Mr Heater Buddy Connection To Aux Propane Port?

[SethB]

Soooo...if all or any of the connections on the BigBuddy work, including the two sides with 1" bottle connections, with a CI hose WITH schrader tip in it...

How about the Portable buddy, via the 1" connection? Will the CI hose WITH schrader pin added, work connected to the MH 1" hose?

From everything written so far it seems like it ought to work!

As it happens, I shopped for schrader valve cores earlier today. Unfortunately I’ll likely not get a chance to test until *next* weekend, as our predicted high tomorrow is 17-deg F, with a windchill to bring that down to -5! We are not used to that sort of stuff in western Oregon!

But I will test:
Add an auto-part store schrader core to an original CI gas whip for grills etc. for a Big Buddy.

After we are done cocooning!

 

[Steve and Karen]

as our predicted high tomorrow is 17-deg F

If it makes you feel any better... the entire east is getting walloped right now. And we will finally get some sort of winter with similar temps to you are expecting. Which is what we should have had a month and half ago.

Maybe with these changing weather patterns, all our efforts to the heat the trailer will be for nought.

 

[rmbrowder]

Attached are photos of the Mr Heater fuel filter, that attaches to the 1lb inlet. It seems that Mr Heater replicates their proprietary check valves in the “Coleman” connectors.

 

[GlampingOn]

No reason why it shouldn't. But I assume you mean "CI hose... connected to the MH 1" port" which, I believe, is what Cary is now intending to do.

Two options for using the side port of the trailer:
1) replace the missing pin in the CI hose, or
2) modify the MH hose with a QC like I've done.

Replacing the missing pin might be the simplest, cheapest route. But you re-introduce the problems that CI was attempting to avoid when they removed it in the first place.

It's probably best, as I have suggested, to have one hose dedicated for the Buddy (any of their versions) that you know will work, and another with the pin removed, if you have any other propane devices (BBQ, lantern) you wish to fuel.

Thanks Steve for confirming my understanding.
I'm checking on my hose (in storage as never used) and will ask Cary where how to get pin as needed.
Yep, this would be sole function for now- Buddy toe warmer and side tent defroster...and a sad (but better than none) replacement for a campfire in those places during fire season that open fire or a Solo Stove or a charcoal grill not allowed. Later I might add a gas grill like RMs or Sweeneys

 

[Sweeney]

Aha!!! This solves it. Mr Heater has a one way valve of some sort on the fitting. Never seen anything like this before. That explains why the Camp-Inn provided hose is not working then. Because we pull the Schrader valve out of the hoses to make sure they will work with a broad range of gas appliances. But, now Mr Heater just complicated this by adding this feature.

Two solutions. First solution would be to do like Steve did and source a different hose for this. Or have a Schrader valve threaded in to the end of the Camp-Inn hose. That solves the answer for me how I will do it when I get my heater. I will simply spin a Schrader valve into one of our hoses and it will be good to go. I would probably dedicate that hose to the heater because with the valve in, there is a high chance it may not work with other appliances.

Cary

Cary, is there a specific appliance that gives you fits? Since you are simulating a bottle, every bottle has an equivalent valve? Perhaps something that has a particularly high flow rate?

 

[Cary Winch]

Cary, is there a specific appliance that gives you fits? Since you are simulating a bottle, every bottle has an equivalent valve? Perhaps something that has a particularly high flow rate?

I figured someone would want details on this. For the most part the complaints of devices not working with our hoses were very random. Typically BBQ grills and camp stoves. Random but very often. The hose would work for the customer on one appliance and then no gas flow on a different appliance. The evaluation came to be that the devices that did not work had a shorter post in the gas fitting. When you look at a bottle fitting there is the big post in the middle with the gas hole in it. That post pushes up into the end of the bottle and depresses the Schrader valve in the bottle to let gas flow. We were finding appliances that had a slightly shorter post and it would not push the Schrader valve enough.

When that happens there was basically two solutions. One would be to simply remove the Schrader valve from the gas hose. Of course back then we had never seen a gas fitting like Mr Heater uses that has a valve in the end of the post too, weird. The other would be to use a Schrader valve installation tool to thread the Schrader valve outwards a little bit in the hose end to allow the pin to hit the post sooner. Of course then that meant that hose would not work on appliances with a longer post because you would not be able to thread it in enough to seal the post. This post to valve engagement is a pretty critical dimension which we found that manufacturers are unable to stick to. This is why I mentioned before I would likely put a Schrader valve in a 25' Camp-Inn hose and use it with a Buddy heater and dedicate that hose to that appliance, I have to assume it could not work with other appliances.

Cary

 

[Steve and Karen]

This is why I mentioned before I would likely put a Schrader valve in a 25' Camp-Inn hose and use it with a Buddy heater and dedicate that hose to that appliance, I have to assume it could not work with other appliances.

I just did a test after reading above and my Mr Heater hose with the pin intact does work with my Coleman lantern (Coleman BBQ is stashed away, so no testing on that one is possible). But as you suggest, It's probably wise to not rely on just one hose fitting type to work consistently and reliably across all appliances. Even if you do get positive testing results, the weight and storage penalty for packing the 4' CI hose without the pin is negligible. Belt and suspenders.

 

[Sweeney]

A

I figured someone would want details on this. For the most part the complaints of devices not working with our hoses were very random. Typically BBQ grills and camp stoves. Random but very often. The hose would work for the customer on one appliance and then no gas flow on a different appliance. The evaluation came to be that the devices that did not work had a shorter post in the gas fitting. When you look at a bottle fitting there is the big post in the middle with the gas hole in it. That post pushes up into the end of the bottle and depresses the Schrader valve in the bottle to let gas flow. We were finding appliances that had a slightly shorter post and it would not push the Schrader valve enough.

When that happens there was basically two solutions. One would be to simply remove the Schrader valve from the gas hose. Of course back then we had never seen a gas fitting like Mr Heater uses that has a valve in the end of the post too, weird. The other would be to use a Schrader valve installation tool to thread the Schrader valve outwards a little bit in the hose end to allow the pin to hit the post sooner. Of course then that meant that hose would not work on appliances with a longer post because you would not be able to thread it in enough to seal the post. This post to valve engagement is a pretty critical dimension which we found that manufacturers are unable to stick to. This is why I mentioned before I would likely put a Schrader valve in a 25' Camp-Inn hose and use it with a Buddy heater and dedicate that hose to that appliance, I have to assume it could not work with other appliances.

Cary

At the very least the length of the discussion surely will engrain this in memories....

Like it was said in the early posts --- its going to be some small stupid thing....

 

[SethB]

A full week of weather crisis later, including no electrical power, no furnace, snowmaggeddon, icemageddon, etc. and I finally had some time to explore.

Add an auto-parts store schrader valve core to a CI-accessory gas hose “whip” = success to the cylinder port on a Big Buddy.

I had a 4’ and 18’(?) quick connect hoses from CI, bought some valve cores for $2.50, and a small insertion tool $8, and everything worked. So, I added Mr. Heater’s propane fuel filter to clean up any dirty gas.

I think my project is done! And I’ve learned some things about propane distribution .
Thanks everyone!!!

Notes:
That valve core is way down in the body of the connector. A standard valve-cap tool won’t work, nor will long needle nose pliers. See the photo - I found a tool at NAPA that has the reach and is small enough to go in the trailer toolbox. I’ll carry it for any future camp stove, bbq, etc. that requires no valve.

It takes too long to exhaust the air from an 18’ hose - once everything was connected I briefly loosened the hose to filter connection. The 4’ hose wasn’t a problem.

So, along with many bits of shiny brass I bought Mr. Heater’s $50 quick connect hose for the Big Buddy. It won’t be used with the trailer, but will be handy using the Buddy on our back patio with a 20-lb tank.

 

[Steve and Karen]

It takes too long to exhaust the air from an 18’ hose

Agree. Just long enough is long enough.

I think my project is done! And I’ve learned some things about propane distribution

I'll join the celebration club. Hopefully there are no more propane deep dives necessary, and we all have some tools in the tool belt to survive non-trailer challenges. Your info above will likely help a few more who are sitting on the fence, or still somewhat bewildered about which direction to take.

 

[GlampingOn]

Agree. Just long enough is long enough.

Thanks guys for all this patient effort.
Bookmarked for reference, testing my Mr Heater is on the list!

I'll join the celebration club. Hopefully there are no more propane deep dives necessary, and we all have some tools in the tool belt to survive non-trailer challenges. Your info above will likely help a few more who are sitting on the fence, or still somewhat bewildered about which direction to take.