Warning.. reading this may cause drowsiness..
I decided to do another more controlled experiment..tho probably not as scientific as it could be. I lack hoity toity measurement tools..
I moved the subject space used to the bathroom..the only totally isolated area in my rig. Again, I waited until the sun was going down and not a factor in passive
solar heating of the rig. It was an exceptionally overcast day today, so this was minimal anyway.
I opened the bathroom door and waited to "equalize" the temps in the main cabin and the bathroom so both rooms are 65 degrees. My temp measurements in each room were taken 10 mins apart. Both cabin and bathroom roof vents were open to cool the areas while waiting for this equalization, then they both are shut.
Again, I was sitting all bundled up in my ski jacket and stupid hat. 65 is WAY too cold for me..I need a nose mitten. (Granted.. a big one :-) ) I was NOT running any cabin heat for this test. The bathroom door remained closed throughout (Except to take a quick measurement every 15 mins) and the
light remained off. Each phase of the test lasted 1 hour.
The bathroom is approx 3 1/2ftx 4ft and is only 5 1/2 ft tall. It has two insulated outside walls + Ceiling, and 2 uninsulated inside walls. There are no
windows. It has all the standard stuff in it everyone else has. The door is hollow core, but covered in T&G Cedar, full length and it seals quite well. There is a knock out spot in it where I have a faux firebox on the outside, but I covered this with my robe to insulate it and stuffed the opening at the top. It is what it is.
I placed a grate over my bathroom sink and placed the thermometer kitty corner to that at approx 4 ft away and a foot above sink level. On the grate I put a single 1" diameter Tea candle.
Phase 1 of the test..Tea Candle only.
First measurement, before
lighting the candle:
65 degrees and 82% Relative Humidity
15 mins later:
67 degrees and 80% Relative Humidity:
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 80% Relative Humidity
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 80% Relative Humidity ~ No change from last measurement.
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 81% Relative Humidity
Phase 2 ~ The clay pot trick.
(Again, both rooms temp measured at 65 degrees..didn't take long for the bathroom temp to drop, only 5 mins, vent closed)
First measurement, before
lighting the candle under the pots:
65 degrees and 84% Relative Humidity
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 81% Relative Humidity
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 81% Relative Humidity ~ No change
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 80% Relative Humidity
15 mins later:
69 degrees and 80% Relative Humidity ~ Absolutely no change. And clearly, the humidity changes I saw yesterday had nothing to do with the pots.
Bathroom temp after heater off for 5 mins, vent closed = 68, inner pot still too hot to touch. After 15 mins, 65, and both pots were only luke warm to the touch. (I did not lift the outer pot to blow out the candle so that the warm air in between would not be compromised, I lifted the grate and blew it out from underneath)
#s wise, I see no significant difference, only a variable in how long it took for the temp in the bathroom to rise, and to drop after the candles were out. Yes, the pots make a much better heat retaining device than air..but not enough to make it worth hauling a couple pounds of fragile pottery around.
Overall, both methods raised the room temp by only 4 degrees. The candle alone took 15 mins longer to get there. The candle/pot combo maintained the room temp longer once shut off. So, I guess, the pots won for overall performance..but 4 degrees is not going to toast my toes.
To be fair, but really subjective..the heat in the bathroom from the pots *felt* more even to me, more surrounding, if that makes any sense. Perhaps this perception of more even heat translates into MORE heat for some folks..I dunno..but my regular heat is now back on and my hat is off...