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Aug 29, 2015 9:21 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Chris Pollock
Copperas Cove, Tx (Zone 8a)
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Greenhouse Hibiscus Plumerias
Seed Starter Region: Texas Garden Ideas: Level 2
I don't have electricity to my greenhouses and just can't get it there from the house so last year I used a Mr. Heater Big Buddy propane heater. It worked pretty good but his year I'll have a lot of orchids in one of the greenhouses. I plan on getting a generator/inverter to set between the two to run some box fans for warm air circulation and also adding some lights for evening work. Last year I ran it on low with two 15lb tanks and it would heat ok but not everywhere and I lost a few plants. Does anyone have suggestions for possibly another brand heater that would work with the two 15lb tanks or even a 20 or 40lb. Here are the specs on the one I have. My greenhouses are 10 x 13 or 130sqft. The built in fan didn't run too long on batteries so I'll more than likely order the AC adapter if I keep the Big Buddy.

The Most Popular Portable Propane Heater in North America. This patented radiant 4,000-18,000 BTU Liquid Propane heater connects directly to two 1 lb. cylinders and is the perfect solution for heating enclosed spaces like cabins up to 400 sq. ft. An integrated fan increases the heating capacity of this unit, blending radiant and convection style heat to give you the best of both worlds. Two swivel regulators give you the ability to adapt usage from disposable cylinders to a remote gas supply with the purchase of a single hose and filter. To light the unit, simply push and rotate the knob. The built in 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, 9,000, or 18,000 BTU per hour
For use with propane gas
Heats up to 400 sq. ft.
Single control start knob
Hi-Med-Low heat settings
Swivel regulators
Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS)
Accidental tip-over safety shut-off
Connects to two 1 lb. cylinders
Connects to a 20 lb. cylinder with optional hose
Fan operates on 4 - D batteries or AC adapter, both sold separately
Chris - Linux since 1995
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Aug 30, 2015 8:00 AM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Hi Chris -- the "Big Buddy" sounds good to me in terms of the ODS, tip-over safety, area that it will heat and so on, but I'd definitely recommend finding something that will run on a bigger tank! I don't think the 1-lb cylinders can be refilled (can they?), and I'm picturing how many of the little ones I'd be going through up here (and I only heat my GH for cold nights in the spring when my seedlings are out there) Blinking

Here's a link to a thread on the GH forum from a little while back that might have some useful info for you...
The thread "Propane Patio Heaters for GH's??" in Greenhouses forum
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Aug 30, 2015 8:08 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Unless an LP system can be retrofitted for a 5 gal. or larger tank, I would never even consider 1 lb. systems. You probably could not even get a full night from a 1 lb. heating unit. One lb. canisters are not re-filled.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for Shadegardener
Aug 30, 2015 9:55 AM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
I did use a Big Buddy heater for a couple of years in my 10 x 6 lean-to hobby GH. I used a larger propane tank set outside of the GH. DH snaked the hose through a lower vented window into the GH to hook up to the heater. I was then able to insulate the window to keep out the cold. Now I have a natural gas heater mounted on the wall in the GH and that freed up some space. I mount a fan higher up on the wall above the heater to circulate the warm air. I wish that I could heat the GH with just the sun but it gets too cold here for an above-ground GH. Do make sure that any emissions from whichever heater you use won't harm the plants you have in the GH.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Aug 30, 2015 11:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Chris Pollock
Copperas Cove, Tx (Zone 8a)
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Greenhouse Hibiscus Plumerias
Seed Starter Region: Texas Garden Ideas: Level 2
Thanks all, the Big Buddy I have currently runs on two 15lb tanks. You just buy hoses to run to the connectors for the 1lb tanks. It's capable of up to a 20lb tank so two of those would be better of course. I'll stick with my Big Buddy then. Just pickup another for the other greenhouse.
Chris - Linux since 1995
Avatar for Shadegardener
Aug 30, 2015 11:42 AM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
With either system, air circulation proved to be important so that the heat would be distributed to all corners of the GH instead of rising straight up and causing the ceiling vents to open. An oscillating fan worked great.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Aug 30, 2015 12:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Chris Pollock
Copperas Cove, Tx (Zone 8a)
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Greenhouse Hibiscus Plumerias
Seed Starter Region: Texas Garden Ideas: Level 2
I was going to use box fans but you're right oscillating fans will be much better. Thanks for the suggestion.
Chris - Linux since 1995
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Aug 30, 2015 12:27 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I use both. Box fans to move the lower half of the greenhouses air-space and oscillating fans to move the upper half. I have three separate zones, two shelves and the floor.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for Shadegardener
Aug 30, 2015 12:54 PM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
I found that mounting the oscillating fan directly above the heater (in a safe area) proved effective to prevent the hot air from rising too high. For me in my tiny GH, a box fan on the floor takes up too much space. I do use those little personal clip on fans - clipping them on the shelves - to ventilate the lower shelves under lights.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Aug 30, 2015 1:14 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Got it. My two GHs are 10x12'. Since I overwinter hundreds of tropical plants, many of them orchids, I want lots of air movement whether the heaters are running or not.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for Shadegardener
Aug 30, 2015 1:43 PM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
I can understand that. I pretty much keep my fans on all the time in the winter as well. For seedlings under lights, I use a gentler breeze.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Aug 30, 2015 2:36 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Thumbs up
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for Rtoulotte
Apr 1, 2021 10:53 AM CST

I also just purchase the "Big Buddy" propane heater for my GH. Are the plants ok with propane???
Also, I know it only comes with 1lb of propane. Not sure how long that will REALLY last on LO.
What do you all suggest? Crossing Fingers!
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Apr 1, 2021 11:23 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Chris Pollock
Copperas Cove, Tx (Zone 8a)
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Greenhouse Hibiscus Plumerias
Seed Starter Region: Texas Garden Ideas: Level 2
I bought the same heater some years ago and at the same time bought 4 15lb tanks and the connecting hoses so that I can run 2 tanks on each connection of the heater. With 4 full tanks on low I can run the heater for about 12 days straight on low. Those little 1lb tanks are really useless, I did run mine on one once but can't recall how long it lasted.
Chris - Linux since 1995
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Apr 1, 2021 1:17 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I agree with Chris, @Rtoulotte. Don't waste your time or money on those tiny bottles. Get the 5 gal. tanks. In my opinion, you would want to have air movement when burning propane.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Apr 1, 2021 4:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Chris Pollock
Copperas Cove, Tx (Zone 8a)
Adeniums Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Greenhouse Hibiscus Plumerias
Seed Starter Region: Texas Garden Ideas: Level 2
That heater will work with up to 20gal tanks. You can go to Mr. Heater and order this - https://www.mrheater.com/2-tan... - this will allow you to run two tanks per side.
Chris - Linux since 1995
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