For those of you that run the fan on the Big Buddy, how long will a typical set of D batteries run the fan for? I have always used my AC/DC converter, but won’t have 110V nearby this time. What kind of time can I expect? Thanks
I have no idea because I always forget to shut the damn thing off, and wear them out by the second or third trip! 
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I have no idea because I always forget to shut the damn thing off, and wear them out by the second or third trip!
Me too!
I can’t find the power adapter for the Big Buddy where did you get it?
I have been meaning to rig some 6 volt adapter/plug in up but would rather buy one.
sorry no help here…my fan has never worked…tried 3 different sets of batteries…
I actually purchased mine off of Amazon, I know Cabelas also has them. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sportsmans Warehouse has them, they seemed to have every other accessory/hose for it, but I never checked for an adapter. How long was it running before you guys walked away from it left on? Are we talking minutes, hours, days?
“IF” you remember to shut the fan off when you are done fishing, you should get 2-3 weekends of use out of a good set of “D” batteries. I think that is the longest I have ever had a set last for me anyway! 
Mine last a real long time!! I built an enclosed ice shack trailer in my garage and the batteries lasted for a full tank of propane. Last year ice fishing they lasted a long time and I would forget to turn it off. Ususally after I got home I heard it running in the garage and then shut it off. Purchase good batteries and it will serve you well
How do you guys like your big buddy heaters and how do you think they will work in a fishtrap?
thanks,
jeff
i have a voyager and it works like a champ! i would think it might be too big if you have a small clam tho..
anyone ever attempted to macgyver some gator clips onto the adapter plug and run it off a gelcel batt? i have a couple extra batts for the flasher and would think those would last forever on that lil motor…
I really like mine. The reason I got the Big Buddy was so that I have some control on the output. The Low setting will heat a small portable, but yet I have High setting that I use to heat a small garage while working on projects. The built in fan makes a huge difference, even though it doesn’t feel like it is moving that much air. It is also nice for our enclosed snowmobile trailer. I have noticed that everything that has been said about the pilot light “blowing” out easily is true, but I am going to do the thermocouple modification and fabricate a little shield for it.
As far as the battery hook up idea. I have been kicking that around also. It needs a 6 volt power source and the plug is actually like a minijack plug, so it not something you will fine on a normal “universal” power adapter. But I have considered some Big Buddy internal wiring changes through a wheatstone bridge to bring a 12V sonar battery down to 6V. This way, I could still use D batteries if needed AND have the 110 plug. I know the adapter for the Big Buddy is rated at 800mA, so that needs to be considered. I will look closely and see if I wouldn’t be able to simply use a minijack plug for the 6V also.
i guess i just assumed it was a 12v motor. thanks for the heads up.
it would have been way too easy to make everything run off the same batts wouldnt it?!
Couldn’t you hook it to a regular vex gel cell with just a small 6 volt bulb in line? Total voltage drop across the battery posts needs to be 12v, so a 6v bulb in series with the big buddy fan should do the trick, no?
Tim
Right idea, but the important thing would be the resistance of the two loads on the circuit. In order to cut the voltage in half, the bulb would have to have the same resistance as the windings in the fan motor.
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sorry no help here…my fan has never worked…tried 3 different sets of batteries…
My dad loved mine, so he bought a refurbished unit from Sportsmens Warehouse and his fan never worked. I called Mr Heater for him and told them that the fan didn’t work. They sent him a new back with the a new fan. He got it in a few days, put it on and has had no trouble since. They have great customer service, and my dad didn’t pay one penny for it, no shipping- nothing.
da-z-man…thanks for the info. ..I bought mine at lowes…I going to call mr.heater monday,to see if there is something I should check to see why mine does not work.. 
I would think the fan would run fine on 12 volts just a bit faster is all.
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