HEATING IN ICE SHELTERS

Dear Friends,
I am Alex. I am from Russia, Moscow City.
So, winter is coming and we will open a new winter fishing season very soon. For me it is 40th season of ice fishing.
For me, is very interesting, what American collegues using for ice shelters heating. I was read forum and understand that most popular is Big Buddy heaters. I use a nearly the same (with infrared gas burner)/ It is good, warm, but have one problem. Gas combustion (I means CO) still inside of shelter. It is very dangerous for our health. I like to catch a bream and I am stay in ice 20-24 hours include a night. 5 years, I use Eskimo 949I Fatfish shelter. Of cause, possible to open a ventilation windows, but I think it’s not enough. Sometimes, I feel a headache. In Russia, more and more guys use a new heat exchangers. It is easy and interesting construction. Aluminium or stainless steel box with pipes inside, infrared or normal burner from below of box and chimney. Flame from gas burner heat for pipes inside of box, gas combustion go to the chimney, outside of shelter (use a window or ventilation hole). Hot air from pipes flow inside by computer coolers fan (or another, can use any fan 12 or 6 volts. But, fan from computer cooling more easy and cheep). The warm air is distributed evenly by shelter. I am attach some photos of exchanger, you can see that. Do you use the same or something like in the US?
Best regards,
Alex.
P.S. SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH!!!!!!

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Welcome to IDO Alex! That is quite a solid piece of hardware. I think most guys here are using smaller portable shanties which wouldn’t work so well with this.

Thank you Dave! This heater, which in picture, is not very power. Only 2 KVt. (I don’t know how many BTU). For my Eskimo 949 is not enough. For example, if -25C outside, inside will be +10C, not more. But idea is interesting. I want to update my equipment. i use many fishing equipment from the US. May be, I will found something interesting in the US, wich do not use, we in Russia..

+10C is better than -25C but a person would still want to keep their jacket on!

Of cuse! But +20C much better than +10, and you may seat with ouy of extra jacket. All the more so, I am on ice in shelter more than 24 hours.

Hi Alex, Welcome.

Although CO is a concern with these heaters, that generally results from ‘unclean’ burning which I think comes from an low flow of O2 into the combustion chamber. With a perfectly clean combustion you will be burning your fuel in the presence of O2 to produce CO2 and H2O. The real concern here is that you burn all of the oxygen in your shelter and then suffocate. Also when the O2 level in the shelter drops, then the combustion isn’t as clean and you get more CO. The Buddy line of heaters have an O2 sensor built in, so when the supply drops, the heaters will automatically shut off.

This results in an interesting conundrum, where in order to keep your heater on to keep your shelter warm, you need to open ventilation to let the cold air in. However, it certainly saves lives.

For a chimney style heater, Cabelas sells these giant ‘outfitter’ style tents that have a chimney, maybe they have an alternative way to heat more efficiently for such a long period of time: http://www.cabelas.com/product/camping/tents-shelters/outfitter-tents%7C/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/104481180/cabela-s-ultimate-alaknak-8482-tent-150-13-x-27-/1570908.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Foutfitter-tents%2F_%2FN-1100672%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104481180

JD?

Zodi makes tent heaters.

http://zodi.com/tent-heaters

One on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZODI-Propane-Hot-Vent-Tent-Heater-/291628700100

I’ve always wanted to try one of the Zodi vented tent heaters. Kinda spendy and you need the additional 12v source, so not the most portable solution. I saw a guy that had one rigged in the back box of his Ranger setup to pump the heat into his Otter, said it worked slick.

http://zodi.com/tent-heaters

Hi guys. Thanks to all for the answers. Zodi is very good, but price like Boeing 737!! I think Buddy is much better for me. Will try to find in Moscow.

loonswail wrote:

JD?

You beat me to it.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>loonswail wrote:</div>
JD?

You beat me to it.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>loonswail wrote:</div>
JD?

You beat me to it.

Ya, gotta be. It’s important to take your medication everyday, at the same time.

brian_peterson wrote:

eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>loonswail wrote:</div>
JD?

You beat me to it.

eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>loonswail wrote:</div>
JD?

You beat me to it.

Ya, gotta be. It’s important to take your medication everyday, at the same time.

Based on IP addresses I don’t believe so. But it isn’t impossible to use other IP addresses.

Dave, whats a problem? What does it means JD?

Alex K. Tarakanoff wrote:

Dave, whats a problem? What does it means JD?

No problem Alex – some of the regulars here were thinking you were one of the other regulars here, pulling their legs.

Unless JD has access to a Russian proxy server I doubt you are him. lol

I am understand, Russians are very unusual on this forum. But you can rest easy, I am normal man. I means the same fisherman like everyone on this forum. Just, I asked a question and I am very interesting of opinion of my American colleagues.

Alex –
Welcome aboard! I look forward to seeing pictures of your catch from Russia.
How is your winter over there? Our ice making is way behind schedule this year.

Thank you. Of cause,I will show some photos. At this moment +7C in Moscow. A little problem of the ice. We are waiting for freeze. May be will on next week or later.

With all the dismantling of nuclear weapons one would think a very small amount of nuclear material could be placed in a containment vessel and the result would be a gentle , but effective continuous heat without the CO , propane supply, venting. It would be small but heavy due to the lead shielding…not to mention all the potatoes needed for iodine, but hey the extras could be distilled for vodka. A hearty welcome to our Russian friend, Lastrovia! (sp)

Just go on-line with Cabela’s and get a Big Buddy Heater. If it tips over it shuts off. If the CO gets tow high it shuts off. Heck of a lot smaller also.

Yes, it is best solution for me. i will request the biggest. Now, is the sale in Cabelas and price is $123.99 only.

Big buddy does not have CO sensor, only a tip and a low oxygen sensor. When I use any of the buddy heaters I also use a battery operated carbon monoxide detector in my enclosure. The evil truth is even with adequit oxygen the body’s hemoglobin will absorb any carbon monoxide as the hemoglobin have a greater affinity for the carbon monoxide.

Alex K. Tarakanoff wrote:

Hi guys. Thanks to all for the answers. Zodi is very good, but price like Boeing 737!! I think Buddy is much better for me. Will try to find in Moscow.

I got a good laugh out of that boing 737 crack.

Welcome aboard Alex!!
I hope you can get your hands on bigbuddy, they are a good heater.
40th year on the ice, well seasoned I’d say you will fit in around here real nice.

Hi all. 2 days ago, I was request Mr. Heater Big Buddy from Cabelas. They ship to Russia by UPS. Now, just waiting. And I will be complete ready for new season. But still one problem- NO ICE in our rivers. Santa forgot our region!. Thanks to all for the help.

No ice in Iowa either probably not until after the New Year
(Maybe even well after that?) Good luck and ‘tight lines’
Oh, and Merry Christmas as well!!

Alex K. Tarakanoff wrote:

Dave, whats a problem? What does it means JD?

JD Winston is a guy with schizophrenia.

He likes to joke around so new members like you can easily be confused for JD.

Have you met Deb Dallas? @debbiedallas