Introduction
Propane 468g gas cartridge vertical style portable heaters
- Examples
- Using a metal bracket designed for stove fans
Small gas canister heaters
Heaters which attach directly onto Companion gas cylinders
Heaters which only connect via hose to a gas cylinder
Gas heaters designed to heat up tents

gas heaters for camping

Introduction

portable gas heaters are an option for some campers but can be very dangerous if precautions are not used
see also gas fittings for camping

NONE of these are designed for use within enclosed spaces such as indoors, caravans, tents due to risk of carbon monoxide poisoning - the silent camp killer but could be used under an awning or inside a open wall gazebo with adequate ventilation and care to ensure they are away from flammable objects

these are deceptively safe appliances - until they are NOT and they become LETHAL
- most gas appliances in good condition, running on high with plenty of oxygen and propane available without issues from wind compromising the flame will produce almost no carbon monoxide
- HOWEVER, if the flame struggles or is mainly blue such as occurs on low settings, in wind, or when gas is running out, large quantities of lethal, odourless carbon monoxide are produced often well over 200ppm - and if not well ventilated to exhaust this, it can be FATAL - see carbon monoxide poisoning - the silent camp killer
- In addition, you MUST check all connections for gas leaks BEFORE igniting (preferably with a gas leak detector and NEVER a match) or having it anywhere near a naked flame or electrical sparks - failure may result in sudden large flames from the leak, or worse, a gas explosion
- it is NOT legal to transport LPG gas cylinders inside your vehicle - they may produce an explosion while you drive if they are leaking

Propane 468g gas cartridge vertical style portable heaters

there are a range of portable gas heaters which allow a 468g BOC / Coleman / Companion propane gas cartridge to be attached, and can also be used attached to a traditional LPG propane gas cylinder via the optional appropriate hose connector
these usually have a few safety features:
- wire frame in front of burner
- auto turn off if low oxygen levels
- auto turn off if tips over
- BUT they do NOT prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, nor flames from a loose connection
you can run from a 4kg or 9kg LCC27 LPG propane gas cylinder via a LCC27 to BOM high pressure hose without a regulator BUT you probably should use a fuel filter as well
- US reports suggest not using a fuel filter can result in fuel line being clogged and you may need to discard the unit
- you cannot run from a caravan LPG propane gas cylinder with its regulator in line

Examples

Mr Heater Portable Buddy Heater
- 9,000BTU
- 34.5 (W) x 18.5 (D) x 37 (H) cm
- 3.6kg w/o gas; $AU109
- there are no heat output adjustments so you will have to turn it off if it gets too hot in the tent
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJKqMzUsz9w
Companion Portable Propane Heater
- 7300BTU; Gas Consumption: Low: 5.24MJ/hr - 104g/Hr. High: 7.71MJ/hr - 153g/Hr
- 34 x 45H x 20cm;
- 4.2kg $AU159
- NB. DO NOT USE on LO setting as this will produce more carbon monoxide
- no real advantage over the Mr Heater Portable Buddy Heater and it is substantially taller, thicker and more expensive but perhaps it may not have a fuel clogging issue

Using a metal bracket designed for stove fans

there are many of these brackets available online - most designed to attach to the top of the protecting wire frame of the heater
my tests of a stainless steel bracket fitted to the top of a Companion heater show that when the heater is set to HI and there is no wind:
- the temperature of the bracket ranges from 78degC at the closest point to under 65degC at the most distant point
- this means it will NOT make your Moka pot coffee even if you used boiling water in the pot - the coffee temperature will struggle to 60degC which is inadequate to generate a flow
- the base of your stove fan sitting on this plate will not get hot enough to generate the forces required to put the stove fan in motion
  - the addition of the extra metal of the stove fan does allow retention of more heat perhaps averaging around 90-100degC but this does not suffice to run a thermal stove fan
perhaps a black bracket will do better?

Small gas canister heaters

there are a range of heating devices that can either attach:
- directly onto a gas canister
  - Mini heater to sit on upright small cartridges
    - 15*15*14cm; 300g; $AU17 but needs lighting;
    - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003407554683.html
  - Easy Heater Piezo for upright gas cartridges
    - 17 * 13.5 * 13.5cm; 340g; $AU30 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005047386127.html
  - Portable Piezo Ignition Gas Heater for long gas cartidges
    - angles 45deg upwards; 15 * 17cm; 442g; 1000W 72g/hr; $AU33 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004697477679.html
  - Mr Heater Little Buddy Heater
    - 465g Disposable Propane Canister
    - 3,800 BTU;
    - 43.2 (H) x 25.4 (D) x 21 (W) cm (including propane cylinder)
    - 2.26kg; $A89
    - doesn't heat your feet as it faces upwards, is prone to tipping over as top heavy but it does have a tip over auto-off but the hot element may still create a fire and there are quality issues ¹⁾
  - NatureHike Ri Yan 2 Outdoor Heating Stove
    - uses standard 110g, 230g or 450g butane/propane canister
    - 360deg 2400-2700W heating using ~115g/hr;
    - 1.5kg w/o gas; 215x325mm; can boil water on top;
  - CampMaster gas cartridge heater stove
    - ceramic heater can be rotated to face upwards to function as a stove or vertically to function as a heater
    - 220g butane gas cartridge or LPG gas cylinder via adapter but this adapter does not look safe and presumably requires a regulated low pressure hose
    - 1.5kg (2.2kg packed); max. 1300W / 4500BTU output using 100g/hr; $AU69
    - https://www.batterymate.com.au/products/portable-butane-gas-heater-camping-camp-tent-outdoor-hiking-camper-survival-black?currency=AUD&variant=43218776948987
  - Jinyu ceramic gas heater, stove
    - lie it down to work as a stove;
    - 125g/h 1700W; 1.8kg (2.3kg packed) 27.5 * 27.5 * 18cm
    - $AU59 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004787484338.html
- via gas pipe onto a cartridge
  - FireMaple Sunflower X Radiant Heater & Stove
    - 8530BTU/ 2500W - uses 174g/h;
    - no piezo push button lighting and can be hard to light;
    - EN417-threaded gas input - optional adapter for 450g propane cartridges which also acts as a flow restrictor
    - 1kg;
    - https://firemaplegear.com/products/sunflower-x-gas-camping-stove
- onto the burner of a gas stove
  - Portable Mini Camping Heater
    - stainless steel stove heater 14.4×11.7cm plus handle
    - can be used on most small gas stoves or even an alcohol Trangia stove
    - risk of wind blowing the very hot can over, or the area nearby underneath getting too hot
    - high burns risk if not careful
    - $A27
    - for a similar model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN98_w0WfJo

Heaters which attach directly onto Companion gas cylinders

Companion gas cylinders have a vertical 3/8“ LH BSP adapter and thus allow devices to attach directly above the cylinder
examples:
- Companion LPG Radiator Reflect Heater
  - 5500 BTU with 206mm wide reflector; Gas Consumption: 5.8Mj/Hr or 116g/Hr; manual lighting only, no piezo;
  - 27 x 21 x 12 cm; 0.76kg;
  - $AU49

Heaters which only connect via hose to a gas cylinder

Companion Portable LPG Gas Heater
- 10,800 BTU; Gas Consumption: 13MJ/hr-260g/hr; supplied with a POL gas hose and regulator
- 41(L) x 19(D) x 33(H) cm;
- 4.21kg; $AU140
Gasmate Portable Outdoor heater CH203SL:
- 3 tile max 13,500 BTU using 265g/hr (adjustable via knob)
- 5/8”-18UNF (Yellow) hose connector and uses 2.75kPa gas, designed to use an LCC27 gas cylinder - LCC27 regulator is supplied
- D size battery required
- according to user manual, ventilation required in an outdoor enclosure, either:
  - within an enclosure with walls on all sides, but at least one permanent opening at ground level and no overhead cover, or,
  - within a partial enclosure that includes an overhead cover and no more than two walls, or,
  - within a partial enclosure that includes an overhead cover and more than two walls, the following will apply:
    - at least 25% of the total wall area is completely open, and
    - at least 30% of the remaining wall area is open and unrestricted
- ~$159
Industrial high output air heaters for large areas:
- DETROIT 20KW LPG Heater HLPG20
  - 9kg; 52 x 27 x 48cm;
  - 20kW – 70,000 BTU; 1.40kg/hr Gas consumption
  - 500m3/hr Air flow and should heat a 200m2 space with 2.5m ceilings
  - requires 80W 0.5A 240V input for fan
  - $AU269 include hose and regulator

Gas heaters designed to heat up tents

these are potentially the safest and least hassle heating options (not used inside tent and thus no added condensation, no fire risk, no CO risk, no smelly liquids to spill) HOWEVER they do still require a decent amount of battery power which limits the utility of the Companion and Gasmate models!
Companion AeroHeat Lithium Tent Heater
- 800mm air outlet hose to run into your tent providing 60degC hot air while the unit itself must be only used in well-ventilated areas.
- built-in gas regulator with BOM connection
- can run directly off 468g propane cartridge (9hrs of heating) or via hose a LPG gas cylinder
  - gas consumption 2.2Mj/h | 43.7g/h
- 4hr lithium battery to run the fan with 12V 5A DC in charging with 1-2m charging cord
- Bluetooth remote control via smartphone
- will not operate in ambient temperatures above 15degC!
- 442L x 164W x 360H; 7kg;
- $AU419 on special
Gasmate CH100 Ducted Camping Heater
- uses propane cartridge or LPG
- heats 15degC intake air to max. 58degC (cutoff)
- internal rechargeable battery lasts 5hrs (seems can't charge while its in use and recharge takes 6hrs) and uses 55g/h gas giving 2.8 MJ/h
- 8.6kg w/o gas cartridge
- 43.3 x D 21 x H 39.3cm
- must be professionally serviced every 12 months
- $AU299
Propex HS2211
- uses external 12V DC power (max. 1.7A; ~20Ah/night on full)
- uses 37mbar – CAT I3p (37) propane or 30mbar – CAT I3B/P (30) Butane/Propane
- may not be approved for use in Australia as per note for the HS2000 model here

¹⁾

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqSMyXLIds0

Table of Contents

gas heaters for camping

Introduction

Propane 468g gas cartridge vertical style portable heaters

Examples

Using a metal bracket designed for stove fans

Small gas canister heaters

Heaters which attach directly onto Companion gas cylinders

Heaters which only connect via hose to a gas cylinder

Gas heaters designed to heat up tents