Propane connection help for direct vent heater

[scottybk]

I bought this heater off of Northern Tool recently and installed it today:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200631838_200631838

I ran 1/2 inch black steel pipe to the heater's gas intake connection and then thru the outside wall, then put a female 1/2 to male 3/8 flared brass fitting outside on the black pipe. I then hooked up this BBQ style regautlor hose to a regular BBQ size full propane tank:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFYFY1K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I cannot get the pilot to light and believe I am getting no propane pressure to the heater. I unhooked the outside hose and opened the tank valve and there is propane flowing thru the hose, although not at much pressure.

The specs and directions etc. do not mention if this heater has a built-in regulator? I cannot find a hose with the ACME fitting to the propane tank without a regulator as part of the package. I'm extremely aggravated with this entire kit- UGH!

 

[spudley]

The "Product Manual" (pg 16) states both Propane and Nat gas units have adjustable regulators on the gas valve. The Propane needs between 10" -13" WC. You'll need gauges to get it properly measured and adjusted, but these units run on very low, about 1/2 lb, pressure.

 

[scottybk]

Spudley, that's why I thought the BBQ regulator hose setup would work perfectly. THis burner is about the same size as a typical BBQ (15,000 btu).

I don't know why I can't get the pilot to ignite. I don't think the pilot is getting any propane.

 

[The Cobbler]

you purge the air from the line?
as well mentioned before, you may need to adjust the pressure on the gas valve.

 

[scottybk]

Just got it lit !

The pilot knob is very, very fussy and only fully pushes in at a certain point- I kept rotating and finally found a spot where it pushed in about another 1/8 inch, that is where it needs to be to allow gas to flow and feed the pilot and light it up, etc.

This heater kit overall is pretty cheap and tinny, directions are pretty poor too. The vent kit is ultra-cheap tin clothes dryer vent, that is a pain to cut and mark to size based on your wall's thickness.

The blower seems pretty weak too. For a bit over $500 I'm not that impressed, we'll see how it works long term. I have it running full blast now to burn the paint odor and Chinese shipping oil etc. off the heat exchanger.

I was actually going to get a used Monitor vented kerosene heater on craigslist instead of this China made special, but I was worried that Monitor is long gone and parts will be harder to find.

 

[spudley]

Keep an eye on it.

 

[Bretny]

It can take quite a bit to get propane to the pilot when your only allowing the pilot to release air in the pipe.