HACK - Big Buddy Propane Heater Electronic Ignition

[@yngwie469]

You are a lifesaver. I never would have figured this out. You have earned a subscriber for life.

[@driley12]

So glad it helped. It was very frustrating and a huge waste of time.

[@amyjungwirth-g8q]

You are my hero!!! A knight in shining armor. LOL I couldn't get my D batteries to fit in the back. The AAA fit fine so I don't know how you figured out that the battery couldn't make contact. So I took your advice and used a pocket knife to scrape off the top layer of insulation on the battery. It was really simple and easy to peel off the top edge of coating on the battery so much so that I thought surely this won't fix my problem. Like magic, it worked. The battery compartments seem to be too small by a fraction of an inch. It was difficult to get the D batteries to fit in the back. A clerk a Lowes helped me with that fix. You have to bend that spring unnaturally out of the way. I was afraid I would break the spring off of the back.

[@driley12]

I’m glad I could help. The D cells are for the blower. I am just using the radiant heat. Glad you got it working.

[@utopiancow]

Your video saved me! It was 16 degrees and I was freezing! Mr. Buddy needs to re-design this problem for sure.

[@driley12]

I am so glad you found the video! It must have been a great feeling when it ignited and you started to feel the heat!

[@valkyriegrace5086]

Omg thank you! I was on hold with Mr heater for 40 mins and you fixed it in 5 minutes. You are a hero!

[@driley12]

So glad I could help!

[@kudlakp]

Thanks!! I was about 30 minutes in when I searched for a video and found yours.

[@driley12]

No problem. Glad it helped.

[@michaele1277]

Thanks for the update, just bought one a couple days back, same issue.

[@driley12]

They should issue a recall.

[@davidlipke6530]

Thank you I just got another big buddy as my first one doesn't have a battery ignition . Now if this new one does I'll know immediately what to do because I didn't even know they sold battery ignition in buddy heaters . This potentially saves me the hassles of returning it if need be , Thank you so much.

[@driley12]

It is good to know in advance. A real hassle when it is cold and you can't get it lit.

[@brandonmagee5615]

Omg! You sir are amazing. Thank you for saving me time!! This has been driving me nuts, cuz I could see the stupid igniter, ima go try this now.

[@driley12]

Glad I could help

[@dennisboran772]

I had to put a 1 pound can in each side of my big buddy to get the pilot to light the the ceramic burners, 1 pound in only 1 side did not seem to have enough gas pressure to feed the ceramic burners. I will try the battery fix and see if that will work with only 1 pound. Thanks for the info.

[@driley12]

I was able to run it with a single 1 pound cylinder. I put it on the same side as the pilot light.

[@jeremiahharriott4960]

Thank you so much, I was about to take it back to the store and try a 2nd one, battery connection... so stupid design i was using a Duracell battery, obviously same issue as the energizer, worked immediately.

[@driley12]

I’m glad I was able to help. Very ftustrating, but a great heater once the electronic ignition is sorted out.

[@jasonvestal5488]

Pure genius. Thank goodness for your video

[@driley12]

Glad it helped. Enjoy the heater. It puts out a lot of heat.

[@donbusarmy]

Thank you I have been fooling with this heater since I got it

[@driley12]

Glad I could help!

[@fawnanibert]

Thanks a lot. I needed this video

[@driley12]

Glad it helped. Nice to know whennit gets cold.

[@CITYPREPPER016]

I have a big buddy got it about 8 years ago and it has the non electric sparker

[@driley12]

Those are so reliable!

[@danielsmith8659]

I was about to take one back to the store . Why would the manual not mention this

[@driley12]

I think it is a design flaw. Mr Heater should have tested with a variety of different batteries.

[@truthweallknow]

Thanks very much.

[@driley12]

You're welcome! Did you have the same problem?

[@russellwalker1307]

Thanks. That worked.

[@driley12]

Glad you were able to get it up and running!

[@sticksandwalks]

Awesome thank you!

[@driley12]

You're welcome!

[@trumpingtonfanhurst694]

Thanks! Electronic ignition is not the way to go. In addition the battery will sit in there for a year or two, leak and corrode everything and then no more ignition and you have to use a lighter. Not sure why Mr. Heater did this.

[@driley12]

I agree!

[@funtraxdj1]

HERO

[@driley12]

Glad I could help!

[@ShaneMindak-yl6ju]

Thank you so much good sir…now I have to go to confession to repent for all the swear words I just said..

[@driley12]

Glad you are up and running!

[@Huzzunga]

I’m still swearing 😃😃. I’ll credit your video times two. It made me look at the grey photo again to realize the battery installs negative up. I only noticed battery installs here, and put it in positive up. I’ve never seen a negative install in the device positive out to the cap. I did wonder how it was going to make contact as the battery is inside the spring. But I removed the insulation, installed the battery correctly (for this installation) and the sparks are flying. Thanks

[@driley12]

Yes, very strange design. Yoyu would think the negative would be on the side of the screw in cap. More contact area.

[@billfullarton791]

tin foil may work too so you dont cut battery !

[@driley12]

Right. This will work if tin foil is not available.

[@deweymhoke]

I put a little piece of tin foil in mine lol fixed that’s a bad design for Mr heater

[@driley12]

I agree.

[@colemiller2089]

Mine works with a normal tripple a battery

[@driley12]

Maybe they have adjusted their design now.