Question 1

Does anyone know or understand how is it this type of propane heater can be used indoors without causing  carbon dioxide poisoning?

Accepted Answer

I think it can cause carbon dioxide poisoning based on the numbers below. For emergency heat, I will place the Buddy Heater in a fireplace and let the CO2 and CO go up the chimney with the radiant heat heating the room. I may also monitor the CO2 levels and have CO and O2 alarms in the room, but monitoring gas levels may not be necessary if all the exhaust gases go up the chimney. If the Buddy Heater is in a fireplace and the CO2 levels remain low (in the room) then the CO2 should be going up the chimney and the O2 levels should be high (in the room).    
In the youtube video “Are Buddy Heaters Safe For Indoor Use? WE ASKED A FIREFIGHTER” they placed a Mr. Heater in an RV and measured CO and O2. CO rose to about 11ppm (35 is alarm level), O2 dropped to about 19.8% (19.5 is alarm level). They didn’t check CO2 levels.
3 molecules of carbon dioxide are created for every 5 molecules of oxygen that are burned by propane (In the presence of excess oxygen-wikipedia). Burning 1% of the O2 with propane could increase the CO2 by 0.6% (unless it goes up a chimney).
When the oxygen dropped from 20.8 to 19.8 the carbon dioxide level could have risen by 6000 ppm to 6400ppm or 7000ppm (5000 is alarm level). 
400-1,000ppm CO2 Concentrations typical of occupied indoor spaces with good air exchange
1-year limited warranty on the Mr. Heater so maybe it’s Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) has a 1-year limited warranty.

Question 2

How long with the heater run on low with a propane small cannister?

Accepted Answer

Best guess is 4-5 hours on low. I sat in a hunting blind for 2.5 hours and the 1lb propane canister was about half empty.

Question 3

can i hook a large propane tank to his

Accepted Answer

Yes I use a 30lb tank, remember to buy the mr heater filter and pick up a small gauge for your 20lb / 30lb tank or you will end up having very little to no pressure/propane going through the hose to the heater. The hose threads are not the right size for the tanks, it has alot of play and does not allow the tip to seat properly into the tank.. using a gauge corrects the issue because the threads match up much better then the standard tank threads. For more detailed info please see my review and pictures.

Question 4

Can I store the smaller, 1lb propane tanks on my terrace porch, possibly in a box, overall? in cold winters and hot summers?

Accepted Answer

For maximum safety, my recommendation is to store propane containers in a weather protected location, such as garage or shed with some natural ventilation.  Propane is a highly flammable liquified petroleum gas that vaporizes and expands many-fold very quickly if released to atmospheric pressure, and will form a highly explosive mixture if released in a confined space without outside ventilation.   If then ignited by a small spark such as a light switch, the resulting explosion may be catastrophic.  There are on-line photos of boats that have exploded from propane leaks in the confined space of a boat cabin with catastrophic results including death of occupants.  The cabin top and sides have literally been blown to pieces in such cases.  New, sealed bottles of 1 lb size are reasonably safe, but once opened or partly used it is best to store away from occupied spaces.  Although the probability is low, the consequences of failure are unacceptable.  20 lb propane containers should never be stored indoors.  Play it extra safe and store propane bottles in a garage or outdoor shed.      BJG (PE, ichemical engineer, inactive, retired)

Manufacturer	Mr. Heater
Brand	Mr. Heater
Model	Portable Buddy
Product Dimensions	19.56 x 34.04 x 38.1 cm; 4.08 kg
Item model number	F232000
Manufacturer part number	F232000
Heated	Radiant
Special Features	Portable
Amperage	12 Amps
Voltage	110 Volts
Item Weight	4.08 kg

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater - 9000 BTU Propane Heater with Foldable Handle, Piezo Ignition, Safety Features, and Convenient Portability - Perfect Heating Solution - Red-Black

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