Buddy Heater Pro Tip

Sharing a random thing I found out on accident years ago.

Instead of just High-Medium-Low, you can slowly turn the knob between settings to dial in the heat level you want (same with a regular Buddy to make a medium setting)

Especially nice with the Big Buddy, where it’s normally both burners on high or just one on high. You can set one on high and one on low (medium high) 13,500 BTUs instead of a big jump from 9,000 to 18,000 BTUs

Light both burners on high for a little bit, then slowly dial it down.

The same can be done from Low to Medium to make a Medium-Low setting (6,750 BTUs instead of 4,500 or 9,000)

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thats good to know……i’ll have to try that this week!!!!!
‘thanks bman!!

Yeah we figured this out a few years ago too works great!

CaptainMusky wrote:

Yeah we figured this out a few years ago too works great!

I did as well, on accident.

I’m getting “flamed” on FB from a few guys because “the owner’s manual” says you can’t do this.

To be clear, don’t run any burner lower than what a single burner looks like on factory low.

I’m just sharing that there’s levels between low and high that don’t “click” in.

B-man wrote:

I’m getting “flamed” on FB from a few guys because “the owner’s manual” says you can’t do this.

To be clear, don’t run any burner lower than what a single burner looks like on factory low.

I’m just sharing that there’s levels between low and high that don’t “click” in.

the only good thing about going to FB is watching tim conway comedy, jeff dunham, looking at a few hot gals……and the funny memes… and not necessarily in that order!!!!! LOL!!

otherwise its trash……….

I get Calvin & Hobbs on FB. Also Far Side.

Sidetracked——-BH question, anyone have their B.H. turn off with every little bump? This must be a safety feature, but the lawyers had too much say in it.

tim hurley wrote:

Sidetracked——-BH question, anyone have their B.H. turn off with every little bump? This must be a safety feature, but the lawyers had too much say in it.

Yes, they have a tip-over switch built in.

You may or may not be able to bypass it

B-man wrote:

I’m getting “flamed” on FB from a few guys because “the owner’s manual” says you can’t do this.

Make sure to let the FB safety police know that it only works when you run dark green refilled 1# propane tanks with the tip over switch bypassed…

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CaptainMusky wrote:</div>
Yeah we figured this out a few years ago too works great!

I did as well, on accident.

Im pretty sure that is how we found it too LOL

B-man if you could pm me your ‘fishing’ tip that would be great.
Thanks

I have the DeWalt branded heater I think the manual actually pointed out the variable heat settings. It is great to know that though. I really love this heater. Has a fan, built in light on the handle which is really bright and a couple USB charging ports that all run on any of your DeWalt batteries.

tim hurley wrote:

B-man if you could pm me your ‘fishing’ tip that would be great.
Thanks

It’s pretty easy to do, pull the covers off and disconnect the wires on the switch.

I can’t remember if you connect them together or if your wire nut them off apart, but there’s videos on YouTube

nice wood work Ice Cap!!

Thanks B!

Ice Cap wrote:

I have the DeWalt branded heater I think the manual actually pointed out the variable heat settings. It is great to know that though. I really love this heater. Has a fan, built in light on the handle which is really bright and a couple USB charging ports that all run on any of your DeWalt batteries.

Does that only run on 1 pound tanks? Seems that way since it says 7 hour run time. I believe a big buddy will run like 100 hours or something like that on a 20 pound tank.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ice Cap wrote:</div>
I have the DeWalt branded heater I think the manual actually pointed out the variable heat settings. It is great to know that though. I really love this heater. Has a fan, built in light on the handle which is really bright and a couple USB charging ports that all run on any of your DeWalt batteries.

Does that only run on 1 pound tanks? Seems that way since it says 7 hour run time. I believe a big buddy will run like 100 hours or something like that on a 20 pound tank.

It can run on 1lb tanks but I have it hooked up to a 20lb.

Good to know thanks!

The Dewalt also have an electronic lighter. Just push the button to start. I have 2 of them.

Michael Saal wrote:

The Dewalt also have an electronic lighter. Just push the button to start. I have 2 of them.

What I don’t get is why you need a separate AAA battery for the electric start why didn’t they just make it run off the Dewalt battery? Still a nice feature though.

I bet it has to do with voltage required. They would have had to reduce the voltage down from 20 volt to whatever 3 AAA batteries are which would be like 4.5 volts? Im sure its the same type of system like all grills have now. Pretty simple and cheap, but I guess as I write that I then realize that my pellet grill ignites itself and that runs off 120 but its a completely different ignition system than what these things use. Far more juice to get those pellets burning then lighting propane.

Michael Saal wrote:

The Dewalt also have an electronic lighter. Just push the button to start.

CaptainMusky wrote:

I bet it has to do with voltage required. They would have had to reduce the voltage down from 20 volt to whatever 3 AAA batteries are which would be like 4.5 volts? Im sure its the same type of system like all grills have now.

The Buddy Heaters and the grills I have owned, all used a piezoelectric crystal to generate the spark. No other electric source needed.

A piezoelectric mechanism works by generating an electrical charge when mechanical stress is applied to a special type of material called a piezoelectric crystal, where the internal crystal structure shifts, causing positive and negative charges to separate and accumulate on opposite faces of the crystal, creating a voltage that can be harnessed as electrical energy; essentially, it converts mechanical force into electricity.
In other words, push the gas valve knob, in a downward direction, when in the “pilot” setting, = the gas flows and the spark is generated.

Huntindave wrote:

The Buddy Heaters and the grills I have owned, all used a piezoelectric crystal to generate the spark. No other electric source needed.

Buddy heaters yes (not the Dewalt), and some grills I suppose if its really old. I have a 10 year old Kenmore and I have a push button with a couple AA batteries in it.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Buddy heaters yes (not the Dewalt), and some grills I suppose if its really old.

Really old?????? Piezoelectric igniter on the unit I purchased new Dec. 2024

Huntindave wrote:

Really old?????? Piezoelectric igniter on the unit I purchased new Dec. 2024

Really cheap then?

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Huntindave wrote:</div>
Really old?????? Piezoelectric igniter on the unit I purchased new Dec. 2024

Really cheap then?

Huh?

HuntinDave, Well I haven’t been in the market for a gas grill for a long time and won’t be getting one any time soon so I was guessing since my 10 year old grill had electronic push button they must all have that by now. I have replaced the batteries once and never fails to light. Other designs may be simpler since they don’t involve batteries but you went to describe the functions about manual ignitors which we already knew buddy had. The DeWalt heater doesn’t and the question was around why it didn’t just use the voltage from the battery which is what I was originally getting at. No idea if it’s the actual reason or not because of engineers

@ CaptainMusky,

The thread topic is “Buddy Heater Pro Tip”.

Huntindave wrote:

@ CaptainMusky,

The thread topic is “Buddy Heater Pro Tip”.

Yeah shake your head alright. You quoted 2 posts that were discussing the DeWalt heater and it’s electronic ignition and then went on a rant describing the buddy manual system. And your comment didn’t even talk about the said pro tip about the buddy either LOL