Mr Heater Big Buddy - RV-Dreams Community Forum

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mr Heater Big Buddy

jerry · RV-Dreams Community Member

I had the dealer install hose it works good in are 31ft 5th wheel

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Jerry. I have a 32' Artic Fox TT. I am a do it yourselfer, but this is somewhat confusing what with 11" water columns, and a filter on a certain length hose, etc. I did find out it can be done. That was my question at the time. Now, I guess it is how.

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

325turbo, I don't know of any difference between a #20 tank and a #30 tank, other than the amount of LP they hold. Kind of confusing---probably an email to the manf is in order just to be sure. They may also be able to help you with your hook up question. Your system (after the regulator) is already 11" WC. I would think nothing more than tie into your existing LP line with the appropriate fitting and running it to and connecting to your heater with appropriate fitting. Of course checking and double checking all (ALL) of your LP system for leaks.

FLYONE

-- Edited by flyone on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 06:07:49 PM

Cowdog353 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I used one for awhile and did not use a filter. Mistake! I know of at least 3 of them that are no longer useable because a filter was not used.
Filters a cheap and easy to install in line.
Some propane tanks have a oily almost paste residue that fouls the orifaces.
Once I bought a new heater and used filter it worked very well for a long time.

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

flyone wrote:
325turbo, I don't know of any difference between a #20 tank and a #30 tank, other than the amount of LP they hold. Kind of confusing---probably an email to the manf is in order just to be sure. They may also be able to help you with your hook up question. Your system (after the regulator) is already 11" WC. I would think nothing more than tie into your existing LP line with the appropriate fitting and running it to and connecting to your heater with appropriate fitting. Of course checking and double checking all (ALL) of your LP system for leaks.

FLYONE

-- Edited by flyone on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 06:07:49 PM

That sounds good. Another responder on another forum said his unit had 15", so I'll call the manufacturer today on that. I don't have any visible lines to tap into without removing the range so I decided it would be easier, and safer to extend the black iron underneath along the frame (8" steel I-beam) another 5' then come up thru the floor then bring it over to the front of the cabinet, put in a shutoff, a nipple the needed length, then a filter, then a quick disconnect. I guess I was confused by Mr Buddy's paper work, and not knowing the wc"s. I may use copper after I get it thru the floor then elbowed back toward the cabinet. Thanks for your thoughts, and reminder to check for leaks.

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cowdog353 wrote:
I used one for awhile and did not use a filter. Mistake! I know of at least 3 of them that are no longer useable because a filter was not used.
Filters a cheap and easy to install in line.
Some propane tanks have a oily almost paste residue that fouls the orifaces.
Once I bought a new heater and used filter it worked very well for a long time.

Excellent advice. Thanks for responding, and reminding me.

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

jerry wrote:
I had the dealer install hose it works good in are 31ft 5th wheel

I called a local dealer about installing the heater, and he said he wouldn't touch it. Liability I guess.

jlb27537 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Turbo, I have a Mr. Buddy heater. Have used it for years. What I did to make it usable for me was to:

1. Remove the regulator from the Mr. Buddy.
2. Splice into the LP line feeding my furnace and frig.
3. Install a T in that line and terminate it with a LP approved quick disconnect. I used a 4' length of LP hose to locate the quick disconnect where I wanted it.
4. Install a 6' LP approved hose on the Mr. Buddy where you removed the regulator.
5. Install the male end of the quick disconnect on the hose you just installed on the Mr. Buddy.
6. Install hose end into quick disconnect. Open valve on disconnect, turn on gas valve on Mr. Buddy and hold down for about a minute. This will purge air from hose to Mr. Buddy.
7. Light Mr. Buddy as normal.

The regulator on the Mr. Buddy is to drop the 150psi+ in the tank to the 11"WC the heater needs. Since you are connecting to the low side of the regulator already in your RV the regulator on the Mr. Buddy is not required.

I had it installed this way for almost 7 years in my motorhome which had a 35 gallon tank. When using the Mr. Buddy crack a ceiling vent about a inch for air flow. The Mr. Buddy has both a flame sense and a O2 sensor, so don't worry sleeping at night with it.

Hoses can be made up by most propane delivery company's at their office.

NOTE....Do Not use a quick disconnect for air hoses. You must use a LP quick disconnect
www.propaneproducts.com/catalog/all-mr.-heater-parts-fittings-hoses/mr.-heater-14-quick-connect-with-ball-valve-92.html

-- Edited by jlb27537 on Monday 2nd of February 2015 01:26:55 PM

-- Edited by jlb27537 on Monday 2nd of February 2015 01:29:01 PM

325turbo · RV-Dreams Family Member

jlb27537 wrote:
Turbo, I have a Mr. Buddy heater. Have used it for years. What I did to make it usable for me was to:

1. Remove the regulator from the Mr. Buddy.
2. Splice into the LP line feeding my furnace and frig.
3. Install a T in that line and terminate it with a LP approved quick disconnect. I used a 4' length of LP hose to locate the quick disconnect where I wanted it.
4. Install a 6' LP approved hose on the Mr. Buddy where you removed the regulator.
5. Install the male end of the quick disconnect on the hose you just installed on the Mr. Buddy.
6. Install hose end into quick disconnect. Open valve on disconnect, turn on gas valve on Mr. Buddy and hold down for about a minute. This will purge air from hose to Mr. Buddy.
7. Light Mr. Buddy as normal.

The regulator on the Mr. Buddy is to drop the 150psi+ in the tank to the 11"WC the heater needs. Since you are connecting to the low side of the regulator already in your RV the regulator on the Mr. Buddy is not required.

I had it installed this way for almost 7 years in my motorhome which had a 35 gallon tank. When using the Mr. Buddy crack a ceiling vent about a inch for air flow. The Mr. Buddy has both a flame sense and a O2 sensor, so don't worry sleeping at night with it.

Hoses can be made up by most propane delivery company's at their office.

NOTE....Do Not use a quick disconnect for air hoses. You must use a LP quick disconnect
www.propaneproducts.com/catalog/all-mr.-heater-parts-fittings-hoses/mr.-heater-14-quick-connect-with-ball-valve-92.html

-- Edited by jlb27537 on Monday 2nd of February 2015 01:26:55 PM

-- Edited by jlb27537 on Monday 2nd of February 2015 01:29:01 PM

Great writeup, and easy to follow directions. When I first posted I was clueless about propane altho I had done lots of plumbing over the years. I found out quickly I had better get educated. Inside my rig the only access I have to a line is behind the stove since they come up behind the refrig. I didn't want to splice behind the stove because of the trouble to check for leaks often. The iron pipe runs along the frame with four tees before it crosses to the w.h. The last has a q.c. with shut off so I was thinking of a hose I found 12 ft with a male q.c. on one end and 1"x20 0n the other. Depending on yours and others opinion, it would be easy to plug in the q.c., shield the hose from connection point up thru the floor, connect the 1"x20 to a filter on the Big Buddy, If that would be too dangerous I could bring the black pipe up thru the floor then go from there.

jlb27537 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a thought, do not use white teflon tape on black pipe. Use Yellow. Or use a grease pencil type of thread sealer. Realize the fittings for water/copper fitting are not OK for LP. I removed the air intake grill on the furnace, easy to get to the line for the furnace there. If you look at the copper fitting for water and LP you will see the LP fittings are much heavier and thicker. Ferrel type fitting, like you use to hook up a ice maker are not approved for LP use.

You will figure out what works for you. You want the quick disconnect inside and where the heater plugs into the disconnect. The quick disconnect has a valve on it to manually turn the LP off.