Buddy Heater hose question - Which one?

[AvonAngler]

Looking for some help here. Last winter I read on here about supply lines for hooking a bigger propane tank to a Buddy heater. I don't even want to deal with the 1 lb cylinders any more as they are a big pain and don't last very long at all. So I had read here on the forums about the supply lines and people had mentioned that there were two different supply lines for the buddy and (maybe one was black and one was green???? I can't recall) one of the supply lines was MUCH more flexible when it was really cold, and the other one was stiff as heck and people just did not like them. Can anyone confirm or remember anything about the two different supply lines or have you actually used them? Just want to make the right choice and not have more equipment to fight with out on the ice. THANKS!!!

[BartmanMN]

Green one gets stiff as a rock. (I have it) Black one stays very limber even when cold. Supposedly, if I remember right, the black one has a tendency to leak its chemical into the line over time, so you may want to replace the filter ever year. I don't think the green one has that issue.

[DTro]

Avoid the green one!

[KG243]

I have the green one and it sucks, I have to keep it in my truck right up until I want to set up my heater.

[Mainehazmt]

get the cheapest and drill out the hole! yea I know it aint like me to suggest it but figure the internal regulator will fix it and...no different than if the reg was right next to the tank but I also use filters! BTW if they go out often or wont run on high been heating my newly built garage with my buddy heaters and note the difference! change the filter (

[JimBuck]

The green one is worthless. Pick up the black one and get a filter.

[castmaster]

I got the black hose with the regulator and it has worked great for me. I dont run any filter and havent had any problems. According to the info provided from Mr Heater, using the black hose with regulator eliminates the need for a filter.

[Augusta]

How much are the regulators? I assume the regulator screws in at the tank, correct? Thanks

[AvonAngler]

Thanks for the answers guys.....looks like I'll be avoiding the green one!!!

[Jeremy airjer W]

The buddy heater is already regulated internally.

Would using a regulated hose cause an issue with an internally regulated appliance?

[merkman]

The manual and the warning on the heater(where you screw the tank or hose connection on)warns to use a 11" WC regulated source.

I used mine all day yesterday on high with a $10 black walmart hose connected to a 11 lb tank, no regulator, no filter and it worked fine.

I researched the thing on line and found that a 20 lb tank can have as much as 250 psi (in direct sunlight and heat)

11" WC tranlates somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 psi.

I will be investing in a regulator before I use it that way again.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The manual and the warning on the heater(where you screw the tank or hose connection on)warns to use a 11" WC regulated source.

I think you might be confused?

This is from the buddy heater owners manual.

"GAS PRESSURE AT HEATER IS REGULATED AND FIXED AT 11” W.C. WHEN USING A REMOTE HOSE CONNECTION DO NOT REGULATE OR REDUCE PROPANE TANK SUPPLY PRESSURE TO HEATER!"

The Buddy heater is the smaller heater that has one inlet for a one pound cylinder or hose. The Big Buddy is the larger heater that has three inlets, 2 for one pound cylinders/or unregulated hose and one quick connect for a regulated hose.

If your using an unregulated hose than a filter is suggested because the pressure in the hose can "squeeze out" contaminates within the hose. It is recommended that you turn of the propane tank and let the heater burn off the supply of propane in the hose before you turn off the heater. I ran a buddy for a couple of years off a hose without a filter and didn't have any problems however there have been a few issues reported that may have resulted from the lack of using a filter. The hose I used was purchased new at the same time I bought the heater and might have had some influence on the lack of problems I had?

The Benefit of the Big Buddies R.V. quick connect fitting is that the hose needs to be regulated at the propane tank source. This hose is referred to as a low pressure hose and does not require a filter. Again this option is only available for the Big Buddy.

[castmaster]

Yes, I guess I should have specified I am running the big buddy heater.

[merkman]

Yes I am sorry for the confusion,

I was talking about a Big Buddy heater.

Mine is a couple years old and it only has two inlets.

I assume both inlets on my big buddy heater are unregulated.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Yes I am sorry for the confusion,

I was talking about a Big Buddy heater.

Mine is a couple years old and it only has two inlets.

I assume both inlets on my big buddy heater are unregulated.

Look again, The big buddy has 3. The two that the one pound cylinders spin on to are already regulated (does not require a regulated hose) and the quick connect fitting that is not regulated (requires a regulated hose). If you look in the compartment on the left (with the burners facing you) you'll see the quick connect just behind the one pound fitting.

Again any hose that is attached to the one pound fitting on either buddy heater does not need to be regulated. If you attach a hose to the quick connect fitting on the big buddy heater it needs to be regulated. The little buddy does not have this option.

[merkman]

Look again, The big buddy has 3.

Yes I missed that.

GAS PRESSURE AT HEATER IS REGULATED

AND FIXED AT 11” W.C. WHEN USING A REMOTE

HOSE CONNECTION TO HEATER TANK SWIVEL(S), DO

NOT REGULATE OR REDUCE PROPANE TANK SUPPLY

PRESSURE TO HEATER.

• WARNING: ANY HOSE CONNECTION TO A

QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING ON HEATER

MUST BE REGULATED TO 11” W.C. PRESSURE

The second warning is what confused me.

I didn't even know my big buddy had a Quick Disconnect fitting.

After rereading it I undersand now that the regulated 11" W.C. only applies to the Quick Disconnect fitting.

Cool.

Ya learn something new every day!!!

I will look into a quick disconnect set up now.

From what I understand now.

If you have the big buddy heater:

Connect a 11" W.C. regulator on the external propane tank to

A low pressure hose to

A quick disconnect on the other end of the low pressure hose to

The quick disconnect fitting on the big buddy heater.

If you have the (little) buddy heater:

Conenct a high pressure black hose directly to

the external propane tank (Do not use a regulator here.. the heater is regulated internaly) to

A 1 lb bottle fitting on the other end of the high pressure hose to

The Mr Heater filter to

The 1 lb bottle fitting on the (little) buddy heater.

Whew, no wonder why I was confused.

[Jeremy airjer W]

It took us a few years to get all that squared away!

Big Buddy Hose Clarification

Perfect! Crystal clear, Thanks Airjer.

FYI here are some part numbers:

F273701 5ft NON-Quick Connect Hose

F273702 12 ft NON-Quick Connect Hose

F273699 Fuel Filter

F271802 12 ft Quick Connect Hose with 3/8" Flare (for connection to an already regulated propane source)

F271803 12 ft Quick Connect Hose with inline regulator.

Hope this helps.

[Coon]

do you need to use the filter on the little buddy then? how bout the heater/cooker??

[Jeremy airjer W]

Anytime you use an unregulated hose on either the buddy or the big buddy a filter is recommended.

I'm not sure about using a filter with a cooker.

[Esox_Magnum]

If I have a regulator on my tank I'm ok without a filter then??? I need the regulator for my modified cooker.

[timjones]

do you need to use the filter on the little buddy then? how bout the heater/cooker??

I have had the heater/cooker for about 17-18 years now, always had it connected to a 20lb tank with no regulator or filter and have never had a problem. Switched to an 11 pound tank last year to save a little weight and it worked just fine. I use a six foot hose with a quick disconnect in the middle so I can disconnect the tank from the hose for transporting.