Blue Flame Heater

[Tikvah]

I was thinking about picking up one of these heaters.  But, it says: Propane use requires 100-lb. tank or larger with two-stage adjustable regulator available from gas supply company.

Why can't I use this with 30lb bottles?

Thanks

[Slow Rider]

From Northern Tool's website:

4 answers
What size propane tank does this item require?
by   Anonymous   November 19, 2010 

Answer this Question 

Staff Answer
To prevent performance problems, do not use propane/LP fuel tank of less than 100 lbs. capacity.
by ProductExpert27 November 22, 2010
Vote:01 

You can use anything from a 5 gallon tank to a 30 gallon tank. We have personally used 5 ,7,10, and 30 gallon tanks.
by  SouthernMama  - Pearce, AZ November 23, 2010
Vote:01

A minimum of 100# tank is recommended, but a smaller one would work, you will just have to fill it more often.
by  Brimac  - Olympic Peninsula, WA November 23, 2010
Vote:30

100 lb tank is the minimum size for this heater
by  oldchevy  - lewistown PA November 23, 2010
Vote:02

So according to NT it is a performance issue.  It does state the heater uses 1.38 pounds per hour on full burn. 

If you decide to get one let us know how it works out.

Frank

[robertglines1]

opinion:100lb is a safety factor for them.  your only suppose to fill 80% capacity.  by the way; what happens hen it gets 3/4 empty?  I used 20lb tank and lasted about 8hrs on 40,00btu model in 20F weather no insulation to speak of in bus when first starting.--was  insulating bus in winter. Propane is around 4.4 or 4.6 lb per gal if memory serves me correct and a standard grill tank holds under 4 gal. aprox.   FWIW  

[sommersed]

That is the exact same Blue Flame that I have in my 5A.  Mine does not know the source of the propane, only that I supply it, I use three 7 gallon bottles as a supply system.

I like it because it is thermostat controlled.  The unit I had before this one had no thermostat, and I was constantly force out of my nice comfy chair to manually control it.

Ed   

[Utahclaimjumper]

I have two of these,, they work well. Allways crack a window when used in an enclosed area to replace oxygen that is displaced from the combustion process,, they all have and advertise an "oxygen depletion sensor",, in fact it is only a thermocouple that shuts off when the oxygen level gets too low to support a flame,, by then its dangerously low.>>>Dan

[belfert]

I wonder if one of the issues is a smaller tank freezing up?  Our Boy Scout troop uses mostly 5 lb propane tanks.  We used a 5 lb tank with a high BTU three burner stove once.  The 5 lb tank eventually froze up and we had to switch to a 20 lb tank.

[chessie4905]

only use that blue flame heater in hot weather with a 30 lb tank and you should have no issues.

[Utahclaimjumper]

What would you use a flame type heater for in hot weather??>>>Dan

[gulfyankee]

We have a 10000 btu unit in our 1000 sqft mobile home. It's kept our home at 70 inside when it got down to 25 outside. Propane line is routed thru the floor outside. We run it off of 20 lb tanks without a problem. One tank last approx. 52 hrs on high. Plan on putting a similar thermostat controlled model in the bus when i get to building the interior. Hope this helps.

[chessie4905]

the freezing up issue will usually crop up after tank gets to about 1/2 if you are drawing enough. As it starts freezing, the pressure starts dropping, and I imagine it could get to the point of incomplete combustion or flame out with gas seeping out after pressure starts to climb from tank normalizing.(thawing) Less chance of a problem with the big tank.