In about 10-15 minutes you can set up a propane-powered ducted heater that keeps your tent warm all night with thermostat-controlled temperature, running off a portable battery.
Setup Time
10-15 minutes
Heat Output
6,500 BTU
Power
12V DC (1.4A draw)
Fuel
Propane (standard tank)
CRITICAL: Connect the thermostat BEFORE power. Disconnect power BEFORE the thermostat. Reversing this order will blow a fuse.
Orientation
Clear the pad, lay out your parts, and spot the color coding so setup flows smoothly.
Set up the heater near your tent where the duct can enter through a window or door opening. Make sure the exhaust outlet (the dirty exhaust) points away from your tent and has at least one foot of clearance, as the air coming out will be hot.
Lay everything out before you start so nothing is missing mid-setup.
THERMOSTAT MUST BE CONNECTED WHENEVER POWER IS ON
The thermostat must always be connected to the heater when there is power to the unit. Connect the thermostat BEFORE plugging in power. Disconnect power BEFORE unplugging the thermostat. If you disconnect the thermostat while power is still connected, you WILL blow a fuse.
Sealed combustion
The Propex HS2000 has a fully sealed combustion chamber. Exhaust gases never enter your tent. Only clean heated air flows through the ducts into your living space.
heater setup
Position the heater, connect the propane, wire the battery, and route the ducts into your tent.
Set up the heater near your tent where the duct can enter through a window or door opening. Make sure the exhaust outlet (the dirty exhaust) points away from your tent and has at least one foot of clearance as the air coming out will be hot.
Exhaust clearance
The exhaust outlet gets very hot during operation. Keep it pointed away from tent fabric, guy lines, and anything flammable. Maintain at least 12 inches of clearance.
Hang the thermostat unit inside your tent in an open air area. Route the wire out of the tent and plug it into the front of the heater. This MUST be done before connecting any power to the heater. The thermostat must always be connected whenever the unit has power.
ALWAYS CONNECT THERMOSTAT BEFORE POWER
The thermostat must be plugged into the heater before you connect any power source. If the heater receives power without the thermostat attached, it will blow a fuse. Thermostat first, power second. No exceptions.
Attach the ducting to the heater by taking off the duct caps and simply twisting the adapter fitting over the O-ring.
Slip the inlet and outlet ducts into your tent through a door or window, making sure neither of the ducts are blocked and have a clear air flow path.
Pull back the lock sleeve on the quick-connect fitting and push it firmly onto the heater's propane inlet. Release the sleeve; it should snap forward when securely connected.
Screw the regulator and hose onto your propane tank. Note: The regulator fitting is left-hand threaded. Turn counterclockwise to tighten.
Left-hand thread
Propane fittings use reverse (left-hand) threading as a safety feature. Turn the regulator counterclockwise to tighten onto the tank.
Apply firm pressure as needed, and ensure all connections are secure before turning on the propane.
Grip the knob firmly and rotate it counterclockwise (left) to start the flow of propane. Open it slowly to prevent sudden pressure surges.
Place the EcoFlow River 2 Pro battery inside your tent near where you will route the power cord.
Connect your EcoFlow River 2 Pro battery to the heater using the cigarette lighter adapter. Plug the adapter into the 12V car outlet on the battery.
The cigarette lighter plug should light up when power is active.
Verify the thermostat is already plugged into the heater (Step 2). Then attach the DC barrel connector from the power cord to the heater's 12V input port. Once plugged in, the heater will start automatically and briefly blow air to indicate it's receiving power.
CONFIRM THERMOSTAT IS CONNECTED BEFORE THIS STEP
Do NOT plug in the power cord unless the thermostat is already connected to the heater. Powering the unit without the thermostat will blow a fuse. If you skipped Step 2, go back and connect the thermostat now.
Press the Flame button under the thermostat screen. The display will light up and show the current temperature.
Use the up and down arrow buttons to adjust the temperature. The screen will briefly show the set temperature before switching back to the current room temperature.
The heater will turn on and run until the room is 2°F warmer than your set temperature. It will then turn off but keep the fan running for a minute to cool down. When the temperature drops 1°F below your set temperature, the heater will restart automatically.
Overnight heating
The heater cycles on and off automatically throughout the night. At 1.4A draw, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro (768 Wh) can power the heater electronics for an entire weekend of camping.
heater shutdown
Shut down the heater safely by turning off components in the correct order.
DISCONNECT POWER BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT
The thermostat must stay connected whenever the unit has power. Disconnect the power cord FIRST, then unplug the thermostat. If you unplug the thermostat while power is still connected, you WILL blow a fuse.
Press and hold the Flame button on the thermostat until the heater shuts down. The fan will continue running briefly to cool the system.
Turn the propane tank valve clockwise (right) until fully closed. Disconnect the quick-connect fitting from the heater after shutting off the propane.
Unplug the 12V power cable from the heater. Turn off the battery by pressing the DC On/Off button. Do NOT touch the thermostat connection yet — it must stay connected until power is fully disconnected.
POWER OFF BEFORE THERMOSTAT
The power cord must be disconnected before you unplug the thermostat. Removing the thermostat while the unit still has power will blow a fuse. Power off first, thermostat second.
Confirm the power cord is unplugged and the battery DC output is off. Only then unplug the thermostat wire from the front of the heater.
Detach the heater ducts by twisting and pulling them off carefully. Store them neatly to prevent damage.
Place the thermostat, power cable, propane regulator, and ducts back inside the heater carrying case.
error reset
Reset the heater if you see a blinking red light on the thermostat, which indicates a fault (e.g., low propane, blocked airflow, or power issues).
Hold the Flame button until the heater shuts off. The thermostat will still blink the fault code.
The small reset button is located on the lower right of the thermostat display. Quickly press and release the button twice (each press should last about 1 second).
If successful, the red light will stop blinking. If it continues, repeat the process or check for underlying issues. Make sure the ducts are not blocked and make sure the propane valves are in the 'on' position.
Walk the perimeter once and confirm these items before moving in.
Your Propex HS2000 is running. Set your temperature and the heater will cycle on and off all night to maintain a warm tent. Sweet dreams.
Watch a walkthrough of the full setup process.
The Propex HS2000 keeps all combustion gases completely sealed from your living space. Only clean heated air enters your tent through the ducts. No carbon monoxide risk from the heater itself.
Set your desired temperature and the heater cycles on and off automatically. It heats to 2°F above your set point, then restarts when it drops 1°F below.
At just 1.4 amps (about 17 watts), the heater electronics barely sip power. An EcoFlow River 2 Pro can run it for an entire weekend of camping without recharging.
The 60 CFM fan is quiet enough to sleep through. When the heater cycles off, the fan runs for about a minute to cool down, then goes completely silent until the next heating cycle.
Heat Output
6,500 BTU
Airflow
60 CFM
Power Draw
1.4A continuous / 0.04A standby (12V DC)
Fuel Consumption
~5 oz propane/hour
Propane Runtime
~60 hours on a 20 lb tank
Heater Dimensions
12.6" L x 6.8" W x 4" H
Ducting Size
60mm flexible ducts
Battery Used
EcoFlow River 2 Pro (768 Wh)
MSRP
~$1,200 (heater) / ~$339 (battery)
Manufacturer
Propex (propexheatsource.co.uk)
The thermostat shows a blinking red light
This indicates a fault. Turn off the heater with the Flame button, press the Reset button on the thermostat twice (1 second each press), and check if the red light stops blinking. If it persists, check that propane valves are open and ducts are not blocked.
The heater starts but shuts off after a few seconds
This usually means no propane is reaching the burner. Check that the propane tank valve is open, the quick-disconnect valve is open, and the regulator is properly threaded onto the tank (remember: counterclockwise to tighten).
No warm air is coming through the ducts
Verify the thermostat shows the heater is actively heating (flame icon). Check that ducts are not kinked or blocked. Make sure the battery DC output is on and the cigarette lighter plug is lit.
The heater blew a fuse
This happens when the thermostat is disconnected while the unit still has power. The thermostat must always be connected whenever there is power on the unit. The correct order is: connect thermostat before power, disconnect power before thermostat. Check and replace the fuse inside the heater unit.
How long will the battery last?
The EcoFlow River 2 Pro (768 Wh) at 1.4A continuous draw can theoretically run the heater electronics for 45+ hours. In practice, the thermostat cycles the heater on and off, so actual runtime is even longer. A full charge easily covers a weekend trip.
Can I use a different battery?
Yes, any battery with a 12V DC output (car-style cigarette lighter port) works. The heater draws only 1.4A (about 17W). Even smaller batteries like the EcoFlow River 2 (256 Wh) can run it for 15+ hours.
Is it safe to run the heater overnight in a tent?
Yes. The Propex HS2000 has a fully sealed combustion chamber. Exhaust gases are vented outside through a dedicated flue pipe. Only clean heated air enters your tent. However, always ensure the exhaust outlet has clearance and is pointed away from the tent.
The propane regulator won't tighten onto the tank
Propane fittings use left-hand (reverse) threads. Turn the regulator counterclockwise to tighten, not clockwise. This is a safety feature to prevent accidental cross-threading with standard fittings.