Electric Blanket

[MCDenny]

Originally Posted by Night Sailor

I am not sure if the blanket works on a timed duty cycle or reduced power at lower settings. It will be interesting to find out.

Most hearing element gizmos like this turn off and on to achieve medium and low power. A 1500w hot plate I was fooling around would turn on for perhaps one second then be off for three or four seconds on "low".

You can watch the current display on the battery meter to see if the blanket works this way. I bet it does.

Is the caution not to use with inverter because it's so easy to wake up in the morning with a dead battery? Even a plain old square wave inverter should run a resistance heater just fine.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Night Sailor

[COLOR=Blue] I have a down comforter that I would use when it gets really cold, still, I'd like to at least warm things up before climbing in.
]

Hot water bottle will do that for you! Or make the dogs go to bed first.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Night Sailor

Memory foam is to hot for me too.

I have heard people say that but I have never noticed it even when in very hot weather. I put a mattress cover over mine though which may be why I don't notice it.

[Night Sailor]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Conrad, consider a hotwater bottle to pre-warm your bed. It's cozy down by the feet!

My feet are toasty. The vendor said that these should not be used if you have cold feet, diabetes, etc. I have cold feet and need the warmth.

I am using it right now on the high setting on shore power as my current battery could not handle the last many days of overcast. I broke down and plugged in. Both dogs are right up against me, on my side. Preferring heat to soft pillows. I dare not move as I am the pillow. In any event, I love the heat. I hope crawling on the blanket doesn't ruin it.

Nevertheless, a hot water bottle is a fine idea.

[Gilda]

As far as insulation below your mattress you might want to consider using 1/2" thick closed cell foam mats that are used for backpacking. Here's one from Amazon Amazon.com: Stansport Pack-Lite Pad (72X19X3/8-Inch, Blue): Sports & Outdoors. I have commonly found these without straps in sporting supply stores.

[carlkeigley]

Or, these:

Util-A-Mat Commercial Grade Reversible Floor Mats - 24" x 24" - 8 Tiles - Sam's Club

[Roy in TO]

How about a installing a radiant floor under the matress using a propane water heater and a recirculating pump? A cycling pump would surely use less power.
What are Hydronic Radiant Floors? | Lowe's Canada

This is April Fools right?

On a more serious note, pop ups have heated mattresses. Here's a 12V option:
http://www.bedderbedding.net/index.c...category_ID/20

[blodn1]

Actually, this radiant floor might be better (I know Roy was kidding). I'm thinking about putting it under the floor in my Snoozy. Cheap enough to give it a try.
InfraFloor - Radiant Floor Heating Systems

[RRJR]

The joys of camping! Trying to make it more like home all the time ??

[Raz]

After thinking about it I don't think the control on your blanket is a thermostat but rather an SCR or triac based control similar to a light dimmer only with preset levels. Like pulse width modulation with DC, these devices vary the duty cycle of the AC wave. As such they work best with a pure sine wave. While the blanket will work with a square wave, the controller will not. Raz

[Kudzu Asheville]

I can't comment on amps used etc., but I find a heating pad does a nice job of warming up a chilly bed. Newer models also turn themselves off after a half hour or so.

Leslie

[steve dunham]

The expense of adding 400 watts of solar and an additional battery plus the additional weight added to the trailer , seems a high price to pay for being able to run an electric blanket .

[Raz]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

The expense of adding 400 watts of solar and an additional battery plus the additional weight added to the trailer , seems a high price to pay for being able to run an electric blanket .

Hi Steve. I've seen folks run microwaves, coffee pots, refrigerators, and one fellow, a room air conditioner, off batteries. I've seen stuff over wired, over designed, large solar arrays, expensive monitoring systems of questionable accuracy, expensive charging systems of questionable value, and batteries you need a fork lift to move. The way I look at it, there is a lot of learning going on, it puts money into the economy, and they're having fun. Besides, if you ever want any of this stuff it will show up on ebay, cheap, sooner or later. Each to his own , Raz

[David Tilston]

My plan is to put on the order of 700 to 900 watts of solar on the roof. This should be enough to run a small air conditioner, 12/120 volt compressor fridge and the LED lights.

The way I see it, there are four levels of solar power.
1. LED Lights, and your cell phone - ~40W
2. Fridge - ~100W
3. Air conditioner - ~700W
4. Propulsion, (at a brisk walking pace) - ~2000 to 4000W

I got wheel chair motors, and controls from my brothers company for $50. The bigger ones are $80. They get wheel chairs that are not worth repairing, and strip off the electrical components.

I plan to use them to get the trailer into the camping spot. In theory they could propel the trailer 40 to 50 km a day.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by P. Raz

Hi Steve. I've seen folks run microwaves, coffee pots, refrigerators, and one fellow, a room air conditioner, off batteries. I've seen stuff over wired, over designed, large solar arrays, expensive monitoring systems of questionable accuracy, expensive charging systems of questionable value, and batteries you need a fork lift to move. The way I look at it, there is a lot of learning going on, it puts money into the economy, and they're having fun. Besides, if you ever want any of this stuff it will show up on ebay, cheap, sooner or later. Each to his own , Raz

You have a valid point . When I taught electrical control and design , I tried to teach my students not to under or over design a project . Making electrical systems overly complicated usually leads to more problems than it solves. It is a balancing act between function and cost and in the real world cost usually wins out!!

[Raz]

Think of it as tuition. In fact, cheaper. The text for the first year course in DC and AC I taught must be over $200 by now. Raz

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

My plan is to put on the order of 700 to 900 watts of solar on the roof. This should be enough to run a small air conditioner, 12/120 volt compressor fridge and the LED lights.

The way I see it, there are four levels of solar power.
1. LED Lights, and your cell phone - ~40W
2. Fridge - ~100W
3. Air conditioner - ~700W
4. Propulsion, (at a brisk walking pace) - ~2000 to 4000W

I got wheel chair motors, and controls from my brothers company for $50. The bigger ones are $80. They get wheel chairs that are not worth repairing, and strip off the electrical components.

I plan to use them to get the trailer into the camping spot. In theory they could propel the trailer 40 to 50 km a day.

Have you looked into a Mack or a Freightliner to tow all this stuff for you. I really think then a solar powered hot tub should be considered.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Have you looked into a Mack or a Freightliner to tow all this stuff for you. I really think then a solar powered hot tub should be considered.

I think you misunderstand. The idea is to require no tug, just a lot of patience .

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

I think you misunderstand. The idea is to require no tug, just a lot of patience .

LOL!

*pictures Dave towing his solar array down the highway with an electric chair*

[David Tilston]

One more try.

The trailer would have the motors and steer like a wheel chair, (or tank) by spinning one wheel faster than the other. The tongue jack would have a large castor wheel. The back becomes the front.

Use the generator when power runs low.

For winter, substitute something like Mattracks https://www.mattracks.com/ , and a ski on the tongue.

It would get you to some difficult to reach camp sites, slowly. I am thinking across a frozen lake, or a road that is closed in the winter.

Since it would go at a quick walking pace, auto pilot is an option.

Art vehicle for Burning Man.