Low pressure (11" WC) forced air propane heaters?

[ishiboo]

I installed propane lines from one of our 500 gallon tanks to an animal barn (currently heated as needed with a kerosene forced air heater) as well as a small shed used as a chicken coop. With propane at about half the cost of kerosene/#1 diesel, and being delivered versus having to transport I thought this was a great idea.

What I didn't realize is that the regulator for the forced air heater I planned to use (170k thermostatically controlled) does not take 11" WC, but has a 20PSI output.

Are there any inexpensive forced air heater options to work with 11" WC propane? The only options I see are either a modine/garage heater style, or a regular furnace/infrared tube heater/etc.

 

[PoorUB]

What I didn't realize is that the regulator for the forced air heater I planned to use (170k thermostatically controlled) does not take 11" WC, but has a 20PSI output.

Are you certain of this? Wisconsin in the January you probably will not get 20 PSI out of an outdoor tank!

Also I have never seen a heater that required that much gas pressure. Maybe you are correct, but wow! That is a lot of inlet pressure!

 

[fitter30]

Any lp heater I've worked on or installed the burner has been set at 11". Most home/ light commercial have two regulators one at the tank. From tank pressure to 10 lbs then another one outside the house, garage or barn 10 lbs to 14". Then there is one built into the furnace gas valve that is set at 11". The other thing to look into is tank vapor pressure. At cold temps tank don't vaporize like at 30°. 500 gallon tank at -10° @ 50% fill 199,800btu's, at 40% 177,600 btu's. Might want to call your supplier to chat about this. Don't know what you do about power failures lp generators work and don't have to run for gasoline.

Propane Tank Sizing - Tarantin Industries

www.tarantin.com

 

[PCustoms]

Delete

 

[PCustoms]

What I didn't realize is that the regulator for the forced air heater I planned to use (170k thermostatically controlled) does not take 11" WC, but has a 20PSI output.

What regulator are you referring to?

Is it built into the heater?

 

[rmanrman]

What regulator are you referring to?

Is it built into the heater?

I also tried to hook up a Mr heater 60K btu propane to a gas line in my garage. It lit but the output was like 5k btu. The problem was my home propane pressure is 11”WC and the heater needed 2 psi of pressure. I got the info from the heater high pressure regulator that came with a 10 foot hose to tank. No way this will work unless you get a second regulator outside adjusted to 2 psi and run a new line to the heater separate from home gas. I was use my heater on a seperate 20lb propane tank when I’m working in the garage. ***** still have to overpay and travel to get the small tank refilled. Prices in Nj are going up daily

 

[gmcgeo]

He probably has one of those construction heaters that has the 20psi regs on it. a portable

 

[ishiboo]

He probably has one of those construction heaters that has the 20psi regs on it. a portable

Sorry, that's what I meant by "forced air" which was a bad way to describe it. We call them "turbo heaters" around here. This is a 170kbtu one with a thermostat - Mr Heater model 170QFAVT.

So I'm looking for a replacement which has a 11" WC input and spits out a lot of heat for cheap.

Are you certain of this? Wisconsin in the January you probably will not get 20 PSI out of an outdoor tank!

Also I have never seen a heater that required that much gas pressure. Maybe you are correct, but wow! That is a lot of inlet pressure!

Very certain. A normal propane tank pressure is like 120-170psi, I'm pretty sure it remains above 100psi in winter. Definitely nowhere near as low as 20psi unless it's about to be empty.

What regulator are you referring to?

Is it built into the heater?

It's external to the heater, it comes on the hose they include. It converts from 20-200psi to 20psi though.

I also tried to hook up a Mr heater 60K btu propane to a gas line in my garage. It lit but the output was like 5k btu. The problem was my home propane pressure is 11”WC and the heater needed 2 psi of pressure. I got the info from the heater high pressure regulator that came with a 10 foot hose to tank. No way this will work unless you get a second regulator outside adjusted to 2 psi and run a new line to the heater separate from home gas. I was use my heater on a seperate 20lb propane tank when I’m working in the garage. ***** still have to overpay and travel to get the small tank refilled. Prices in Nj are going up daily

Yeah, this one requires 20psi minimum to the regulator to get 20psi out.

GAS SUPPLY PRESSURE TO REGULATOR Maximum: Bottle Pressure, Minimum: 20 psig (137.9 kP
REGULATOR OUT...............................20 psi (137.9 kPa)

He probably has one of those construction heaters that has the 20psi regs on it. a portable

Yep, sorry.

 

[PoorUB]

Have you tried to run it on 11"? The regulator should be full open and not even matter, but it is possible it might restrict the flow. If nothing else just remove the regulator and connect you gas supply right to the heater.

Did you size your gas lines properly? 11" of gas pressure doen't get you very far unless you used large pipe.