Liquid Fuel Tent Heater

[TenaciousTJ]

Not sure if they even make one, since it might be a hazard in a tent, but.......

Does anybody know of any super compact, ultra light liquid fueled tent heater? I've got a giant Coleman Black Cat propane one, but looking for one that's super small and doesn't take propane. I'm getting a liquid fuel MSR Dragonfly stove and would like to just use the same fuel for a heater. I searched, but didn't find anything except for giant military tent heaters. Thanks.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

This style is probably the safest kind.............


http://www.zodi.com/hotvents.html

From the Zodi Website..........

"Professional quality, the rugged Zodi Hot Vent forced air tent heaters heats a 4-6 person dome tent 25°-30° warmer than the outside temp in under 10 minutes. High performance models for RV and large tent use too.
Since the heater stays outside, there are no smelly odors or dangerous gases, no chance of burning a child or sleeping bag and no condensation either. Having the heater outside just makes so much sense. Ideal for hunting, ice fishing and camping, Zodi is your safest choice."



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[IZZYDUSIT]

Thats A No,no!

Not Advisable!!!!!!!
Highly Flammable !!!
Carbon Monoxide Danger!!!!

 

[mountainpete]

Agreed - not a good idea with white gas/Coleman fuel. The only liquid fuel exception I can think of right now would be if you are using diesel in your Dragonfly and get a diesel powered heater. But while it works, diesel is messy in an MSR.

Pete

 

[RoundOut]

Agreed - not a good idea with white gas/Coleman fuel. The only liquid fuel exception I can think of right now would be if you are using diesel in your Dragonfly and get a diesel powered heater. But while it works, diesel is messy in an MSR.

Pete

I thought white gas and diesel are the same stuff. Isn't white gas a petroleum distillate just like jet fuel, diesel, #1, #2, heating oil and kerosene are all essentially the same fuel. Certain types have a lower pour point (which is desireable in cold weather) such as #1 versus #2 - refiners just eliminate more paraffin from it.

I'm not trying to sound smart ********, but suggesting that the combustion of any petroleum-based fuel is going to create carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, among other deadly gasses. None of that should be burned without adequate ventilation - PERIOD.

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[paulj]

White gas is roughly the same as gasoline, just free of additives needed for motor use.

Complete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel should produce just water and CO2. CO2 is dangerous if it displaces oxygen, which is most likely in low lying, unventilated spots, since it is denser.

Carbon monoxide, the product of incomplete combustion, is more of a problem at low concentrations, since it displaces oxygen in the blood. It is easier to get a clean burn with gases like propane, than with liquids.

The catalytic propane fuel heaters are relatively safe because they are clean burning (low carbon monoxide), and because the heat is produced at low temperature, and distributed as radiation, rather than hot gases.

Another option for heating tents is a compact (often folding) wood fired stove, with a vent pipe. The tent needs a heat proof exit port for the pipe, often a fiberglass patch. Besides hunter's wall tents, there are tepees that are sold with such stoves.

Marine catalogs might sell diesel fueled heaters.

There are portable kerosene fueled room heaters. I saw one in use in the Alaskan bush.

paulj

http://www.kifaru.net/stovspex.htm
The smallest Kifaru wood stove is under 3 lbs.

 

[mountainpete]

I thought white gas and diesel are the same stuff. Isn't white gas a petroleum distillate just like jet fuel, diesel, #1, #2, heating oil and kerosene are all essentially the same fuel. Certain types have a lower pour point (which is desireable in cold weather) such as #1 versus #2 - refiners just eliminate more paraffin from it.

I'm not trying to sound smart ********, but suggesting that the combustion of any petroleum-based fuel is going to create carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, among other deadly gasses. None of that should be burned without adequate ventilation - PERIOD.

.

Sorry RoundOut - I must not have expressed my thought well enough. My fault...

White Gas and Diesel are different in sulfur content. White gas is essentially regular gas without additives. White gas ignites at a much lower temp then diesel - set a match to diesel and a match white gas and compare - white gas essentially explodes.

When I was referring to diesel use, I was not at all intending that diesel is safe to use inside a tent. What I was refering to is specialized diesel heaters which operate efficiently outside of a tent and have ducting which safely heats the space. As an example, I believe Scott, Chris and Pasquale used one on their Arctic trip.

The reason I suggested diesel is because this is only fuel I could think of at the time which would both work in an MSR stove and, with the right hardware, heat a tent.

Pete

 

[RoundOut]

Sorry RoundOut - I must not have expressed my thought well enough. My fault...

White Gas and Diesel are different in sulfur content. White gas is essentially regular gas without additives. White gas ignites at a much lower temp then diesel - set a match to diesel and a match white gas and compare - white gas essentially explodes.

When I was referring to diesel use, I was not at all intending that diesel is safe to use inside a tent. What I was refering to is specialized diesel heaters which operate efficiently outside of a tent and have ducting which safely heats the space. As an example, I believe Scott, Chris and Pasquale used one on their Arctic trip.

The reason I suggested diesel is because this is only fuel I could think of at the time which would both work in an MSR stove and, with the right hardware, heat a tent.

Pete

No problem, Pete. Petroleum combustion vapors related to heating kill people all the time, unnecessarily. I just err on the side of caution, and would hate for someone to assume because they read something here indicating relative safety of a heater device, that it could be used blindly inside a tent. I know that isn't what you meant, but I wanted to make sure the lurkers who we don't know, didn't make fatal mistakes.

Those heaters like used on the Arctic Expedition are certainly the most safe answer, in my opinion. I would love to own one of those. We have the Mr. Buddy Heater and another smaller catalytic that fits on a small bottle. I use both in cold climates in my tent while I am awake, but don't like using them when I am trying to sleep. It's too easy to have something go wrong, IMO.


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[Martyn]

I believe the most important thing for a tent heater is that the exhaust is not being put into the tent, and the heated air is not in direct contact with the flame. The heat exchanger systems do a good job on these two counts. External air is heated in the heat exchanger and blown into the tent, while the exhaust is expelled externally.

In domestic applications there are even code for the distance between air intake and exhaust output. Our local code is 3 feet.

CO poisoning is scary. The CO binds with the hemoglobin in the blood and prevents it from picking up oxygen. Reversing the process takes time, so even if the area is ventilated and the person poisoned moved to a non toxic area relief is not immediate. This stuff is an extremely efficient quiet killer.

 

[OS-Aussie]

Webasto Diesel heaters keep appearing on eBay and I keep thinking I may buy one.... when I can afford one.......

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Webasto+AirTop+2000&category0=

 

[gpwpat]

I just got one of the Zodi dual burner tent heaters off of craigslist. Used once paid half of retail, yess. I have tested it and man it really blows out the hot air. But I have not gotten a chance to test it in the field yet. If I don't get a chance soon. I will just try it in the front yard in the RTT.


However if you are crafty. the heater is so simple. you could make it yourself out of steel sheet, copper tubing, and any burner you wish. I bet it could be made for under 50 bucks in materials.

 

[7wt]

I had a Coleman Cat heater or something that ran on butane bottles. Worked great but I burned a hole in my sleeping bag after rolling over next to in in the middle of the night. I stopped using it and left it at a friends house. I probably shouldn't have done that as I kind of want another. Oh well.

 

[paulj]

I've only used a butane heater like the Cat in the morning, to take the edge off the cold while fixing breakfast. I set it on the ground near or under the picnic table, and stand where I feel the most heat.

paulj

 

[adrenaline503]

What about those Mr. Units that I see at GI Joes. They state that they are safe for indoor use.

http://www.mrheater.com/productdetails_extended.asp?catid=41&id=24

 

[paulj]

Units that claim to be safe for indoors should have sufficiently complete combustion that carbon monoxide production shouldn't be a problem. They still consume oxygen and produce CO2 so shouldn't be used in closed spaces. Instructions may state how big of a vent space (e.g. open window) is needed - maybe 6 square inches. Instructions probably also tell you to keep flamables several feet away on all sides.
paulj