Big Buddy Heater Or Sunflower Heater

[Jawjacker]

This topic has probably been debated a 1000 times. Whats your choice and why ? Big Buddy Heater or Sunflower heater ?

[CNP]

Originally Posted by Jawjacker

This topic has probably been debated a 1000 times. Whats your choice and why ? Big Buddy Heater or Sunflower heater ?

Sunflower for me. It was cheaper to buy and cheaper to operate.

[Hunter4ever12]

Big buddy....it was on sale at Canadian tire.

[PlayDoh]

Big Buddy. There was some guy who was some kind of expert and explained how the Big Buddy burns much cleaner, and therefore safer.
After his info I use a battery powered Carbon Monoxide detector in my tents. I hook it over a pocket on my eskimo wall, since from what I understand it shouldn't be too high.
This guy actually used his expensive gas detector, and evidently knew what he was talking about.
I'll try to find it.

Big Buddy has a fan, which helps a lot. A low Oxygen safety, yet apparently thats not much of a safety feature. I've never liked the thought of a burner sitting inches above a propane tank, personally.

[JohninAB]

I have both.

Single sunflower puts out more heat in my experience. Cheaper to buy, $50 on sale at CT. Easier to light I find. I have a battery operated fan I hang from a top rod in my tent which circulates air and heat. I make sure I have adequate ventilation by leaving the one door partially opened.

Big Buddy has a built in fan. Low oxygen sensor. Find it can be a bit more temperamental to light. Pricier as I paid $120 at CT on a price match deal. Like that my propane bottle stays outside the tent. Extra cost of hose and filter to run off bigger tank. I still crack the door open a bit for ventilation. YouTube how to add a grill for cooking.

At the end of the day, I use the Big Buddy almost exclusively now. More aesthetically pleasing package and I think a bit safer as well with the low O2 sensor, cleaner burning and less fire hazard.

Remember ventilation and if you feel a headache or nausea then exit tent and get some fresh air ASAP.

I use mine in an Eskimo 949i tent just for reference and both will keep me comfortable down to -20 easily.

[-JR-]

Been using a sunflower heater for the past 10 years.
Fished in -20 to - 40 c from morning dark to evening dark.
All windows and doors closed tight on my 4 man pop up tent when it hits -40.
Has been keeping me very warm. normally have my coat off.

What I like about it is its all in one. no cord etc.
I have run it on a 10 lb. bottle but they loss alot of pressure when 1/2 full
and don't seem to keep the tent as warm. 20 lb bottle is the answer.

Can't ever recall anyone getting really sick or died while being in a tent.
If I would do a sleep over in my tent I would be getting a CO tester for sure ,and if I had one of those insulated tents I would be running one always .

[FlyTheory]

I’ve been able to fix my sunflower heater in every way possible. It’s a simple and effective device. I think I’d stick with it until it dies, then a buddy heater would ensue and take over.
But my point is, the sunflower is so easily fixable that I’ll have it for many more years.

[Teamprotz]

Not building the sunflowers like they used to. Had one “blow up “ on me a few years ago due to leaky plumbing. I like my buddy but without batteries and the fan going it’s not enough

[EZM]

I've used both, and exclusively use the big buddy now. Besides all the safety features, it packs up much nicer and fits exactly the width of my sled. I run a propane filter, long hose onto a big tank. The built in fan is nice if you have rechargeable batteries (or a power source) to circulate the heat.

The sunflowers are great and throw serious heat, but they can be fragile, bulky and do an awesome job melting nylon jackets or anything that brushes against them ... lol.

The buddy us just safer, more compact, and has the 02 sensor in there.

[ROA]

Buddy Heaters do NOT have an O2 "sensor". The pilot just goes out in a low (un-specified and not actually measured) oxygen atmosphere, just like any flame. With the pilot out the thermocouple "should" cool down enough to trip the main fuel shut.

[EZM]

Originally Posted by ROA

Buddy Heaters do NOT have an O2 "sensor". The pilot just goes out in a low (un-specified and not actually measured) oxygen atmosphere, just like any flame. With the pilot out the thermocouple "should" cool down enough to trip the main fuel shut.

According to Mr.Heater's website - they do ....

North America's Most Popular Portable Propane Heater! This patented radiant 4,000-9,000 BTU Liquid Propane heater connects directly to a 1 lb. cylinder and is the perfect solution for heating enclosed spaces like large tents up to 225 sq. ft. The expertly engineered size to BTU ratio is augmented with a fold down handle to give this heater maximum output while retaining a minimalistic footprint. A swivel regulator gives you the ability to adapt usage from a disposable cylinder to a remote gas supply with the purchase of a hose and filter. To light the unit, simply rotate the knob to pilot and push. Then the integrated Piezo sparking mechanism will take care of the rest. With the Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) and accidental tip-over safety shut-off you can be sure that you will enjoy years of comfortable indoor safe heat.
4,000 or 9,000 BTU per hour
For use with propane gas
Heats up to 225 sq. ft.
Single control start knob
Hi-Low heat settings
Swivel regulator
Fold down handle
Accidental tip-over safety shut-off
Includes Piezo igniter
Runs off a 1 lb. cylinder
Connects directly to a 20 lb. cylinder with optional hose and filter
The distinctive RED Mr. Heater Buddy that has delivered comfort and safety for decades.
THE USE OF UN-AUTHORIZED ACCESSORIES/ATTACHMENTS WITH THIS HEATER ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED, MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.

[ROA]

ODS = oxygen depletion SYSTEM. Not an actual sensor people think of like an O2 monitor many of us use for work.

Go on YouTube and search it, it is very common on fireplaces.

[PlayDoh]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Can't ever recall anyone getting really sick or died while being in a tent.
If I would do a sleep over in my tent I would be getting a CO tester for sure ,and if I had one of those insulated tents I would be running one always .

Its not a rare event actually, and the consequences are quite likely fatal. I can't recall anyone being saved by a smoke alarm, CO2 alarm, Hot water tank pressure valve, or any of the dozens of things we rely on to save us from serious events.

Your in a small tent, with an appliance that burns Propane, with no exhaust system. You can be killed with vents open and a door cracked in the right conditions. Don't risk your life on something so simple.

Get out of the tent every 15-30 mins, keep vents open and a door a bit helps. Sure, when its freezing, ventilation can seem foolish, but I'd rather be cold, than sick or dead.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/0...e-ice-fishing/
“We treated 77 cases of moderate to severe carbon monoxide poisoning last year,” said Dr. Christopher Logue, HCMC’s hyperbaric medicine specialist. “We’ve already treated 3 of them from ice fishing houses this year.” Jan 2017



According the Consumer Product Safety Commission there are at least 27 carbon monoxide related fatalities annually from non-vented portable LP propane heaters. non-vented portable LP propane heaters.

http://www.suncommunitynews.com/arti...oxide-dangers/


This isn't Global Warming, or some half baked campaign for safety. The risk is real, the risk is to your life, and the reward is comfort.

Be safe

[Evil69]

some info in this thread you might want to consider...
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=311650

[1bluZebec]

Big buddy man!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PlayDoh]

Originally Posted by Evil69

some info in this thread you might want to consider...

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=311650

Ah, your the guy I was talking about.

Originally Posted by Evil69

I am a licenced gasfitter / gas contractor with 15+ years in the trade and have been involved in CO poisoning investigations regarding other contractors.



I run a Mr Heater( Canadian version) 4k-9k BTU heater in a 2-3 man hub tent and did some testing before using it.

I tested with both my combustion anylizer and my UEI hand held CO monitor.

What I found....

O2 safety(thermocouple) trips at 17-18% O2 There is no actual O2 sensor on the unit, it uses flame rectification to open the main valve so in essence if O2 levels drop pilot flame decreases and the Thermocouple drops out and closes the N/C (normally closed)valve.



Mine runs 99% AFUE (efficiency) on high and 98% on low. This was determined by building a make shift Sheet metal box to test it in so there is a correction factor to be considered. I spoke with the manufacture and they claim 99.5%. I would tend to agree.



Hands down the Mr.Heater is the safest indoor heater on the market and fish tents are closer to indoor conditions than outdoor.



Sun flowers aka tank tops are NOT designed for indoor use. I know they have been used for years in ice tents all across this country but they were never designed to be used in confined space. The general rule is 3 sq feet of fresh air intake per 100000 BTU I don't know of any tent manufacture that have vents that size in their tents. Tank tops are notorious for incomplete combustion on low setting as they age, another factor to be considered.



As a general rule even with my buddy heater once an hour I get out and get a little fresh air just incase. I witnessed the after effects of 8 hrs of exposure at 195 PPM to a child and it wasn't pretty, she didn't die but she had a long recovery.



The main thing is if your experiencing symptoms...get out and get some fresh air.



Sorry for going off but this is something very near and dear to my heart, especially when kids are involved.



For anyone in my area with concerns about their set up and your fishing Emerson or Mcgregor and I'm not out of town on a shutdown shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to bring my hand held to the lake and run a test on your tent. Or if you are wanting to buy one of your own they can be picked up at most plumbing supply places for around $200-$300