Newish Big Buddy propane heater develops bad pilot light?

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,915 ✭✭✭✭
in In the Weeds--Member's Choice #1
I've been using Big Buddy propane heaters for several years. Been good so I "splurged" and bought the larger model with two heat panels. 18,000 BTU instead of 9,000. It was nice...for approx. three months. (Bought it some time ago and can't return).

Yesterday the pilot light went out. This has happened before and was easy to relight. This time it wouldn't develop more than a small, weak pilot light with a pronounced yellow tip instead of the solid blue flame.

I reinstalled a smaller 9,000 BTU heater and it works fine. The problem is not in the tank or hose or filter. The thermocouple did not appear to be the very small and flexible copper line that might be expected. Though I looked at it very early in the morning and was not fully awake.

Big Buddies are often nice for off gridders due to no electrical needs while being efficient and "indoor safe".

Anybody with experience with this? Thought I'd try....
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2017 #2
    check for a spider web in the mixing tube area or just in front of the orifice...  you need a pipe cleaner to get it out...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,915 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    westbranch said:
    check for a spider web in the mixing tube area or just in front of the orifice...  you need a pipe cleaner to get it out...
    No pipe cleaners here. I fired up the compressor and blasted it from the front and underneath as well as trying to blast air into the propane intake. Works good now. Pat yourself on the back Westbranch!

    Funny in that everything looked real clean.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,109 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    It doesn't take much to mess up the air mixture.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    and those web filaments are almost invisible,,, Have to do the CSI thing with the flashlight and still can have trouble seeing them... Spiders love the smell of the added scent put in propane...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
    · Share on Twitter

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