jtbeck
Kentucky
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When we tent camp we use a small ceramic heater that oscillates. We set it on a tray (the breakfast in bed variety) to keep it off the floor and away from flammables. The tray is great, legs fold up under when not using and it keeps the heater just high enough to put warm air over the air mattress height.
The heater also has a thermostat on it so that it kicks on and off during the night. I don't know that I'd be comfortable with one that stays on all the time.
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FantasticFauna
LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, eh!
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Would a co2 alarm be of use in a tent while using a propane heater? I've been wondering about this myself. I do have one of those coleman catalytic propane heaters as well but only have used it in the garage.
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FantasticFauna
LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, eh!
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BTW, is CO2 heavier than air? Does it settle down on the ground, or go up in the air?
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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This one says it is safe and free of any CO2 Zodi. I remember as a kid in boy scouts, we had stoves in our tents. And as an adult in the late 70s I worked in Sequoia Natl Park and my job was to fill the oil stoves in the cabins and the tents. We never had any issues.
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Vapor_Trails
Yucaipa, CA
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FantasticFauna wrote:BTW, is CO2 heavier than air? Does it settle down on the ground, or go up in the air? Carbon Dioxide is lighter than air, as is Carbon Monoxide. But, only slightly lighter. Neither will rise to the ceiling like hydrogen or helium. The danger comes from CO or CO2 displacing the air in an enclosed environment; like a tent. If you are asleep when this happens, you won't wake up.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a non toxic gas (unless in large quantities) that is exhaled by animals as waste from the process of respiration. Breathing excessive amounts of CO2 will not kill you immediately. It will first trigger your body to breathe more. If your body does not breathe in enough oxygen, you'll suffocate. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of combustion (CO2 is as well, actually); like from your truck engine or propane heater. Carbon monoxide, however, is toxic and breathing excessive amounts will kill you immediately.
That's what I remember from college science classes, anyway. If it's not accurate, please correct me. But, I'm pretty sure I got it right.
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FantasticFauna
LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, eh!
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Ok, I've read that some people just use the heater in their tent before going to bed, not runningit all night.
Wouldn't running it for say 30 min b4 going to bed still accumulate carbon monoxide?
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chi6488
florida
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I have been using my big buddy heater for several years camping and still typing this reply.
I have the heater hooked up to a 20 lbs propane tank that sits outside of tent. The heater on high will put out I believe 18k btu. One nite we had it on high, temps dropped down to freezing and it was 80 degrees in the tent. I had to turn it down.
We have a 17 by 10 ft tent. Two kids and we sleep on 2 queen blow up beds. Two king sleeping bags unzipped and use it as a comfortor. Kids won't stay under/inside bags so I have to have heat. We have a CO sensor and with some minor screen vents it lets in enough fresh air and lets CO out.
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FantasticFauna
LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, eh!
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chi6488 wrote:I have been using my big buddy heater for several years camping and still typing this reply.
I have the heater hooked up to a 20 lbs propane tank that sits outside of tent. The heater on high will put out I believe 18k btu. One nite we had it on high, temps dropped down to freezing and it was 80 degrees in the tent. I had to turn it down.
We have a 17 by 10 ft tent. Two kids and we sleep on 2 queen blow up beds. Two king sleeping bags unzipped and use it as a comfortor. Kids won't stay under/inside bags so I have to have heat. We have a CO sensor and with some minor screen vents it lets in enough fresh air and lets CO out.
Where are you placing the CO sensor? Up high, or down on the floor?
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chi6488
florida
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We have meshed pockets on side of tent to hold things. It is about the same height as our head lying down on the bed.
Now if you have a tent that does not have screen vents then I would be concerned and maybe open the tent a little.
My tent has two big screen up top that is about 4x7 each. During winters I place a tarp across them underneath the rainfly to keep heat in but it still lets in heat and cold air.
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Bigdog57
Tallahassee, Florida
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CO2 is HEAVIER than air. It sinks. This has caused die-offs in nature by filling valleys and suffocating the animals not able to escape. It is used by some to displace and flush oxygen from containers used for food storage.
An electric heater will NOT generate CO2 - but do be careful of the heat!
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