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neb
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2011 18:54
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Does anyone know if you can use these inside a building. I see they say you can use them in blinds, tents and sheds etc. I would think you would need some fresh air.
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turkeyhunter
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2011 20:15
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neb, i have one i have used in a camper, with the window opened some for some fresh air........
they kinda scare me in a closed up building, while sleeping
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toddheyn
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2011 20:29
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I have used our big buddy heater in our 12x16 cabin on a couple of occassions last winter. No issues noted. The cabin is not sealed as well as a new home would be some i believe that there is plenty of fresh air for it.
They also state that there is a low oxygen sensor built in to the unit for safety.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2011 22:07
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I also read that it had a built in oxygen sensor built in to it. I would say they seem very safe.
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cabingal3
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2011 22:09
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we have one of these for our cabin.they are sure the nicest heaters.we really like ours.its also ceramic in the innard front heating elements.sure is a cute design.
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241comp
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2011 07:56
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They do have an ODS (oxygen depletion sensor). Should be safe for indoor use, but don't use it indoors without a carbon monoxide detector.
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toddheyn
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2011 14:07 - Edited by: toddheyn
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Quoting: 241comp They do have an ODS (oxygen depletion sensor). Should be safe for indoor use, but don't use it indoors without a carbon monoxide detector.
I have to agree. I forgot to mention earlier that we do have both a Smoke Detector and a Carbon Monoxide Detector in the cabin just in case.
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project_north
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2011 14:57
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I have a little buddy heater. It's great but I'm too nervous to sleep with it on and it's not approved for indoor use in Canada so i've got one of these heaters vented to the outside:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200362081_200362081
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bugs
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2011 15:20
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neb
We went with a Big Buddy heater connected to a 20 lb propane tank. The heater has low (4000) medium (9000)and hi (18000 btu) settings. We have been quite pleased with it. It heats our little shack up in about an hour from -10 C to + 15 C when we use it during winter snowshoeing day trips. It also works super for fall and spring overnight stays.
We too do not operate it when we sleep and we always have a window open for fresh air.
One problem with any heating system is air circulation. The fan that is in the heater is essentially useless so the ceiling will be 35C, waist height will be 15C and the floor will be 5 C. We use a dc car fan to get the air moving.
We also noticed a plastic smell for the first few times we used it. That does not seem to be a problem after a number of uses.
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bushbunkie
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2011 17:50
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Hi Neb,
The little and big buddy heaters came into our local Princess Auto store with large red aftermarket stickers indicating:NOT FOR INDOOR USE- STRICTLY OUTDOOR. Canadian codes seem to be different then the U.S codes. I must admit , they look great and could have pictured one hanging on my wall in the Bunkie.
Open windows and taking the chill off during a day trip at the bunkie is one thing....sleeping is totally different.
I would never sleep in any building with a propane heat source that did not vent to the outside...you go on line and you can find too many sad stories...guys dying in their ice fishing huts who went out for the afternoon and fell asleep, etc.
Also, it's not just me...I have two kids sleeping up in the loft I have to keep safe...oh yeah...and my wife...oops!
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241comp
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2011 19:27
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Mr. Heater's website says that they now have models for Canada and California and that the little buddy is indoor safe. But still, better safe than sorry. Even if you are awake, use a CO detector. CO poisoning can cause impaired judgement and sleepiness. Combine those two and you might just fall asleep permanently.
I would recommend a CO detector in your cabin, even if your heater is vented outdoors. Blockage in the vent can cause fumes to be brought into the building. And vented appliances often have dirtier exhaust fumes because they do not have the same restrictions.
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iwhitewater
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2011 20:48
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I sell Little Buddy heaters and the Big Buddy heaters. DO NOT USE them indoors. Yes they have a low oxygen sensor but that is to shut them off so that an explosive situation does not occur. That is NOT a substitute for carbon monoxide protection. They are designed to heat up an area with a certain amount of air leakage. In other words a drafty duck blind, tailgaiting, drafty garage or a drafty shed are ok. But never should they be used anywhere that you have done a good job of eliminating drafts.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2011 21:07
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I do not at all recommend the indoor use of any non vented (to the outside) fuel burning heaters. Doing so is asking for bad headaches at the least and death at the worst. Their use in tents is even a bad idea. I knew a hunter who died in a canvas wall tent while late season hunting.
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project_north
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jun 2011 16:05
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OK - So then why are they legal for indoor use in the USA?
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jun 2011 16:22 - Edited by: Just
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there are many thing sold that are dangerous ,and this is one of them .I have had carbon monoxide poisoning 3 times , you do not want it !!
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 3 Aug 2011 17:56
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I had one of these and it seriously almost killed me just because the oxygen sensor was off by 1% . That was in Dec 2010 and I'm still suffering from the poisoning.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 3 Aug 2011 21:13
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Thanks
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trollbridge
Member
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2011 12:00
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We heated with a "Big Buddy" the first winter and we were always nervous about it so we also had a carbon monoxide alarm. Our experience was that it created a lot of moisture in the cabin and also irritated our throats by morning, though not sure why. It is nice in the outhouse to take the chill off first thing in the morning-my husband starts it up about 15 minutes before the kids awake and I conveniently wait till then also:)
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pdqsailor
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2017 02:28
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We are in a situation with our boat where we have no power and wont' for perhaps two to two and a half months and it gets cold at night...
Our boat has solar panels, the capability of recharging batteries (and getting hot water) from our engine. We have an inverter on board. We have all LED lights for power conservancy... Currently we are experiencing flooding.
So I am ignoring the Canadian regulations for this heater and going to use it for cabin heating with sufficient ventilation - the US standard not the Canadian one. Now we have propane detection, CO and smoke monitoring. I tried our heater on four thousand BTU and I think that is sufficient - we won't need the 9,000 BTU setting...We will allow plenty of air infiltration.
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ShabinNo5
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2017 09:11
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We used the Big Buddy for a few years. We also added CO and smoke detection. It worked well for us, but we rarely let it run for more than 15-20 minutes, never unattended and never left it running while we were sleeping.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 7 May 2017 10:33
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Mine almost killed me using it overnight in a small space. When it's below freezing and it needs air, doesn't seem to do well. I bought the Dickinson Marine P9000 vented heater for my RV.
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2017 13:58 - Edited by: Wilbour
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While I've used mine frequently this spring in my 10x16 cabin , I do have a Carbon Monoxide detector and cracknowledge a window. I never leave it running while sleeping though. I do find it tends to leave a smell. I'm really looking forward to installing a direct vent heater before it gets cold again.
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KinAlberta
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2017 16:24 - Edited by: KinAlberta
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All these things scare me.
I picked up an old but never used Kero-Sun Radiant 10 kerosene heater a while back for $20. I just want something to have around for an emergency but no plans to use it otherwise. That said, I want to wire on a set of instructions and clear warnings. It's during those emergencies that greenhorns tend to kill themselves out of ignorance.
Same with the old risk of letting a friend of neighbour use a tool, a boat, stay at the cabin, etc. Good chance that something will go wrong.
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