Buddy heater
- Thread starter letsdrive
- Start date
Why take the chance? Really? It makes the cost of an Espar Heater much easier to swallow.
I believe he drives for a fleet owner.
IMO a co2 detector is a must item if using a Buddy or not. It's way too easy for a near by vehicle exhaust to enter you vehicle, or your own exhaust for that matter. When I used a more sensitive detector, you would be surprised how ofter this happens without your knowledge.
That Buddy almost killed me... I woke up one night all dizzy and barely breathing. And all that after three hours of usage. And yes, the window was open about one inch.
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Exactly!
Except, it's CO (carbon monoxide), not CO[SUP]2[/SUP] (carbon dioxide).
Gasoline engines output massive amounts of carbon monoxide, enough so that an exhaust leak that gets through the firewall or floor of the vehicle can kill you while you are driving, not to mention being parked next to a vehicle that's idling. If you drive a gasser, having a CO detector is critical. It doesn't matter if you have a Buddy heater or not. I mean, if you have a propane heater, you gotta have one, but you need one, anyway.
A diesel engine outputs carbon monoxide, but at a level that is virtually non-existent (less than 1% of that by a gasoline engine). However, as RoadTime notes, you can have an idling gasser parked right next to you with its CO exhaust coming into your vehicle, and a CO detector could save your life. Big trucks who always park with the big trucks don't necessarily need a CO detector, but they're so cheap that it wouldn't hurt to have one. I have been in the parking lot of a chicken processing plant, parked and sleeping for a few hours waiting to get loaded, and my detector went off. It was from the processing plant.
You don't need to install it in any special place, just in a place where there is decent air flow (not in a drawer or cabinet). The specific gravity of regular air is 1.0, and the specific gravity of carbon monoxide is 0.9657, so they essentially the same density, anywhere the air flows is fine, could be high or low mounted.
If you have a propane heater, then you should probably consider a dual detector that detects both carbon monoxide and explosive gasses (propane, natural gas methane, etc).
My CO² detector saved me when a 12 pack of Diet Coke froze and exploded in the back of my van.
Murraycroexp
Veteran Expediter
My methane detector saved me one night. But that's a different story.
Murraycroexp
Veteran Expediter
Is there such a thing
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Yes. Her name is Sally. She's not cheap though.
If you forget to open a window the buddy will remind you in a hurry...it has a VERY sensitive LOW oxygen sensor and shuts off.....sometime you can have a window open and it will still shutoff as the air is not exchanging quick enough.....when I was low on air once..cigarette lighter wouldn't work......the CO detector read 0....it is all about the oxygen....it eats it up....
Murraycroexp
Veteran Expediter
Another glowing sales pitch for an Espar. Just one man's opinion.
I don't think anyone would argue that an espar is the ideal choice. But a buddy heater is an effective way to heat a van, and its portability is a plus.