Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2022 22:37:01 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Improve comfort of Buddy Heater
In-Reply-To: <1358965770.671133.1668632667003@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
A strong word of caution though: injection molded plastic parts in a hot environment is not good. Reason: plastic heats up....molded in stresses relax...part warps, this is called annealing. Yes, it's pretty doggone hot right above a Buddy Heater. I was reminded of annealing just last weekend; had a plastic bottle of pancake syrup in a pan of boiling water; so by physics, maximum 212 F. Sure enough....the bottle annealed, bottom got all whacky, it could no longer stand up. Of course it ALL depends on how hot and what compound of plastic used; but methinks it was easily above 212 F right above Buddy heater.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 01:04:27 PM PST, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Very interesting regarding use of USB powered small fan; I also checked out USB power packs too--cheap, small, reliable. Total cost is similar to a heat stove fan. I guess the main thing we are learning from this is to MOVE the rising heat FORWARD...in one way or another.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 12:44:55 PM PST, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you Eric for your careful and considered evaluation. I do have a
ceiling fan in the fire room at home, and it works very well. Generally,
the wood stove and fans take care of our house heat needs. Recently,
because we are getting up in years, and handling wood is starting to be a
bit much, we installed a ductless heat pump in that room. With the ceiling
fan on, it warms all the lower part of the house without the gas furnace
even kicking on unless it is pretty cold (like it is now, brrr, but not
inside). Another reason we put in the heat pump is just to reduce our
reliance on gas for environmental reasons.
And for the van, you have convinced me that a fan like you use is best.
DMc
On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:54 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I owned one of these fans for about 3 years. I used it at home on
> a wood stove. I purchased a good quality unit made in Canada and having
> good ratings. It was about $80.00.
> It worked well for two years then started to fail. By the third
> year it rattled and went much slower. I tried lubrication and it helped a
> bit but then I read up and it seemed that many folks had them fail.
>
> They are attractive, quiet and interesting. But for long term use I’m not
> sure they are a practical value. Of course mine got a lot more use then in
> a van for now and then trips.
> They don’t move a lot of air but don’t require a power source.
>
> Frankly, having had one I would now use another option.
>
> In my home I installed a ceiling fan in the wood stove room and on low it
> circulates the heat nicely for the entire home. So no cute stove top fan
> needed.
>
> And for the van. I have a USB rechargable clip on fan. It is quiet,
> adjustable speed, adjustable angles much more powerful and lasts all night
> on a charge and more. It can also be a emergency power source to charge my
> phone. I think I payed about $15.00 for mine. I like it so much I
> purchased three. One has been stolen by my wife for hot flash use.
>
> So, though I love the idea, and beauty of the devices I think for van life
> the rechargable small light, fans are the way to go. They are also useful
> in hot weather and can keep a breeze on you all night. There are many
> versions on Amazon but the one I have was discontinued last year. You can
> find them sometimes as accessories for baby strollers or desk use. But for
> camping and hot or cold air moving they rock.
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 and 84 Westfalia
>
>
>
> > On Nov 16, 2022, at 1:38 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > I was concerned too. So I stuck my finger in it! No blood. Yes, the
> fan assembly is made of black anodized aluminum; actually, you will be
> quite impressed on the quality for such a low cost device.
> >
> > On Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 10:30:01 AM PST, David McNeely <
> davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Just looked these up on Amazon. A great range of devices (and prices).
> I
> > noticed that none of them have a safety screen. Is that because the fan
> > speed is so low that they can't injure, or because the fan blades are of
> a
> > soft material that will not cause injury, or both? I have just never
> seen
> > a modern fan for air flow comfort that did not have a screen to prevent
> > inadvertent contact with the blades.
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:20 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> thanks Pete,
> >>
> >> Could you please post a link of the device?
> >>
> >> dan
> >>
> >> On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 8:34 AM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I just discovered this mod/upgrade too! In fact, I've been visiting
> some
> >>> friends with a wood stove and I bought them a fan as a gift (and as a
> >> proof
> >>> of concept).
> >>>
> >>> I got one for less than $20 on Amazon and it was money well spent.
> >>>
> >>> Warmly,
> >>> Pete
> >>>
> >>> On Tue, Nov 15, 2022, 4:25 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> I know all you guys are familiar with Mr Heater Buddy propane heaters.
> >>> If
> >>>> you live in a humid environment, you probably detest them. If you use
> >>> this
> >>>> propane heater in winter desert or mountain conditions (like me), you
> >>>> probably love them. A pretty clever contraption I recently discovered
> >>> and
> >>>> bought for around $30 is what is known as a "wood stove fan". Uses
> the
> >>>> Seebeck principle: bottom end gets hot, top end is cold, in between
> is
> >>>> sort of a giant thermocouple (different metals) which produces
> >>> electricity
> >>>> which drives a little motor which turns a fan blade. Buddy Heaters
> >>> produce
> >>>> radiant heat. But a lot of heat rises above ceramic plate and just
> >>> floats
> >>>> up to ceiling; here is where the "wood stove fan" works; it takes that
> >>>> rising heat, and blows most of it forward! So clever YouTube folks
> >>> mounted
> >>>> one of these units on top of Buddy Heater (I mounted mine with bent
> >>>> coathanger pieces); and yes...it really works! Kinda magical! No
> >>> external
> >>>> electricity source; totally quiet; you can feel a breeze at 2.5 feet
> >> and
> >>> it
> >>>> disappears at 3 feet. But that's OK, moves a lot of air...now a means
> >> of
> >>>> providing convection heating in addition to radiant heating. Will
> give
> >>> it
> >>>> a good test in winter desert Thanksgiving weekend. (And no....the
> >>>> electrical usage and the noise and hassle of Chinese Diesel Heaters is
> >>> not
> >>>> for me.)
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
>
| 
