3/3/22 I just went to their website and it says, "we don't know when we can get more of these"! Guess it's a good idea if they're selling out. Not sure that 58 degree exhaust heat would work in a cold setting.
I think Gasmate went back to the drawing board with this one, Mark, it was a good idea but it had a few shortcomings. Hopefully we something new and improved in the near future. ~ Ben
I bought one ( not from this store a camping store) it’s not hot I ran it for 1 hour and the battery is dead and won’t recharge it’s the only item I’ve ever bought that I regret buying waste of $500 dollars it’s sitting in the cupboard might be almost worth it if the battery was any good and even if it did last 5 hours that’s not practical or nearly long enough how do you charge it again . So even if you could charge it again somewhere out in the bush you can’t have it turned on and running while charging so you freeze. I have 5 diesel heaters that I use for different scenarios camping, 4WD and at home that are 10 times warmer than these sorry but waste of money wouldn’t even warm up a tent in winter in Australia and I mean if it was only 10 degrees Celsius outside, very disappointed with this product
I wonder if the unit can regulate the temperature, or is it an always-on-max-heat mode (55C) I wonder what the material of the heat exchanger inside is -- type of steel, copper, aluminum etc -- to know what one is potentially breathing. Cr, Ni, S can potentially get knocked out of the stainless steel at high temps, unless the steel is proper quality.
Combustion units need to stay outside, not inside, so you shouldnt be breathing anything. These units are now discontinued so there will be an alternative model coming out at some stage ~ Lauren
A temperature control would be nice, getting one anyhow for yacht. I have already looked at the download on a site where I’m buying from and it says NOT TO GET WET, AS IN RAIN, good ideas here about connecting to other battery source. I have a three panel ceramic heater in stowage, but that’s a fair distance from where I’m at now, it’s a great heater, but puts out way too much heat for boat, even on the #1 setting, so this blower should be the go.
I don't reckon a temp control gauge would be of any use, it isn't blowing out super hot air do you'd just have it on maximum all the time. It really is designed to take the chill out of the air, not to heat a space. ~ Ben
Couple more questions that I would liked to know in the video (Not being rude sorry if it sounds like that) What how many hours run time could you expect out of a 9kg gas bottle? And also can the unit be left out in the weather such as if it starts raining is it ok to leave it outside and running?
Hi Michael, these are probably something that we should have covered int eh video, apologies for overlooking them. Gasmate doesn't specifically state run time from a 9 kg bottle, but if it runs for about 7-8 hours from a 450 g propane canister, I guess you will get about 140 - 160 hours of run time from a 9 kg bottle. They do state an hourly gas consumption of 55 g/hr too which works out at a little over 160 hours from a 9kg bottle, but you'd need to factor in a bit of wastage. As for use in the rain, it's not immediately obvious in the Gasmate documentation, but they do state deep in their user guide that the unit should not be operated outdoors in the rain, and if the unit is exposed to rain to tilt the unit to allow water to escape. So I guess it needs to be used in a covered and ventilated outdoor space. ~ Ben
Snowys Outdoors Hi Ben thanks for replying mate. That run time sounds great. Seems like a ripper of a unit. Keep up the good work guys and girls love all your videos
@@Cruzeoverland sadly not completely 160 hours because after 6 hours the battery needs to be charged again for 5 hours for the fan.. I think I will take the battery out and swap it over with a large agm deep cycle battery externally either 6 or 12 volt depending on what’s inside then connect the positive and negative to the unit just a thought I guess I won’t know till mine arrives
I received my unit just a short while ago. It snowed and got rather chilly, so I cranked it up. It only lit the pilot flame, but the main burner would not light. I used both the small bottle, and a fresh 9 kg bottle (which I had tested on a gas stove and it worked fine even tho the air temp was about 2 C. What is wrong with it that the main burner isn't doing anything. The miserable air flow out the duct was only a tiny bit warmer than the room air temp. Pathetic.
I'm not 100% sure without sussing it out in person sorry @Nigel Williams. We haven't had these for a while now, so I would recommend getting in touch with the store you bought it form so they can do a warranty assessment. ~ Lauren
Bit of a fail having a camp heater only charged by 240v be good for one night but if u don’t have a inverter or power close u can’t recharge for second night What a shame looks like it would be killer but of gear
This is a common concern, Menace rc. It can take charge from a 12V source though, you just need to find or make up an appropriate cable. The 240V charger has a 14V 500mA output, which should be achievable from a vehicle's alternator. ~ Ben
You'd need to keep it under an awning or in a weather protected and ventilated space, The Wilder Fan Club. Campers may find this difficult, but those with a caravan or 4WD awning should have not problems keeping this out of the weather. ~ Ben
I'm sure those with the right knowledge could do this, mrdilligaf1968. Gasmate don't provide much info on the battery itself, and whilst it is rechargeable from 12V, I have a feeling it is actually a 6V battery inside. The 240V charger that is included has a 14VDC/500 mA output rating, but that's just the charge rate, not the power required to run the internal fan. I should also mention, just to cover our butts, that adapting this would void any warranty. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors yep. Knew that would void warranty so I'd wait until out of warranty. Is the fan only 1 speed or is it a high and low ? A lower fan speed would give a bit more battery life too. Cheers and thanks for such a fast response.
Great idea but that 240v ac charging makes it worthless if you are camping for more than one day. This is not the most efficient way to heat your tent though the idea is safer than most.
The 240V charge requirement has been a point of contention with this product, JT DragonFlash. It's the first of its type on the market though, I'm sure Gasmate are listening to the feedback, and hopefully they can address some of the issues raised in a future model. ~ Ben
Best way if you have no issues keeping camp fire burning all night? Bye a metal tool box that is around 12 - 15 inches from front to back and top to bottom and 24 - 30 inches long. Bore a 4.5 inch hole at one end and attach a metal vent hose to it. At the end you want in the tent add a USB powered fan plugged into an Anker 26800 mAh power brick. Load the tool box with big stones that fit with lid closed. Make sure you have some vent holes drilled at the other end of the box so air flow is good. Place close to the fire, the box will get hot making the stones hot and the fan is away from the flame sucking heat into your tent. Should the fire get low the stones will prolong loss of heat. When done and cool dump stones on the ground pack all into the box and put away. Find other stones at next location. Just make sure the handle is metal so it doesn't melt. USB fan can run on power brick for several days on one charge.
I bought one of these and I instantly feel scammed. When the air temp hits 55 degrees the heater flames out but the fan still runs. So basically it stops heating every 10 mins. We struggle to keep out selves warm this thing is dangerous if you are going to rely on it for a heat sorce
I 'd be interested except for a number of missing features in the unit. 1. The need to be outside to light it. 2. No thermostat control that I can see. 3 the need to go outside again to turn it off. therefore yo'd go from cold to sauna then pop outside to turn it off and end up cold again until you go outside to turn it on again .... I'd also want the option to run it off the "House" battery. I'll wait for the version Next after Next ....
Hi Henry. The combustion portion of the heater needs to be on the outside for safety reasons, I guess it would push price up way too far if they were to include a remote control panel. You are right in that there is no thermostat, but in reality it's not that hot that you would need to turn it down anyway, but it's a darn sight better than not heater at all on a cold night of camping. I'm not sure what you mean by running it from a 'house' battery, it's more of a portable unit so the battery is integrated, the main limitation is that it needs 240V to charge. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors "House" battery is the second (AGM or Lithium) battery, as opposed to the vehicle battery, charged from the alternator and/or Solar. I fully understand that this is a v1 -basic- product but as I say, for my needs, I'll wait to see what v3 looks like. Horses for courses.
Ah, I see what you mean. Yeah, this is the first time we've seen something like this on the market. I hope they listen to consumer feedback for future models or upgrades. ~ Ben
About the only thought put into this product was realising there is nothing else like it on the market. Not being able to turn it on/off from inside is as thoughtless as an oxygen sensor on a unit that is outside anyway. Im not even going to bother asking how efficient it is at this point.
There are no specs given on the battery but in sub-freezing temperatures the battery capacity will be greatly reduced. The propane bottles will also be prone to freezing & reduced delivery pressure as the tanks fall below half full. So I'm thinking that this heater is more suited for use when it is well above freezing outside since its output is only 2600 BTU's. Unless you have a 4-season tent, that isn't a lot of BTU's to keep the inside temperature up on cold windy nights. I also doubt that it would provide sufficient run-time while ice-fishing or during winter camping in extreme conditions. There's just no way that the battery will work for 6-7 hrs in winter conditions.
It's designed for Australian conditions, Fred, and despite having some snow areas in the country, sub-zero conditions aren't a primary focus for this heater. You're right though, particularly cold nights will impact run times. ~ Ben
I do wonder if it’s a sealed lead acid battery or lithium? Reading other comments it seems a 12V charger connected to a car with a strong alternator (one outputting 13.8V unlike the small generator in my Land Rover at 12.4V) it should charge fine. Interesting concept as it gets around having to have a window open with a conventional portable heater!
It's not a Lithium battery, Darcy, so most likely an SLA battery. We did plug it into a portable 44Ah power pack and the LED indicated that it was taking charge. The included 240V charger has a 14V 500mA output, so if you were able to obtain or make a suitable cable then it is likely to charge from a running vehicle with a good alternator. I should mention that nowhere in the documentation does it recommend this though. ~ Ben
We aren't stocking these anymore sorry Peter. For the record, we have somewhere along the line ascertained that the battery is a 12V Lithium-Ion battery, but Gasmate doesn't provide this information anywhere. It will either charge or run, not both at the same time. If you want to run directly from 12V then you may need to make some modifications. ~ Ben
If it's pissing down rain prepare to freeze l have tried everything no Bull These gadgets are stressful to much fart arseing around. Coz when you need it everything is working against you ... without a doubt better than diesel generator or buddy's or anything is a Kero heater ..all night all day on low toasty warm no ignition issues ... Now you know give us a like 👍
We've had mixed reviews on this heater, having to keep it under shelter in the rain is one downside of it. Sounds like you're not a fan. We are hoping this is the first iteration of better things to come. ~ Ben
There are no plans for us to export overseas sorry, LibertyBanjo, and as far as I ama ware the Gasmate brand is only distributed throughout Australia. ~ Ben
I'm off grid with my wee caravan. My problem would be recharging the heater. I would hv to take it somewhere with power to recharge. Would a jackery battery do the recharge?
I'm not sure sorry, Janice. The included 240V AC charger delivers 14V at 500mA, so your Jackery unit would need to do the same. You'd also need an appropriate adapter. The other alternative is an inverter, if you already have one that is, otherwise it's another expense. ~ Ben
I've heard great feedback on diesel heaters, it looks like you can pick some up that are on the more budget friendly end too. They seem to be a popular option for Caravans / motorhomes more so than tent camping. Do you use one? ~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors Hi Lauren, in fact I do since this week (8kW unit, all-in-1 type). I was using gas as prime energy source but the raising cost of the canisters and the condensation problem made me look for alternatives. While the all-in-one Chinese Diesel heaters certainly are powerful and provide lots of "dry" heat at low running cost, they are certainly not "ready to run" straight out of the box. I guess there would be a market opportunity in the 300-500 EUR range that's building on the Chinese heat source but with better solutions regarding noise, exhaust & fuel handling.
I’d like to know what they are like being left out in say -3 to -7 degrees do they pLay up like all the portable gas cookers has anyone used these in really cold conditions and does the gas keep up
I think this would struggle in those temperatures, Scott, mainly because the heat would be lost to the cold outside quicker than the heater could warm up the space inside. The gas would also be a problem as the temperature drops that low. ~ Ben
I don't know the technical configuration of this sorry, Shane, but I imagine it would be separate. I don't think it would pass the strict Australian Gas Association approvals if there was any change of CO or CO2 being pumped into the space being heated. ~ Ben
The manual is different from the unit eg has a different switch. My unit makes an aural beeping noise after 4 hours, for which I can't explain and is not documented. The battery life on mine isn't good enough to last the night.
I don't know what the sound could be you are referring to sorry, Rampy, and from memory the heater we used for this video was the same as that in the manual. If you purchased it from us and think it is faulty, jump onto our website and submit a warranty claim, we'll follow it up for you. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors The manual has an on-off switch. The unit has a charge-off-on switch. I think the beeping is for when the battery is at low voltage...also not documented in the manual.
Sounds like something must have changed since we shot the video, Rampy. If you reckon yours in faulty, and you purchased it from us, then jump online and submit a warranty claim so we can follow it up for you. ~ Ben
I know I'm late to the party as it's been nearly 3 years since this informative video was made, but when I checked your website just now, it says you're unable to get hold of anymore of these. Does it mean you no longer sell them or it's simply a supply issue? Looking at Gasmate's website, they still list it so it hasn't been discontinued. Please advise.
Our system has them discontinued by the supplier @Fatman Overlanding, but that was late last year. It may be that Gasmate are yet to update their website ~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors Thanks Lauren. I wonder why it was discontinued? Wasn't it effective in delivering hot air? 🤔 'Coz on paper it seems like the perfect heater solution. IMO better than diesel heaters (it just needed a 12V option to power the fan).
It's intended use is more so to take the chill out of the air when you get into the tent and ready for bed, yogi yogi, it's best to then switch it off before you go to sleep. ~ Ben
It can be left outside, Terry, just needs to be undercover. I'll agree that this creates some some limitations though, it might be something they consider for future models. ~ Ben
that's funny I looked at your website it only has two stars. people saying it sucks like major you know what. says you cannot get any more of them also. so why would you have something on your UA-cam channel that has terrible reviews that you can't get hold of
We didn't have a lot of success with this product, I believe the manufacturer is going back to the drawing board with the design. We leave this content up because it is useful for anyone who comes across the product, could be old stock in a store somewhere, or even second hand. The reviews and comments then paint an accurate picture of how the product performs. ~ Ben
It's not a strong fan in this one, Springles 1987, we tried to demonstrate this as best we could in the video. It's more of a consistent puff of warm air. ~ Ben
Biggest mistake everybody makes with new product guys is you must be able to run all camping gear off 12 v direct not charging a battery for 5 hours to get 6 hours running time
It does seem like an oversight. I guess it's good for a caravan park where 240V is available, but then you could realistically just run a fan heater in that instance. I'll post what charging details I can find on our website product page so the 12V savvy people can determine whether or not they can at least charge it from 12V, but running it straight from 12V isn't an option unfortunately. ~ Ben
Surely there is a brand in the US who has come up with something similar, you guys usually have a better range of these things than we do in Aus. ~ Ben
Gas consumption is stated as 55 grams per hour, aft, which means you theoretically get up to 145 hours of burn time from 8 Kg of gas. However, the battery requires charging every 6 or so hours and the unit will not run whilst the battery is charging, so what you are hoping to achieve will not work sorry. ~ Ben
The battery is 12v sealed, so surely a 12v cable from Jaycar or similar should work proving the amperage is low, which by gauging the thickness of charging wire on the video, should be ok. Snowys what does the tag on the 240v plug say? It should have inlet voltage and outlet voltage and max wattage?
Well don't I feel like a fool! That would be an obvious place to look! I'll check once I'm back in the shop tomorrow and post deets here and on our website product page. Thanks for the idea Adam Patryarcha. ~ Ben
Alright, so here's the lowdown, or at least as much as I can get. And, just as a disclaimer... I'm no expert on 12V, but I have some understanding. The 240V AC adapter has an output of 500mA at 14V DC, and there is a 1.5A fuse in the actual unit. The plug that goes into the unit is a standard 12V pin similar to most found on cigarette lead adapters. Just for fun, we just hooked it up to a portable power pack which read at 12.8V on the voltmeter, and when attached to the unit the red light flashed indicating that it was taking charge. So, I guess if it was attached to a 12V outlet in a vehicle whilst driving the device would charge at 500mA or just above if the charging voltage in the vehicle was up to around 14V, and you could add some charge from a 12V power pack but I'm not sure how quickly it will charge up. I hope that helps. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors The 240v adapter is regulating the current to 500mA so while it is possible to bypass the 240v adapter and connect to another 12v battery you would find that the current would most likely exceed that of the 1.5 amp fuse as the flat Gasmate battery would try to equalise with the other charging battery. They should beef up the charging circuit to allow connection of another DC source beyond the existing 1.5 amp circuit.
I purchased one of these units. It will run off a separate battery.........in fact the fan runs faster. It will run from a large gas bottle. The unit is a waste of money because it lacks heating output. It has no temperature control, but then doesn't really need one as flat out really is not much. Any thing bigger than a small tent and this unit will struggle in winter.
Yeah, they are really only for small tents. I'm not sure what you mean by a separate battery, have you removed the internal battery and replaced it? ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors I would have to look at mine......but I think I was able to purchase a charging cord that allows use from another battery whistle it is running......the use of a external power source drives the fan just a little bit harder and allows longer operation,especially with a bigger gas bottle. My unit was purchased from another company. Two problems jump out at me with this unit. 1.....lack of grunt....(if it had more grunt it would then need a heat adjustment control too) 2....it easy to damage the unit accidentally.....either the gas bottle adaptor to the side of the unit or the heat ducting tube.( spare tube should be supplied in case of damage ?) I think the idea is good and it's a safe option but has along way to go for the money. I like your site and shop and beening able to give a opinion.
@@RONAEMVCS thanks for the compliments. I hope this is an early sign of better things to come. I know Gasmate had a lot of trouble getting this certified by the AGA, hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come. ~ Ben
No-can-do sorry Bogan Street Bike Gang. The power switch needs to be to the right whilst charging, then switched to the left to run the fan. So it's one or the other I'm afraid. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors so what happens to the unit when the battery goes flat? Does it turn off or can you use a small 12 volt fan inside the tent at the end of the pipe to pull the hot air through the pipe??
@@SnowysOutdoors could you connect a separate 12 volt or 6 volt battery to the internal battery to keep it charging I’m sure that is possible just wondering 💭
If we can find out any details on the battery we'll add them to our website. That way 12V savvy people might be able to work out how to charge it from a 12V system. ~ Ben
It's not specifically designed to be used in a position that is fully exposed to the weather, John. It's best used under an awning where it is ventilated and protected from rain. ~ Ben
The heater works over and over, tundracamper, it's the gas that will run out. It can get expensive if you use disposable cylinders all the time, but you can attach it to a larger LPG cylinder with an optional hose. ~ Ben
It needs to be undercover, yogi yogi, but yes, you are right in that it would need to be on the outside of the tent. You could always chain it to something if you were concerned about theft. ~ Ben
Are you saying that a diesel heater is better, Joseph Jackson? Is there a portable model you have used or can recommend, we'd love to know about it. ~ Ben
Love how snowys actually reply to comments! Great job
We try an keep up, thanks for the comment, Palindrome AU. ~ Ben
I would buy this in a minute if it’s available in the US. Great solution for winter camping
It seems it's only available in Australia at the moment, Vu Le. ~ Ben
There is a much simpler unit with the same functionality available in the USA. No blower, I believe, you would have to rig that yourself.
‘Cold frog’ just made my day 👍🏼
Excellent detailed clear review.
Wish they were available in the US. It is exactly what I need.
I reckon we'll see updated and improved versions of these in the future, maybe there will be something similar in the US soon too. ~ Ben
Seems like a great product, looks like the included carry bag looks a bit flimsy.
My mates Mark K and Peter D would love this as they are quite delicate. Expect an online order soon.
3/3/22 I just went to their website and it says, "we don't know when we can get more of these"! Guess it's a good idea if they're selling out. Not sure that 58 degree exhaust heat would work in a cold setting.
I think Gasmate went back to the drawing board with this one, Mark, it was a good idea but it had a few shortcomings. Hopefully we something new and improved in the near future. ~ Ben
I bought one ( not from this store a camping store) it’s not hot I ran it for 1 hour and the battery is dead and won’t recharge it’s the only item I’ve ever bought that I regret buying waste of $500 dollars it’s sitting in the cupboard might be almost worth it if the battery was any good and even if it did last 5 hours that’s not practical or nearly long enough how do you charge it again . So even if you could charge it again somewhere out in the bush you can’t have it turned on and running while charging so you freeze. I have 5 diesel heaters that I use for different scenarios camping, 4WD and at home that are 10 times warmer than these sorry but waste of money wouldn’t even warm up a tent in winter in Australia and I mean if it was only 10 degrees Celsius outside, very disappointed with this product
I wonder if the unit can regulate the temperature, or is it an always-on-max-heat mode (55C) I wonder what the material of the heat exchanger inside is -- type of steel, copper, aluminum etc -- to know what one is potentially breathing. Cr, Ni, S can potentially get knocked out of the stainless steel at high temps, unless the steel is proper quality.
Combustion units need to stay outside, not inside, so you shouldnt be breathing anything.
These units are now discontinued so there will be an alternative model coming out at some stage
~ Lauren
thanks pebbles
You're welcome - i think!
~ Lauren
Woow if the fan works on heat will be awesome.
It's not a strong fan in this unit, tj, it will take the chill of the air in a small space. ~ Ben
A temperature control would be nice, getting one anyhow for yacht. I have already looked at the download on a site where I’m buying from and it says NOT TO GET WET, AS IN RAIN, good ideas here about connecting to other battery source. I have a three panel ceramic heater in stowage, but that’s a fair distance from where I’m at now, it’s a great heater, but puts out way too much heat for boat, even on the #1 setting, so this blower should be the go.
I don't reckon a temp control gauge would be of any use, it isn't blowing out super hot air do you'd just have it on maximum all the time. It really is designed to take the chill out of the air, not to heat a space. ~ Ben
Couple more questions that I would liked to know in the video (Not being rude sorry if it sounds like that) What how many hours run time could you expect out of a 9kg gas bottle? And also can the unit be left out in the weather such as if it starts raining is it ok to leave it outside and running?
Hi Michael, these are probably something that we should have covered int eh video, apologies for overlooking them. Gasmate doesn't specifically state run time from a 9 kg bottle, but if it runs for about 7-8 hours from a 450 g propane canister, I guess you will get about 140 - 160 hours of run time from a 9 kg bottle.
They do state an hourly gas consumption of 55 g/hr too which works out at a little over 160 hours from a 9kg bottle, but you'd need to factor in a bit of wastage.
As for use in the rain, it's not immediately obvious in the Gasmate documentation, but they do state deep in their user guide that the unit should not be operated outdoors in the rain, and if the unit is exposed to rain to tilt the unit to allow water to escape.
So I guess it needs to be used in a covered and ventilated outdoor space.
~ Ben
Snowys Outdoors Hi Ben thanks for replying mate. That run time sounds great. Seems like a ripper of a unit. Keep up the good work guys and girls love all your videos
140 hrs
I'm not sure why you would ever think asking a question about a product would be considered rude :S Asking questions is a good thing.
@@Cruzeoverland sadly not completely 160 hours because after 6 hours the battery needs to be charged again for 5 hours for the fan.. I think I will take the battery out and swap it over with a large agm deep cycle battery externally either 6 or 12 volt depending on what’s inside then connect the positive and negative to the unit just a thought I guess I won’t know till mine arrives
I received my unit just a short while ago. It snowed and got rather chilly, so I cranked it up. It only lit the pilot flame, but the main burner would not light. I used both the small bottle, and a fresh 9 kg bottle (which I had tested on a gas stove and it worked fine even tho the air temp was about 2 C. What is wrong with it that the main burner isn't doing anything. The miserable air flow out the duct was only a tiny bit warmer than the room air temp. Pathetic.
I'm not 100% sure without sussing it out in person sorry @Nigel Williams. We haven't had these for a while now, so I would recommend getting in touch with the store you bought it form so they can do a warranty assessment.
~ Lauren
Bit of a fail having a camp heater only charged by 240v be good for one night but if u don’t have a inverter or power close u can’t recharge for second night
What a shame looks like it would be killer but of gear
This is a common concern, Menace rc. It can take charge from a 12V source though, you just need to find or make up an appropriate cable. The 240V charger has a 14V 500mA output, which should be achievable from a vehicle's alternator. ~ Ben
Don't get it, how can you protect it from the weather.
You'd need to keep it under an awning or in a weather protected and ventilated space, The Wilder Fan Club. Campers may find this difficult, but those with a caravan or 4WD awning should have not problems keeping this out of the weather. ~ Ben
Looks to be a fairly standard DC charge plug. I wonder if this could be adapted to run the fan from a large deep cycle battery ?
I'm sure those with the right knowledge could do this, mrdilligaf1968.
Gasmate don't provide much info on the battery itself, and whilst it is rechargeable from 12V, I have a feeling it is actually a 6V battery inside. The 240V charger that is included has a 14VDC/500 mA output rating, but that's just the charge rate, not the power required to run the internal fan.
I should also mention, just to cover our butts, that adapting this would void any warranty.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors yep. Knew that would void warranty so I'd wait until out of warranty.
Is the fan only 1 speed or is it a high and low ? A lower fan speed would give a bit more battery life too.
Cheers and thanks for such a fast response.
Great idea but that 240v ac charging makes it worthless if you are camping for more than one day. This is not the most efficient way to heat your tent though the idea is safer than most.
The 240V charge requirement has been a point of contention with this product, JT DragonFlash. It's the first of its type on the market though, I'm sure Gasmate are listening to the feedback, and hopefully they can address some of the issues raised in a future model. ~ Ben
Whats the most efficient way to heat your tent?
Best way if you have no issues keeping camp fire burning all night? Bye a metal tool box that is around 12 - 15 inches from front to back and top to bottom and 24 - 30 inches long. Bore a 4.5 inch hole at one end and attach a metal vent hose to it. At the end you want in the tent add a USB powered fan plugged into an Anker 26800 mAh power brick. Load the tool box with big stones that fit with lid closed. Make sure you have some vent holes drilled at the other end of the box so air flow is good. Place close to the fire, the box will get hot making the stones hot and the fan is away from the flame sucking heat into your tent. Should the fire get low the stones will prolong loss of heat. When done and cool dump stones on the ground pack all into the box and put away. Find other stones at next location. Just make sure the handle is metal so it doesn't melt. USB fan can run on power brick for several days on one charge.
I bought one of these and I instantly feel scammed. When the air temp hits 55 degrees the heater flames out but the fan still runs. So basically it stops heating every 10 mins. We struggle to keep out selves warm this thing is dangerous if you are going to rely on it for a heat sorce
Hmmm, something doesn't sound right, takiwa, I'd suggest taking it back to the place of purchase for some troubleshooting. ~ Ben
I’ve had the exact same problem. This is a complete waist of money. Doesn’t do much at all.
I 'd be interested except for a number of missing features in the unit. 1. The need to be outside to light it. 2. No thermostat control that I can see. 3 the need to go outside again to turn it off. therefore yo'd go from cold to sauna then pop outside to turn it off and end up cold again until you go outside to turn it on again .... I'd also want the option to run it off the "House" battery. I'll wait for the version Next after Next ....
Hi Henry. The combustion portion of the heater needs to be on the outside for safety reasons, I guess it would push price up way too far if they were to include a remote control panel. You are right in that there is no thermostat, but in reality it's not that hot that you would need to turn it down anyway, but it's a darn sight better than not heater at all on a cold night of camping.
I'm not sure what you mean by running it from a 'house' battery, it's more of a portable unit so the battery is integrated, the main limitation is that it needs 240V to charge.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors "House" battery is the second (AGM or Lithium) battery, as opposed to the vehicle battery, charged from the alternator and/or Solar. I fully understand that this is a v1 -basic- product but as I say, for my needs, I'll wait to see what v3 looks like. Horses for courses.
Ah, I see what you mean. Yeah, this is the first time we've seen something like this on the market. I hope they listen to consumer feedback for future models or upgrades. ~ Ben
About the only thought put into this product was realising there is nothing else like it on the market. Not being able to turn it on/off from inside is as thoughtless as an oxygen sensor on a unit that is outside anyway. Im not even going to bother asking how efficient it is at this point.
There are no specs given on the battery but in sub-freezing temperatures the battery capacity will be greatly reduced. The propane bottles will also be prone to freezing & reduced delivery pressure as the tanks fall below half full. So I'm thinking that this heater is more suited for use when it is well above freezing outside since its output is only 2600 BTU's. Unless you have a 4-season tent, that isn't a lot of BTU's to keep the inside temperature up on cold windy nights. I also doubt that it would provide sufficient run-time while ice-fishing or during winter camping in extreme conditions. There's just no way that the battery will work for 6-7 hrs in winter conditions.
It's designed for Australian conditions, Fred, and despite having some snow areas in the country, sub-zero conditions aren't a primary focus for this heater. You're right though, particularly cold nights will impact run times.
~ Ben
I do wonder if it’s a sealed lead acid battery or lithium? Reading other comments it seems a 12V charger connected to a car with a strong alternator (one outputting 13.8V unlike the small generator in my Land Rover at 12.4V) it should charge fine. Interesting concept as it gets around having to have a window open with a conventional portable heater!
It's not a Lithium battery, Darcy, so most likely an SLA battery. We did plug it into a portable 44Ah power pack and the LED indicated that it was taking charge. The included 240V charger has a 14V 500mA output, so if you were able to obtain or make a suitable cable then it is likely to charge from a running vehicle with a good alternator. I should mention that nowhere in the documentation does it recommend this though. ~ Ben
Bring it to the states please 🥺
Sorry we dont ship internationally @Kevin x!
~ Lauren
Can it be used in a caravan?
You;d need to put the unit on the outside with the duct going in through a vent, door or window. ~ Ben
12 volt battery inside or 6volt ??? so I can run it of my car battery.
We aren't stocking these anymore sorry Peter. For the record, we have somewhere along the line ascertained that the battery is a 12V Lithium-Ion battery, but Gasmate doesn't provide this information anywhere. It will either charge or run, not both at the same time. If you want to run directly from 12V then you may need to make some modifications. ~ Ben
If it's pissing down rain prepare to freeze l have tried everything no Bull
These gadgets are stressful to much fart arseing around. Coz when you need it everything is working against you ... without a doubt better than diesel generator or buddy's or anything is a Kero heater ..all night all day on low toasty warm no ignition issues ...
Now you know give us a like 👍
We've had mixed reviews on this heater, having to keep it under shelter in the rain is one downside of it. Sounds like you're not a fan. We are hoping this is the first iteration of better things to come. ~ Ben
The burner unit is to be external to the room/tent. So what's the point of low oxygen sensor /cutout?
I think it's a requirement of the gas regulation organisations, Reg, but I can't say for sure. ~ Ben
Any plans to export to the USA? Looks like a great unit. Thanks for sharing.
There are no plans for us to export overseas sorry, LibertyBanjo, and as far as I ama ware the Gasmate brand is only distributed throughout Australia. ~ Ben
Snowys Outdoors 🙁
Ahh ok guess that answers my question, gotta go with a Chinese diesel heater then, nice product my Aussie friends.
I'm off grid with my wee caravan. My problem would be recharging the heater. I would hv to take it somewhere with power to recharge. Would a jackery battery do the recharge?
I'm not sure sorry, Janice. The included 240V AC charger delivers 14V at 500mA, so your Jackery unit would need to do the same. You'd also need an appropriate adapter.
The other alternative is an inverter, if you already have one that is, otherwise it's another expense.
~ Ben
Um... looks like a well-made unit but with burning (currently) around 10.00 EUR (16.00 AUD) per night, I'd definitely be looking at a diesel heater!
I've heard great feedback on diesel heaters, it looks like you can pick some up that are on the more budget friendly end too. They seem to be a popular option for Caravans / motorhomes more so than tent camping. Do you use one?
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors Hi Lauren, in fact I do since this week (8kW unit, all-in-1 type). I was using gas as prime energy source but the raising cost of the canisters and the condensation problem made me look for alternatives. While the all-in-one Chinese Diesel heaters certainly are powerful and provide lots of "dry" heat at low running cost, they are certainly not "ready to run" straight out of the box. I guess there would be a market opportunity in the 300-500 EUR range that's building on the Chinese heat source but with better solutions regarding noise, exhaust & fuel handling.
@@f.d.6667 Thanks so much for the feedback on that! It sounds like its worth looking into some all in one options for our next winter.
~ Lauren
So you can only charge it with 240v?, and it only last 6 hours, that's no good for off grid
They don;t make this anymore, I think they have taken the customer feedback and looked into other options. ~ Ben
I’d like to know what they are like being left out in say -3 to -7 degrees do they pLay up like all the portable gas cookers has anyone used these in really cold conditions and does the gas keep up
I think this would struggle in those temperatures, Scott, mainly because the heat would be lost to the cold outside quicker than the heater could warm up the space inside. The gas would also be a problem as the temperature drops that low. ~ Ben
Is there any chance of the unit pumping either CO or CO2 into the tent or is it an independent heat exchanger system
I don't know the technical configuration of this sorry, Shane, but I imagine it would be separate. I don't think it would pass the strict Australian Gas Association approvals if there was any change of CO or CO2 being pumped into the space being heated.
~ Ben
The manual is different from the unit eg has a different switch. My unit makes an aural beeping noise after 4 hours, for which I can't explain and is not documented. The battery life on mine isn't good enough to last the night.
I don't know what the sound could be you are referring to sorry, Rampy, and from memory the heater we used for this video was the same as that in the manual. If you purchased it from us and think it is faulty, jump onto our website and submit a warranty claim, we'll follow it up for you. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors The manual has an on-off switch. The unit has a charge-off-on switch. I think the beeping is for when the battery is at low voltage...also not documented in the manual.
Sounds like something must have changed since we shot the video, Rampy. If you reckon yours in faulty, and you purchased it from us, then jump online and submit a warranty claim so we can follow it up for you. ~ Ben
Can that regulator be used on the Hyperflame cooker?
No, it's different, MAUMIE461, you need to use the Coleman specific regulator on the Hyperflame stoves. ~ Ben
I know I'm late to the party as it's been nearly 3 years since this informative video was made, but when I checked your website just now, it says you're unable to get hold of anymore of these. Does it mean you no longer sell them or it's simply a supply issue? Looking at Gasmate's website, they still list it so it hasn't been discontinued. Please advise.
Our system has them discontinued by the supplier @Fatman Overlanding, but that was late last year.
It may be that Gasmate are yet to update their website
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors Thanks Lauren. I wonder why it was discontinued? Wasn't it effective in delivering hot air? 🤔 'Coz on paper it seems like the perfect heater solution. IMO better than diesel heaters (it just needed a 12V option to power the fan).
I use this to heat my double storey home
Wow, these are really only designed for a small space, Jim. How big (or small) is your house? ~ Ben
confused the battery only powers the fan for 6 hours but i sleep 8 hours
It's intended use is more so to take the chill out of the air when you get into the tent and ready for bed, yogi yogi, it's best to then switch it off before you go to sleep. ~ Ben
If it can't be left outside safely then what is the point.
It can be left outside, Terry, just needs to be undercover. I'll agree that this creates some some limitations though, it might be something they consider for future models. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors . Thank you for your reply.
that's funny I looked at your website it only has two stars. people saying it sucks like major you know what. says you cannot get any more of them also. so why would you have something on your UA-cam channel that has terrible reviews that you can't get hold of
We didn't have a lot of success with this product, I believe the manufacturer is going back to the drawing board with the design. We leave this content up because it is useful for anyone who comes across the product, could be old stock in a store somewhere, or even second hand. The reviews and comments then paint an accurate picture of how the product performs.
~ Ben
I purchased one but my fan doesn’t blow that fast
It's not a strong fan in this one, Springles 1987, we tried to demonstrate this as best we could in the video. It's more of a consistent puff of warm air. ~ Ben
Do you have a converter for AC plug for the USA?
We don't sorry, George. You'd have to use a converter that can likely be found at an electronics store in your country I reckon. ~ Ben
Is there an adapter for us American friends who dont have 240v ?
Not readily available sorry, David. I guess you could use a travel style adapter though. ~ Ben
Would you send it to Brazil?
We only ship within Australia sorry, José. ~ Ben
Biggest mistake everybody makes with new product guys is
you must be able to run all camping gear off 12 v direct not charging a battery for 5 hours to get 6 hours running time
It does seem like an oversight. I guess it's good for a caravan park where 240V is available, but then you could realistically just run a fan heater in that instance. I'll post what charging details I can find on our website product page so the 12V savvy people can determine whether or not they can at least charge it from 12V, but running it straight from 12V isn't an option unfortunately. ~ Ben
Why not get a power station and run a space heater?
Could do that I suppose, as long as the power station/pack is large enough. ~ Ben
Snowys Outdoors thanks. I live in Canada.
How about a US version?
Surely there is a brand in the US who has come up with something similar, you guys usually have a better range of these things than we do in Aus. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors not that I have found
how long does a 8kg bbq gas cylinder last ? how many hours? and can you have it going all day and night ie battery charging overnight while in use?
Gas consumption is stated as 55 grams per hour, aft, which means you theoretically get up to 145 hours of burn time from 8 Kg of gas. However, the battery requires charging every 6 or so hours and the unit will not run whilst the battery is charging, so what you are hoping to achieve will not work sorry.
~ Ben
The battery is 12v sealed, so surely a 12v cable from Jaycar or similar should work proving the amperage is low, which by gauging the thickness of charging wire on the video, should be ok. Snowys what does the tag on the 240v plug say? It should have inlet voltage and outlet voltage and max wattage?
Well don't I feel like a fool! That would be an obvious place to look! I'll check once I'm back in the shop tomorrow and post deets here and on our website product page. Thanks for the idea Adam Patryarcha. ~ Ben
Alright, so here's the lowdown, or at least as much as I can get. And, just as a disclaimer... I'm no expert on 12V, but I have some understanding.
The 240V AC adapter has an output of 500mA at 14V DC, and there is a 1.5A fuse in the actual unit. The plug that goes into the unit is a standard 12V pin similar to most found on cigarette lead adapters.
Just for fun, we just hooked it up to a portable power pack which read at 12.8V on the voltmeter, and when attached to the unit the red light flashed indicating that it was taking charge.
So, I guess if it was attached to a 12V outlet in a vehicle whilst driving the device would charge at 500mA or just above if the charging voltage in the vehicle was up to around 14V, and you could add some charge from a 12V power pack but I'm not sure how quickly it will charge up.
I hope that helps. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors The 240v adapter is regulating the current to 500mA so while it is possible to bypass the 240v adapter and connect to another 12v battery you would find that the current would most likely exceed that of the 1.5 amp fuse as the flat Gasmate battery would try to equalise with the other charging battery. They should beef up the charging circuit to allow connection of another DC source beyond the existing 1.5 amp circuit.
I purchased one of these units.
It will run off a separate battery.........in fact the fan runs faster.
It will run from a large gas bottle.
The unit is a waste of money because it lacks heating output.
It has no temperature control, but then doesn't really need one as flat out really is not much.
Any thing bigger than a small tent and this unit will struggle in winter.
Yeah, they are really only for small tents. I'm not sure what you mean by a separate battery, have you removed the internal battery and replaced it? ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors I would have to look at mine......but I think I was able to purchase a charging cord that allows use from another battery whistle it is running......the use of a external power source drives the fan just a little bit harder and allows longer operation,especially with a bigger gas bottle.
My unit was purchased from another company.
Two problems jump out at me with this unit.
1.....lack of grunt....(if it had more grunt it would then need a heat adjustment control too)
2....it easy to damage the unit accidentally.....either the gas bottle adaptor to the side of the unit or the heat ducting tube.( spare tube should be supplied in case of damage ?)
I think the idea is good and it's a safe option but has along way to go for the money.
I like your site and shop and beening able to give a opinion.
@@RONAEMVCS thanks for the compliments. I hope this is an early sign of better things to come. I know Gasmate had a lot of trouble getting this certified by the AGA, hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come. ~ Ben
Hi can you have it charging the battery while it's running?
Thanks
No-can-do sorry Bogan Street Bike Gang. The power switch needs to be to the right whilst charging, then switched to the left to run the fan. So it's one or the other I'm afraid. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors thanks Ben that's a bugger.
@@bunburysbigbogan5778 I agree... a read downer for what seems like A great heater. Enough to cause me to give it a miss. Shame though.
@@SnowysOutdoors so what happens to the unit when the battery goes flat? Does it turn off or can you use a small 12 volt fan inside the tent at the end of the pipe to pull the hot air through the pipe??
@@SnowysOutdoors could you connect a separate 12 volt or 6 volt battery to the internal battery to keep it charging I’m sure that is possible just wondering 💭
Do you ship to canada?
Unfortunately, we don't, eleazer garrino - only within Australia. Cheers, Laine
Thanks!
do you have a u.s.a plug for the charger?
We don't sorry, Lay, you'd have to use an adapter like this one www.snowys.com.au/australiachina-japanus-adaptor. ~ Ben
Or simply buy a US transformer with the right DC plug and Amperage output
If only you could run the fan off 12v... Big fail Gasmate.
If we can find out any details on the battery we'll add them to our website. That way 12V savvy people might be able to work out how to charge it from a 12V system. ~ Ben
12v battery --> 240v inverter --> charger?
Pretty sure the website says it can run off 12V or the built in battery.
Is weather proof or does it need protection from rain?
It's not specifically designed to be used in a position that is fully exposed to the weather, John. It's best used under an awning where it is ventilated and protected from rain. ~ Ben
So, basically it’s $400 for one night of heat.
The heater works over and over, tundracamper, it's the gas that will run out. It can get expensive if you use disposable cylinders all the time, but you can attach it to a larger LPG cylinder with an optional hose.
~ Ben
Snowys Outdoors but without access to electricity it won’t run more than one night even if you have 1,000 gallons of propane. So, what’s the point.
Fair call, the lack of a 12V charging ability has been brought up a few times. Hopefully, Gasmate address this in future models. ~ Ben
Anemometers cost $20.
They probably do!
~ Lauren
so u set the unit outside in the rain a thieve could steal it
It needs to be undercover, yogi yogi, but yes, you are right in that it would need to be on the outside of the tent. You could always chain it to something if you were concerned about theft. ~ Ben
Naa chinese heater copy but gas far far to expensive to run i wouldnt wast my time diesel heaters have a sepperate combuston chainbourgh. what Rubbish
Are you saying that a diesel heater is better, Joseph Jackson? Is there a portable model you have used or can recommend, we'd love to know about it. ~ Ben
NO BODY USES BTU ANYMORE. And I can't stand people that say "'impordant"'. It's not even English! it's officially Bogan!
Our video obviously didn't help you, Dora Explora, I hope you found what you were seeking elsewhere.. ~ Ben