I had a loop in mine which directed it towards the front and the element softened it to the point it developed a pinhole which happened to jet onto the element. Needless to say I almost died that night.

I will open the tank valve then crack the fitting at the heater to get the propane to the heater. It takes a long time with a long hose to bleed it by holding the knob down.

the good guy now that’s what I call a partner that enriches your life!

Edward Shin yes my friend. Until she cuts one..

the good guy dude, I know exactly what you mean. It’s a true test for us, especially when dinner includes baked beans 😂

the good guy LOL! I got a BMW (Big Mexican Woman)

hahahahaha

That is correct. That feature is a pain in the rear when you are at 7 thousand feet and above. They will randomly shut of at high altitude.

Comforting thought. Many people have died in the Colorado Rockies using propane heaters. Maybe they have improved them.

Oxygen and carbon monoxide are two different things.

Adam Morton; The creation of carbon monoxide depletes (displaces) the oxygen level in an area. The sensor on a Buddy heater detects oxygen depletion.

Really? You are a special kind of stupid!

Good tip, thank you!

LoudandDave cheers to that!

? The carbon monoxide level rose rapidly? That's not good

RedWhite&Blue 78 thanks man. Hope this helps those folks who are interested but was on the fence about these heaters. Cheers my man🍻

RedWhite&Blue 78 here at trade school we used "flue gas analyzers" while working on furnaces. One cold day we kept the doors closed but monitored carbon monoxide with the analyzers. With 4 furnaces running venting flue gas into the room and the burners properly "tuned", carbon monoxide levels were only 3ppm after an hour.

No it won't......I doesn't matter how this is explained there are going to be those who will spend more time typing their comment than they do checking their facts. I have used Mr. Buddy heaters for years on my boats and in my RV's with no problem at all.

Bob Sullivan sad but true

I lived off grid for many years, mainly in the desert. I would NOT own a Mr BUDDY heater if the company furnished them to me at no cost ! Several friends also experienced the same difficulties with the same heaters. WAY TOO MANY mechanical failures !

interesting comment..i sleep in my cal as well. Your detector seams preatty sensitive. Id like one. Do you have the compagny please :D

There is a filter specifically made for using propane with a Buddy Heater. It prevents impurities from eventually ruining the heater. I got mind at ACE Hardware and it states that specific use right on the package.

Don Hendershot You got your mind at Ace Hardware?

@@danielholtxxl4936 They sell those there too?!

Gary Tolbert Yup. You can get a brand new mind at Ace Hardware. It’ll cost you an arm and a leg though! Lol!

@@danielholtxxl4936 WOW! Too expensive for me. I'll try to fix the one I have.

Invest in good sleeping bags rather than a propane heater.. or if you absolutely need heat in a tent. Get a hot tent and wood burning stove.. propane in a tent can be dangerous, most of the time it’s not, but the problem is you can get poisoning fast and it’s too late, I’d never have one of these with my kid in a tent.

@@brianconlogue1302 that was two years ago and I have learned a lot since then. We did end up using the buddy heater but were freaked out the entire night. We did eventually buy expensive sleeping bags and have had zero issues during the winter.

Cesar Lopez I agree man, ventilation is very important no matter which heater is used. It may not be completely necessary with this specific heater, but it is a great safety precaution to take regardless. Thanks for your input, Cesar, it’s much appreciated! 👊

imperialjade5356 good point for sure . That’s why proper ventilation is so important. Thanks for the info!

Most if not all of the Buddy branded heaters have a low oxygen shutoff sensor. So if it eats up too much oxygen in the tent, it will shut off. Obviously you shouldn't put your life in the hands of a cheap sensor, and you should vent your tent/room properly.

This is not a catalytic heater.

oxygen sensor is not very relevant because you can still be getting carbon monoxide poisoning from that heater while you have oxygen present. This is especially the case with this heater since carbon monoxide is lighter than oxygen and it will build up where you are breathing all the while the heater on the ground is getting plenty of oxygen and will continue to put out a deadly situation of carbon monoxide poisoning. I nearly died from using this heater.

@@zorbbful The O2 sensor detects incomplete combustion which is the condition under which CO is generated. Same as a car's emission system. Essentially it is used to tune the fuel air ratio so that combustion is running lean. In that situation there should be oxygen present in the exhaust gasses. If it is running rich (incomplete combustion) then the O2 sensor will show no oxygen and that means there is a CO risk.

@@jptrainor if the mr buddy heater is supposed to shut off when carbon monoxide is produced then why did I almost die and other people and their families die from using it. My area was tested for draft and it was shown to be plenty drafty. There is another gentleman that has a video that shows it producing carbon monoxide. So you want to still say it won't produce carbon monoxide yet all of these things have really happened and our true in relation to it producing carbon monoxide. You do realize the O2 sensor just detects the flame distance from a piezo it doesn't actually detect oxygen.

@@zorbbful Relax, I did some research and that what I discovered about it. I have an CO meter for situations where lives are at risk if a device malfunctions. All combustion devices can malfunction. That's why we have CO meters in our homes.

​@@zorbbful CO is not a product of propane combustion (perhaps incomplete combustion, which would be evident) - Propane undergoes combustion reactions in a similar fashion to other alkanes. In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide. C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O + heat. the problem is inadequate ventilation and oxygen depletion - when the oxygen is consumed the people fall to sleep and don't wake up

I'm heating with the big buddy heater and it does set off the carbon monoxide detector. If you use the heater on low a lot deposits will build up on the ceramic screen. Once there is too much accumulation the burn becomes less efficient and carbon monoxide is released into the room. I blew out my buddy heater with an air compressor and it stopped triggering the detector

@@MaritimeUnprepared Thank you for that information and it does make sense, that running it on a low you could end up with a buildup. I've noticed that on my heater if I haven't had it on for a few days you'll see dust accumulate. I still haven't had anything set off my carbon monoxide detector yet but I will take your advice and keep that surface clean.

@@MichiganHiker I had to move into a travel trailer in Atlantic Canada in February and by chance I had a big buddy heater so I've been using it steady. It's only now begun to set off the carbon monoxide detector, because it's not burning as cleanly. One thing I've learned the hard way is that they produce a lot of moisture. My trailer already had water damage and the buddy hasn't been helping things😅

oscar garage I finally figured that part out later. Now I won’t look as impatient. Thanks!

The heater he’s using has a low oxygen shut off. Granted I don’t know how sensitive it is. 2 years late on this reply lol

I mean he survived the night with it on, I assume the oxygen level wasn't 0

@@DABOYDJEM1when propane burns the pressure changes. Tents are impossible to be airtight and even microscopic holes allow enough oxygen to get sucked into the tent that this would NEVER be an issue. These buddy heaters shouldn't generate much if any carbon monoxide until 02 levels are low, lower than would be safe for you anyway. It's practically impossible to kill yourself with one of these unless you leave it burning in an airtight car on high

upupaepops Low oxygen environment combustion produces carbon monoxide.

If using an open-flame combustion device, then yes, absolutely a danger of high levels of CO in an unventilated space. But with a catalytic heater, there is no open combustion flame, thus a drastically reduced level of CO production. But you still have oxygen consumption with a catalytic heater, which is why they incorporate the oxygen depletion sensors in them. Would CO levels still build up in an unventilated space with a catalytic heater? Perhaps overtime, but you'd be long dead from oxygen depletion before that ever happened.

Good to know, i use this same heater , works really good .

Yup, & they also have a bump sensor. I did a review on one of these buddy heaters in a camper, with good ventilation they are safe. Even on low setting these units can crank out some heat.

The Freedom Wild s

And where did you purchase the milk crate exactly?

@@raybois think I got mine at home depot but you'd be surprised how many places sell them. A quick Google search will give you plenty of options.

@@thefreedomwild ✔Thanks..

Kit Page exactly! I am glad there is a low oxygen detector on this device. Adds another level of reassurance and peace of mind 👍

If you had to use it in your house would it be OK to bring in the propane tank?

How much do you ventilate the van? I plan on living out of my van this winter and am considering using this.

scottcartertn I’d love to do a test like that, but this heater has a low oxygen sensor and will automatically shut off

@@KrokemOutdoors it would be interesting to see a video of that feature working as well.

scottcartertn. You raised a good point. I was using the same heater in similar situation (snow camping in a larger tent than in this video) and about 2-3 hours into the night the heater switch off by itself. I could not start the heater using match stick, the match stick would ignite and light but would fizzle out in a bout 3-5 seconds. After half a dozen of failed match sticks it finally occured to me it may have been low oxygen level so I opened more vent and problem solved. I also invested in a quality carbon monoxide detector and tested it twice in a small room with no carbon monoxide detected. Good to know the Buddy heaters come with built in oxygen sensors. My takeaway: for peace of mind always bring along carbon monoxide alarm and MOST IMPORTANTLY have plenty of ventilation. We used the Heater Buddy in a tent in snow condition and even in low setting it produces plenty of heat even with lots of ventilation.

@@KrokemOutdoors-IF it works properly. You can't trust a cheap sensor, especially if the unit is older and well-used. I'd never sleep with it on, and quite frankly you're foolish to do so. I've got a Big Buddy and I do love it, but I would never leave it unattended or running overnight. Ever.

Michigan Hiker ordered from Amazon as we speak. Thank you!

I can't believe this weather! My wife and I were up at the cabin (upper Michigan) on April 1, we got 14-inches of snow. I am about done. As far as the filter, it screws on to the heater then the hose is attached to that. It is more of a baffle than a filter, but it separates the oily crude from the propane so it will not pass through to the heater. It costs $11 on the Mr. Heater site, no idea how much on Amazon.

Pinetree Line Outdoors the steak was excellent. Thanks Big Doug!

K

What do you mean by plenty of ventilation? Is a cracked window plenty of ventilation?

Ty Brady very true

Jason Hanna Thanks Jason! Hope this helps settle some debates in the internet regarding this heater. Always good hearing from you man

Ty Bassett thanks! Glad to hear a big family enjoying the outdoors together 👍

Kelly Diggs awesome! Glad you enjoy it. It’s really a great piece of gear for those cold days and nights. 👍

Raven Feather thanks for the feedback. I am actually thinking of making a “sequel” video with all of the suggestions stated in the comments. No one has mentioned the dimensions until now, but I think it is a valid request. Cheers!

@@KrokemOutdoors Something else that would be interesting is knowing the sensitivity of the monitoring device. And I recently heard a RU-vidr comment that CO concentrations in the human body are accumulative over time. In any case the way I use it (the heater) poses little risk because I probably ventilate much more than is really necessary. Partly because I'm careful and like fresh air but also because my Scamp is only about 400 cubic feet and the little heater even on low pushing out about 4000 BTU's which is PLENTY of heat. So ventilation is part of making the space comfortable as well as safe. Last Fall I got stuck in a snow storm in Wyoming and spent a couple of nights in the back of my truck. In a remote location. Temps were probably the low teens and the wind blowing like a banshee. A whiteout blizzard. My truck is set up with a cot and I often use it but that night I was forced to use it because it was snowing so hard I could not find the wall tent I had set up earlier in the day. Which was OK since I was actually better off in the truck because of the high winds. I used the Buddy Heater in the evening, snuggled into my -30 bag and other blankets when sleeping, and then cranked it up again in the morning. I was very comfortable temperature-wise but all of my food froze as well as my water. The frozen water frightened me a bit because without a cup of coffee in the morning, I mean, why even wake up!? Fortunately the water was frozen only a couple of inches on the outside of the container and I bashed it around enough to get water for coffee - and survived. People spend a lot of time worrying about these little heaters and with good reason. CO can kill. But so can hypothermia. When we're playing around outdoors we're exposing ourselves to more risks than most of us even think about. We have to be cautious with everything we do and the Buddy Heaters are no exception. They're simply another tool we need to use wisely. Thanks again for the video. Good stuff.

wizardorlegend thanks! The device was functioning (ran some preliminary tests per the manual), but I am curious to see what the levels in ppm the device will show. I’ll give it a shot and check it out on the truck. Thanks for the suggestion 👍

Lloyd Hayes thanks for the useful info, Lloyd!

socomon69 haha 😂 thanks!

Kevin Murphy I actually thought about doing this, but wasn’t sure how safe that test would be. But with that said, I may actually try it with a 4 season tent and close all vent openings. Thanks for watching and your input!

Carl Kestila that is definitely one option!

True Story. If you want to Hot Tent, get a stove and tent with a stove jack.

How To Get Out Of Babylon that is definitely on my wish list. Those setups are awesome

James Walker that makes sense. Thanks for the tip!

Red meat is the Devil's food

Jimini damn you sound like Hank Hill😂😂

Hi, thanks for your kind info, recently i bought a small heater and it needs to be used along a camping stove like this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wbuGr1SlsF0.html Do you think they both has the same working principle in heating up the tent, thus making it safe?

Jeff I I get paranoid about ventilation but you’re right. Cold season camping is right around the corner. Let’s brace ourselves 👍

dacowboys01 thanks! I’ve used the heater more than I can count, and it’s been perfectly fine too

Thinking the same thing whole time!

If you use a Mr. Buddy heater with a hose and a large tank you must use a fuel filter. I didn't and my heater got clogged and started on fire. I live in a van and that's where the fire started. The filter costs about $10 and is sold wherever the Mr. Buddy heaters are sold.

MidTnOutdoors you bet! They are definitely worth the investment

MidTnOutdoors i have a big buddy , it works very good.

I am hopping to get one soon for next winner.

Worked at Cabelas for 2 years so figured I'd offer some consumer advice. Little buddy has trouble getting pilot to light (and stay lit), big buddy is a gas hog. Don't buy the little buddy for a duck blind because it won't stay lit -- heard this one quite a lot. I personally own a little buddy and can confirm the pilot kind of sucks. Quick tip: with the gas disconnected heat the pilot tube up with a cigarette lighter to warm it, remove lighter, connect gas, and then ignite the pilot. It seems the main issue lies with the thermal output required from a small coleman tank to maintain a steady flame, but once the pilot is warm it will begin to self sustain. Little buddy is perfect, and probably intentionally designed, for camping and will conserve gas much better than the big buddy on high setting. The efficiencies drop on both heaters when operated on lower settings so always try to use the high setting when possible, otherwise you'll eat up (actually, waste) a coleman tank and probably see those carbon monoxide emissions change as well. Best course of action: run it on high for 1-2 hours before getting in the tent and turn it off right before sleeping. That way you save your investment and sleep easy knowing you won't gas yourself in the night. These were the routine comments from customers and vendor reps made regarding these buddy heaters.

These particular heaters are catalytic reactive heaters as opposed to combustion heaters. If you do this while using a direct combustion propane heater your will most certainly die. Also, while these heaters are almost entirely safe they stink like shit, ESPECIALLY on lower settings and when brand new. You might not die but your tent is gonna smell like skunk asshole. Just remember, tents are a private domicile. You'll need that to explain to the cops when they come creeping up on your campsite looking for a methlab.

Bill Peirce cheers to that!

Timothy Gaynor great minds think alike 👍

Bob Vance agreed! Luckily, this heater has a low oxygen sensor and will shut off if oxygen levels decrease below safe levels

Tents are not airtight even with all the windows and doors zipped shut. There is more than enough oxygen moving in and out.

Is that Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration? Lol

Antonio Cole I thought about that after the test, unfortunately. But, I did do some research and it seems height placement is not a huge factor. (See my pinned comment)

Rusty Bosley exactly. Ventilation is key indeed. Kodiak canvas tents are awesome! I had one a few years back and loved it. It held in the heat really well too (from the heater). The only reason I returned it is because I didn’t have a place to set it up to dry during the rainy season. I’m also excited for your trip to the redwoods. That is an awesome area👍

Edward Shin Thanm you for your reply. Yes, we are very excited about our trip as well. We have a large 30x40 shop to set the canvas tent up in to allow it to dry during the rainy season but, we also have a 38 foot RV so we use that as well when we’re going to be camping in the winter months. Tent camping in California because we want to be more in touch with nature and because our RV is too long for the State Park RV spots. Take care and keep up the great videos.

redauwg911 didn't bring a thermometer but it's usually between 15 to 25 degrees warmer inside. A quarter ta k lasted me 16 hours at full strength

I would love to see this same video done with a ground level temp gauge and a head height gauge that way we could see what your sleeping temp is versus outside temp, thanks

Rowdy Broomstick noted for an upcoming sequel video

Andy Flores thank you for your service first and foremost. This heating method is primarily for old folks like me who can’t handle the cold as well anymore 😉

Clyde Smith how big is your tent?

whatfreedom7 I have several tents 10x10 & 12x16 I use my heater in both and have no issues. I always bring along a carbon monoxide detector and hang it up in my tent just for some sense of security

I wondered this while watching the video, so I Googled does carbon monoxide rise or fall, and the answer is neither. The molecules are so small that they can pass through drywall. With that in mid, it would seem that carbon monoxide would easily penetrate tent walls.

I'm a chemist. Gas molecules by definition don't interact with each other. Yes, if you open a CO2 tank, or drop dry ice on the floor, you'll see a cloud of it just hanging around. This is because in a high concentration, the "cloud" will follow it's density with respect to air. But in low concentrations, like CO being produced from combustion, it's going to go wherever it's pushed to. It won't rise/fall to sort itself out on any realistic timeframe, which is why O2, N2, and CO2 concentrations stay roughly the same at different altitudes. Exceptions are H2 and He because their density is extremely low comparatively.

This is from the company's product description "This alarm measures the exposure to carbon monoxide over time; it is designed to sound at 85 decibels at 10 feet when it detects 70 ppm (parts per million) of CO for 60 to 240 minutes, 150 ppm for 10 to 50 minutes, or 400 ppm for 4 to 15 minutes."

@@keonep1 ah thank you.