Van Life Essentials: I Bought These Electric Blankets on Amazon- Winter Van Life
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- Are electric blankets a good alternative for warmth in a vehicle? Today I am testing 4 different electric blankets to see if they are a good source of heat. I am using a bluetti solar generator and we will find out how much power they draw! A lot of you don't want or can't have propane as a heat source. Many of these items are a good alternative and will keep you warm at night. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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Thanks for watching!
Another option is an electric mattress pad. It goes under the bottom sheet. Heat rises
I never knew they had that
Yes, but quite a bit pricier if on a budget from what I have found.
please provide a link i hate cold
I used an electric blanket on top of mattress under the sheet. Yes the heat rises.
you can also lok for a truckers bunk warmer pad..12 volt
We had them when I was young. My mom would turn them on before bed and when we went to bed we turned them off. If it got really cold we would turn them for a few minutes... then turn them off again
I found a 12v electric blanket on Amazon that has a built in timer with 2 settings 30min and 45min. It’s great because it doesn’t run all night. If I wake up cold I just restart the timer and fall back asleep.
I use the same type with a jackery 300. With a wool blanket on top and if needed a puffy on that. I like that it shuts off to control my power usage.
Can you tell us the brand of your blanket?
@@minnesotamerry8672 It’s the Car Cozy 2 made by Trillium Worldwide.
@@MikeLeMaistre Same system, same result. Very happy with it. Along with a similar clothing system as Bob and it's very doable.
Some blankets have safety features. Some heating pads, have the same safety feature.
Thanks for the survey Bob, and yes surely such blankets can warm you up and also keep you warm. If you don't have a fast available alternative and see cold nights coming go to the next supermarket and get one.
But there is also an age old conventional method to survive cold winter days even in the mountains which doesn't waste valuable energy and you don't have to deal with plugs and cables and risk to burn your skin or set your car in flames in case anything goes wrong whiles you are in deep slumber. Means: a simple sheepskin rug put under your body, and you are fine.
A large sheepskin rug gives you tremendous isolation from down and keeps you comfortably warm, especially the rugs with longer fur. If you sleep directly on such a thing (never put it under the matress or under your sleeping bag but sleep always in direct contact to the fur) you don't need electricity to stay warm, your body's heat is absolutely enough. Such rugs are also especially recommended for people with back problems and used for bedridden patients to avoid getting decubitus, that's why sometimes you can get them in medical supply stores (there are also synthetic variants available but there is nothing better than a real sheepskin). One can use them around the year even in summer to avoid lumbago (just lay on hot days on such a fur without blanket). But even in very cold winters one can definitely say: Combined with one or more nice warm blankets (also for that purpose wool is nice but down might be even better) and maybe a bed bottle for extra comfort when you fall asleep you surely won't need any of such electrical blankets which usually don't hold very long and spread 50% of the heat they produce towards the roof instead towards your body.
I can also recommend to always wear in cold nights any kind of neck cover such as a shawl or a shemagh/kufiya, since usually there comes cold air from head side under the blanket or inside your sleeping bag during sleep. If you get cold in the neck region during sleep you won't feel comfortable and might even get a stiff neck. In extra cold nights also something called Balaclava is highly recommended. It's very common among motorcycle bikers and also used as kinda standard equipment for skiing (that's why it is sometimes calles ski mask) and there are varieties which go deep down and cover the neck completely. Wearing such things combined with a thin turtleneck/polo-neck sweater you are absolutely fine during sleep.
Wow, how many cups of coffee you had?
@@greghemlock6679 🤣👍
Yes! Sheepskin is wonderful! Expensive, but worth it! A down comforter and a baklava for the head! LEATHER ski gloves with a sheepskin lining are awesome too!
You can keep them cleaner longer by placing them in a duvet in the matching size, then wash the duvet. (but only if the brand says it's okay)
Nothing beats a well insulated RV and good bedding materials in the appropriate amount. Inside sleeping, like a small RV or even a tent the key to comfort is layering, under your bed and on top of you. My Grandparents, born in the 1880’s had real feather beds that you sank into with the appropriate number of blankets and quilts. Zero degree, no problem. There were no heated bedrooms ever and no electricity! In addition, a half gallon plastic bottle of 130 degree hot water in an old wool sock under a lap robe last several hours. Don’t get the water too hot, it can burn you.
I'm old enough to remember the feather beds, karosene lamps, water well, cow bell on a post to call the farm workers home for lunch, etc., etc. I was never cold once I became still a while in the feather bed. But it was so cold when first under the cold covers. I haven't thought of all that in years. Thanks for the memory. Joyce, 79 years old.
When I lived in an un-insulated garage all year long, I found that a down comforter was the way to go. Rather save the electricity for the Instant Pot and the laptop and devices.
Down comforters can cost as much as a small generator these days! Of course that is a top quality comforter. Which to me is the only way to go. You don’t want to buy junk and end up having to buy junk every year. You buy it once you cry once. And it’s worth it!
@@RVMD95 check thrift stores and garage sales. You can find some great stuff that's lightly used in some places. Be sure to wash it properly with the right detergent, and dry them with tennis balls to re-fluff the down.
I gave some as a gift in 1990, and that person still uses and loves them. I bought some top notch ones from Macy's then, and they are still in good shape, except one of them the washer "ate".
Wash them in a tumble washer, not an agitation washer.
Bob, the ever educater, keeps the nomad community in the know. Thank you.
Ive been a nomad for around 23 years. I will say its always been hars to get your town centre down early.
I have been waiting forever for someone to test out the idea of staying warm in a vehicle with an electric blanket! Thanks Bob! This is great! Safest travels, good health and happiness!
I tried this at first in my vehicle before I got my tiny home. Read my other comment at the top.
You mentioned gloves, and talked about keeping your feet warm. If folks are using the blanket to stay warm b4 bed, likely using their hands, a really great pair of gloves are really important…..I used to del. UPS up north, dry socks and warm hands made ALL the difference
I imagine gloves have evolved for touch screens
There are also hand warmers that recharge and of course the one-time use warmers. They do make gloves for touch screens too.
@@TheShauNanigans
I figure a gloves review might be helpful
Personally-I stay where it’s warm……a/c is my challenge LOL
@@cathysupp9493 That's the way to do it!
I've never found touch screen gloves that work. But then, in winter, my cold fingers don't work either, LOL
You did a review on the blankets but when I was doing a lot of cold weather camping a electric mattress pad was a lifesaver for me. I have not seen on in 12V form though.Better since heat rises and you are laying on it.
I have a DC, sleep-on top heated pad. Seems it was about $60. Though. Not cheap, but works WELL.
That sounds perfect. What brand is it?
@@dittohead7044 If you are talking about the mattress pad I bought it Walmart. It is a Sunbeam brand. I bought the low end one the has a dial to adjust for heat.
I have been using a sunbeam blanket .here in Florida for years in my Van for heat. It has been all I need here in Florida . I have a propane strove as a backup and if that isn't enough I just run my engine and use my vans heater.
My solutions exactly. I put the electric blanket under my fitted sheet so it stays pretty clean. It’s a 12 v. Makes it difficult to get out of bed occasionally. 😊 then heating water for coffee is usually enough to warm the van. I do have a small Little Buddy heater as a backup but rarely use it. However I don’t really camp in sub freezing weather except when the weather surprises me a little.
Dear Bob,
Thanks so much! You are saving
People's welfare and even lives! So
Thoughtful!
I'm not a nomad yet, just a wannabe, but I asked for and received a 12 volt blanket for Christmas. It's similar to the S Beauty one with the high/low setting but it's plush. I take my work break in my truck. Started this long before Covid because I need to decompress from people. Instead of running my engine for heat in the winter, I use my blanket. I'm happy with it. And I'll have it for future nomading!
I love my electric blanket ( old 110 from my apt.)Turn it on for 20-30 min ( I only have goal zero 150)before bed under my wool blanket & Hilary sleeping bag & it kept me toasty in my car in - 6 celsius
Bob, you might want to think about doing a video about using passive solar to heat one's van. This should include ways to use the things already in one's van to store heat from the day and release it at night. If you want more of an explanation, reply to this comment and I'll get in touch with you.
I’d like to hear about that 👍
What's that?
@@michellewise3991 me too
I'd like to know more about passive solar too. Is there a video? Tyia
I love you Bob! You keep talkin'! You care about us and want us to have the most information that we can have. You personalize it by using the products yourself and giving recommendations. You keep on informing us! God bless you!!
If you choose a 110 throw blanket, get the oversized version: adds 10 inches to width and length. Mine is 70in long which is helpful for taller folks and very cozy.
When I was growing up I had a friend who used an electric blanket. It had a short and caught his room on fire. Thankfully he escaped relatively unscathed. Be careful.
I recently got a good year brand sherpa plush fleece heated 12v blanket from Wal-Mart with 2 heat modes. Works great so far off my 1000watt jackery. Even without heat it is thick and warm. I put it under my 4 comforters and they trap that heat after it shuts off. My temps in winter get as low as 10 below zero fahrenheit.
I do the same and love it. I put an extra blanket on top of the heated blanket. Some times I supplement with a heating pad for my feet which are always cold.
I started road tripping in 1964, I was young and dumb, I had no idea about what I needed to be on the road. What was on the market 50 years ago by today's standards was a joke. That said, the space age things one can buy cheap now is fantastic. Just saying. Bob, I really like watching your videos even if I don't plan on living in a RV, I find your videos very informative just in case we have a EMP attack or something like that. Greetings from Montana.
Just pull a clothesline around the interior of your car and hang alot of (wool) blankets on it. You are your own best heat source.
LOVE AMAZING GOOSE DOWN COMFORTER WARM!!!!
This is perfect for us Prius campers because we drive generators!
Before I had butt warmers I discovered a heated blanket at a truck stop. Got it in the car and plugged it in. Wonderful.
Make sure the blanket is designed to be covered with a blanket. Some of them get too hot covered, burn out, or start a fire. The Sunbeam one probably cannot be covered or it may catch fire. Many house fires are caused by electric blankets. Also make sure the blanket isn't folded onto itself, doubling the heat concentration & causing a fire. Don't let the bed get messy, bunches of the blanket clumped together may cause a hot spot & catch fire.
I suspect that the "bubble wrap" that you are referencing can be found under the name "Reflectix". The space, Mylar, type blankets, used as a liner inside a sleeping bag, greatly increase the reflection of body heat back to you, and increase the warmth, when used as a liner for a sleeping bag, so the same warmth reflecting principle should apply when used in other applications.
My wife has a base model CRV, so no heated seats. I bought her a gray 12volt blanket. She loves it! ---Also, I recently saw a sleeping bag that has NO insulation on the bottom side, the side that you lay upon. That way the heat from the heating pad flows right into the sleeping bag!
Sounds like a good alternative if you have the battery power. I grew up with electric blankets, but haven’t used one since 1972. We have Wiggy’s sleeping bags, and a Wiggy’s Lamilite comforter on our bed - also Lamilite booties and winter socks. Fascinating test! I think many were curious about the oower drain. 👍
They make rechargeable hand warmers now (like the 8 hr hot hands). Both are great for placing in bed to be warm.
Rechargeable one done with USB. Amazon.
Another option which I don't really hear Too Many people talk about is a Webasto gasoline heater, it pulls fuel from the vehicle's existing gas tank and provides hot air heat there's a version for gasoline and diesel vehicles there's also the Chinese diesel heater which anyone can install in any vehicle
Both are safer than propane, an electronic blanket works great if you have the battery bank to support it but I wouldn't risk my life on using just that
I have a Sunbeam, good size heating pad. When I get cold, I put it against my chest and I warm up well. I prefer the Sunbeam products.😃
Thanks Bob. Been trying to pick one so glad you are reviewing these
Bob, this channel is gold!! I wish I had taken time to watch videos like yours years ago. ...I've been discussing with friends the idea of heating the body as a priority over heating space. We were just talking about electric blankets . Well, you answered our questions.
I've been using a "3" duvet and "5" thick mattress made from a friends flock of sheep. I can drop the heat down to the 60's and just adequately sleep. Definitely will be looking at dc blankets strategy. Much thanks.
In the UK I use single 240v blanket designed to be on all night if required, I run it on low at a draw of 22w (2A approx @12v) from the inverter. Would never go back its brilliant.
240 volts? Damn my dryer uses that lol
@@therealbigfoot3076 They are designed to conform to all electrical standards made in the UK by a major bedding company.
Putting foot powder, wearing nylon dress socks and then wool socks will make your feet warmer also along with your boots. I have been using this method when ice fishing and well as when I drove a truck which required me to be working outside in the cold Northeast weather . Thanks for the video. Keep the road ahead positive always.
Hi Bob, your knowledge is a gem. Thank you for teaching us the joys of camping and the pit falls, I'm glad that you do cover both subjects and not just one of them. We all need to stay on the main, paved highways, unless we're boom docking. When I come into a place to camp for the night, I always back my van, facing in the direction that I came in. It's a good thing to get into the practice of doing!
I've been looking for these. Also for heated jackets (charged by USB). So many choices to make! 🤔 Eventually i bought two car seat heaters , it was a great offer, it was a very good price. One will be under my feet, and one will be behind my back. I will warm my bed with them, and turn them off when i go to sleep. Still have to test them! Good luck to all of you. And happiness. 💚
I like the chatter Bob! Wouldn't want you to change! TFS
Bob, you might retest your 110v blanket over a period of time. Most will modulate the current flow, meaning they run for a time, then they rest, then repeat. The duty cycle is proportional to the temp setting. I think you'll find that the AC version, less the parasitic draw of the inverter, is about the same KWH as a DC blanket
110v * 10 amps is 1,200 watts (plus inverter); 1,200 watts / 12v is 100 amps.
@@energyideas You said: '110v * 10 amps is 1,200 watts (plus inverter); 1,200 watts / 12v is 100 amps.' But, I still don't understand what that means when comparing the watts used by a 110v electric blanket vs. a 12W electric blanket. Would you please elaborate for those of us who are 'electrically challenged'?? 😉 I'm trying to decide whether or not to invest in a 12v blanket or mattress pad for expected power outages this winter. Thanks in advance! 🌟
@@energyideas, talking in amps when discussing different voltages is absurd. The 120v electric blanket plugs into wall power, but it likely steps down the voltage or coverts to DC internally. It would be an electrocution risk if it didn't. It's also not clear if "10 amps" is measured at the 120v AC side (from the inverter) or from the 12v DC side (from the battery draw). It is extremely unlikely that it's drawing 10 amps from the AC inverter as that would be ~1200 watts of heat. I have a king size heated mattress pad made by the same company and it uses a little over 100 watts max. I use it for the exact use described in this video, to stay warm without running the heat for the entire camper.
I don't know why people talk in amps when discussing things like this. It's very amateur. It's like trying to tell someone how far you drove by saying, "I drove 60 mph."
@@livingitup9647, ignore the 1200 watt calculation. The math in that comment is wrong. He clearly says in the video that it uses up to 120 watts, not 1200 watts. The 120v AC blanket can generate 2 to 2.5 times as much heat as the 12v models. That is what the various wattages mean. It doesn't HAVE to use that much power though as it can be dialed down to the same heat levels as the 12v models. So it's rating is less about power usage and more about heating capability. Having said that, I have a similar 120v blanket and I rarely use it at more than half power except when I first get into bed and I'm already very cold. I would suggest the following...
- If you are going to be using this in in a place with an AC power outlet (generator, wall power, or inverter) then spend the extra money and get the 120v model. You will have plenty of heat and more options to adjust it down to the right level.
- If you are using this in a place with only 12v power or a vehicle where the inverter/generator is not always on, then go with one of the 12v models.
I tested this last year. The 12v blanket draws 40w on low, 60w on high, continuously. My 120v blanket has a digital controller (which uses ~3w for the display and light I wish I could turn off) which I can set from 1-10. When it is heating it draws ~120w. I suspected and confirmed that it cycles full power then no power, depending on the setting (old microwaves worked the same way). So if I have it set to 3 it would be drawing power 30% of the time. If 120w is what it would use in an hour on 10 (continuously on) then set to 3 (30% on/70% off) it would use 36w for that hour. Add in the controller trickle and it works out to about 40w / hr.
While it is a much larger blanket and has more control over temperature level I only used it twice last year when camping, it's just easier to use the smaller 12v one. I put it on top of two sleeping bags and under my third one that I sleep in. I produce a lot of heat when I sleep so I only really use it to preheat and sometimes in the morning if it's really cold and I want to keep it warm while I make coffee and then get back in bed.
I have the cheapy blanket paid $20 for and throw another blanket over it and I am fine down to the low teens.
I sleep in just sleeping pants and a long sleeve shirt with wool socks and a cap/beanie, I also have a large fluffy bathrobe with a hood available when I get up.
Love my electric blankets. It’s nice to sleep with cool around you and just be warm on your body.
Thank you very much Bob. I appreciate you very much. Take care💐
I've been plugging a Sunbeam mattress pad into my Jackery at night and laying it on top of me. Plus a lamb's wool mattress pad too, and I'm staying warm.
I got that cheaper looking blanket at Walmart last year on clearance for $4. Have not used it though. With the blankets I have I am staying warm down into the single digits. I could tell Bob was keeping the Roadpro and it is Cody approved. I am sureCody is happy wrapped up in it also.
I bought one of those 12v throws for $20 at Walmart and love it. It's a great seat warmer but I also put it under me when I go to sleep with a pile of covers over me. I usually keep it on low and still have to turn it off to keep from overheating. The no name one you showed looks similar.
Thanks for your review, great info.
Not staying warm at night doesn't make for an enjoyable adventure.
Heard sleeping on a Mylar pad thicker the better a windshield will reflect heat up so on a cot or sleeping pad sounds logical 😊 Happy Trails Thanks Bob
My "rig" is a small car. I have a 12 volt heating pad as my "just in case" with my 20 degree sleeping bag. I have not had to use it yet because my 45 pound dog is a pretty good heater. I figured that a heating pad being smaller would use less power.
I have a Black & Decker 30 volt power station, and when the electricity goes out it will heat a couple of the electric blanket throws for days and days.
I'm watching this as I'm laying on my 12v heated blanket to keep me nice and toasty in my van. Between my hot water bottle and my heated blanket, I'm just fine. Of course, I don't get too too cold outside and I'm sure that makes a huge difference. Thanks Bob!
That's a great comparison I just realized that instead of running a 110 little heater my daughter suggested an electric blanket so this was a great timely review for me. But as with everything there are trade-offs if you're heating the whole area you're also heating your water and your battery if you have batteries inside so that's one advantage to a all room heater although they use unbelievable amounts of power the electric blanket is great if you're not going to freeze your batteries or your water. I've been in a mini in below zero weather and kept myself warm but the rest of the unit was frozen solid I did not have water or an auxiliary battery at that time so those were not even issues I made it through not very comfortably this looks like a great alternative thank you
Electrowarmth 12 volt heating pad covered with a down throw or puffy. 10% off with Holiday10 at the moment. Adjustable and reliable.
Any electric blanket that I have bought tells you in the instructions (including sunbeam) not to cover it with anything else it becomes a fire hazard.
I use it on top of my other blanket and it keeps me warm.
Oo 😶 i hope it is mostly for "Legal" and not an oft occurence
Thanks
I was using one of these and it did catch on fire. I didn’t have anything else over it. I’ll never do an electric blanket again.
Try a BedShure mattress pad.
What about instead of the puffy blanket, use a down comforter on top? I only tried it once during a storm, drove to NC to visit friends but road conditions slowed me down, arrived at 4 am so didn’t disturb my friends. Slept in a non heated conversion van, 25 degrees Fahrenheit, toasty warm, no extra clothes from what I recall. You are the master when it comes to living in vehicles so we trust your reviews
Wool cap, wool socks, wool blanket to sleep on top of and one or two sewn together for your top is a good add on to any chosen electric pad and/or as a topper. A good old fisherman's cotton/ wool sweater and Bob's Booties and the toast is hot.
Exactly what I needed to hear! U Da Man! Thanks Bob! As a former truck driver, I like Road Pro products
Recently on a hunting trip the temperature dropped suddenly and a snow storm blew in. I wasn't really prepared but did have hot hands hand warmers. I put some between my blankets awhile before bed. They kept me warm all night. Just a suggestion in a pinch.
Please don't ever apologize for sharing your knowledge!
My feet are cold year round. Wool socks inside goose down booties works. But to get instantly toasty, "Blue Ice" that can be heated by boiling or microwave does the trick!
I’ve been looking forward to this topic too. Thank you.
Thanks Bob, So good a review. Was thinking of buying an electric blanket. Now I have enough info to invest in a good one. Have blessed travels. I put you in God's hands years ago and pray for all Adventurers. Love and much respect. Silkie.
THANK-YOU SIR, MOST APPRECIATED!
Amen
Retired, Veteran
I suspect that the "bubble wrap" that you are referencing can be found under the name "Reflectix". The space, Mylar, type blankets, used as a liner inside a sleeping bag, greatly increase the reflection of body heat back to you, and increase the warmth, when used as a liner for a sleeping bag, so the same warmth reflecting principle should apply when used in other applications.
I needed to know that as I need to stay warm in my van.....I have No Propane/Solar......So I'm a popcicle....I learned it all from here!!!!!!!!
Best to get soapstones and heat them in a oven or on your stove and they keep the heat a long time ...These you can wrap in towels and keep your feet and your body warm..also keep your vehicle from freezing no off gassing nor electrical disaster etc..Love the fact you explain and test the blankets thank you..This is great information...💛
I love watching bobs videos , very informative
It's doable. I dig it. Why have I never thought about this. Probably thought it would draw too much power. 12v blanket I will pick up
I sleep with a heating pad in the winter. Low wattage, obviously not a full body heat but warms you up enough to get comfortable in your blankets.
Yes, check out 12 volt heated mattress pad. For Truckers/RV's.
9:00 thank you Bob
And ditch cotton sheets in winter. Instead sleep on thermal minky ones. So much warmer. Great vid BTW. I have an Aldi one. Works v well.
We live to hear you talk Bob. No BS clearly your opinion- and you care. It’s great! A wool blanket under the sheet you lay on or chair you sit on helps too. I also love my leather bottom wool lined slippers and a toque!
I like mine! Hooked to a Jackery
Power box , and use a MR. HEATER/Propane! Have a great day!
My new stalwart blanket is cozy as I sit in my rocker a mile high in commifornia ,as you say nice thickness n feels good, I can't beat the price , a gift😜
I put a Chinese diesel heater in my van AND LOVE IT! They do require proper TUNING though.
Sunbeam, is a Great Brand. You can not go wrong! Worth the money spent. Buy only Sunbeam!
I was always afraid of electric blankets, but they are nice.
I added a genuine down comforter, wow what a difference. Ten million geese can't be wrong....
I live in a 20' travel trailer. 100% off grid. Temperature drops to 23° to 34° inside the trailer. My best ideal is to use 2 sleeping bags. One bag inside the other. Then another bag on top.
No problem unti I have to get up. Thanks for the info.
I’ve used the 12 volt years. Buy the one with a low/high setting. On low, it’ll draw about 12 amps per hour.
I use it as a mattress pad and leave it on all night, connected to a Jackory 290.
It's all about layering. Layer what you wear to bed. Then layer what's under you, and layer what's over you. Never camped with an electric blanket...just down bags, fiberfill bags, wool, and layering. In Yellowstone, it was -25 in the tipi, and I was toasty. Under you: A reflector blanket, an insulite pad, a sheet, a wool blanket, another sheet. A down bag with a fleece liner...On top of you, a sheet, a down comforter, another sheet, a wool blanket over all. Snuggy buggy. If you want to layer a puffy sleeping bag over all, go for it. I wear long underwear and my down snowpants and down jacket to bed. I wear smartwool socks and down booties. It's all about trapping warmth in the layers. The more layers, the more trapped warmth. When you crawI in, you cover everything and burrow down. I wear a facemask. This is how we winter camp. Yep. I live in MN, and have winter camped everywhere....from Montana to Lake of the Woods. I will say this....getting up to go titi in the middle of the night is not fun.
I slept in an unheated bedroom when I was a kid. There was a pane broken out of a window by my bed, and sometimes I woke up with an inch of snow on top of me that didn't melt until the snow melted outside. I slept with my head under the covers because the cold burnt my ears and kept me awake. Electric blankets are great! They use much less power the more blankets you put on top of them. Much less !!!
P.S. 50 years later I still want to put the blankets over my head out of habit.
That sounds awful, im so sorry you had that childhood trauma. Prayers are with you x
Thanks, Bob. Good info.
Bob, I would rectest your 110 blanket 10 amps seems a great deal for 120 watt of power. My understanding of ohm's law is 120 watts divided by 110 volts something like 1.09 amps. Check another way 110 volts muliplied by 10 amps is 1100 watts that would be a super hot blanket. To hot and dangerous
Thank u Bob. I lay on top of mine as long as my spine is warm I'm good
Only thing is the 110v @ 10 amps is drawing 1100 watts the 12v @ 5 amps is only drawing 60 watts so not really apples to apples. I just use a DC heating pad. Much cheaper! Thanks for the video.
I think he just made a mistake. No electric blanket draws 1100 watts. My 110 v blanket draws 100 watts, but it is thermostatically controlled, so it's not drawing power all the time. I'm not sure if the 12 v blankets have a thermostat.
As usual, you're the BEST!!
Love to hear you talk, Thank You for the great info!
I’ve been stuck in cold climates for two years - first the pandemic and then family and vehicle problems. Electric blanket with heavy quilt on top was sufficient down below freezing. Then in the morning light up my Wave 3. Saves propane. I used electric and plugged into my house battery power.
Enjoy hearing you talk. Always keep talking. Always good information.
FWIW: I went through two Roadpro blankets in less than two years. For me they seemed to die in a very short period of time.
They have a thermal switch in them near where the power cord attaches to the blanket. When that gets warm it turns the heating element off. Since I just use the blanket to preheat the bed the temperature limiter function prevented the blanket from truly warming up the bed. For me that was a big disadvantage!
The blanket itself consists of two thin layers sewed around the edges and a few places in the middle. So imagine if you have two thin blankets laying on top of you. While you toss and turn in your sleep the two layers have a tendency to go their separate ways, they crumple up resulting in lumps and ridges. That's a problem with this blanket.
I gave up on the Roadpro and decided to try the Stalwart. From the outset I was pleased with every aspect of that blanket. It doesn't have a thermal switch so for preheating the bed it does a great job - just takes 10 minutes or so for the bed to get toasty warm:-) NOTE: That's with 4 layers on top of me - sheet, blanket, electric blanket, down comforter. The fleece is one uniform layer, not multiple layers, so it doesn't crumple up and form weird ridges. It just behave like a normal single layer blanket. The first one I bought lasted two years then it starting putting out about half the normal heat. That may have been my fault, IE: operator error. Regardless I feel it's much more reliable than the Roadpro and i gladly purchased another Stalwart.
You all must be southerners with thin blood. Grew up in Upper Canada where we lost power for a week at time when big storms came in or if we were at the cottage ice fishing . We simply use a real Wool Army Blanket king sized heavy duty ( sometimes called a Hudsons Bay Blanket). Wool socks. That's it. When its 0 F lay down on mattress, fold blanket in half, put it on top . I'm cool for about 2 to 3 minutes and after that I'm warm all night long , in fact I'm sweating by morning. Anything below that temp, I throw the camel's hair blanket ( I got from Uzbekistan) on top of the Wool. Been doing this for 60 years never been cold yet.
Not disagreeing you that electric blankets are nice, but this has worked for me since I was a young lad.
Whatever you do don't by an acrylic or polyblend blanket or poly-fill comforter , cause at those temperatures they don't do nothing.
10 amps of 120 volt is 1,200 watts . . . 5 amps of 12 volt is only 60 watts = *huge* difference in power consumption = 1/20th as much! :)
The Sunbeam is listed as 180w, which is 1.5A at 120v, unsure where the 10A reference came from. Edit- Finished the video...120w from 120v is 1.0A, not 10A.
@@NukePooch1 -- Very early on in the video, he's talking about the Sunbeam being AC power and pulling 10 amps. Any comparison between AC and DC should only use watts. Amps don't mean much unless you know the voltage. :)
Great review. Thanks for the info
A pup or two work really well to keep a person warm-ish. 😁🐾 😁
I lived in a tent for a year a few nights it was below 14° my 130lb pit/lab mix a cheap Walmart tent and sleeping bag I survived
First night I thought I might die but after we got in the in the sleeping bag with him I was pretty sure I would survive it was almost hot
If it's really cold at night and you need 3 dogs to stay warm, that's a 3Dog Night.
Very true. We have a Mr buddy,, but when it's time to go to sleep we turn it off and just depend on our clothes and blankets. I have 2 huge pitbulls and they go under the blanket with me and it's like having a heater under my blanket. Luckily we live in the desert so it doesn't get to sub zero Temps however it does get cold in the winter.
@@terryjames548 this is hilarious!
A 2 dog night. Colder it gets, get another dog... a 3 dog night
I do not live in my van full-time and I have a 500 W Jacorey. I am only a week-end Camper and usually in better weather but I have that no brand 12 v. you show. I use it as a heating pad meaning it is under me instead of over me. The reason why I do that is I heat my bed so that I get into a warm bed. My van has no insulation I stayed in it and temperatures as low as 29°F. It works very well I get into a warm bed at night. The one I have will shut itself off after 15 minutes. So, at times on that coldest night I did turn it back on. Which was just fine. I did not need it on all the time. On such a cold night I will sleep in warm layers like you describe and I will put hot hands sachets in my socks. I am always perfectly toasty under the blankets. I am fortunate that I was able to afford to put automatic start on my car. My keys are hanging by me in the bed and in the morning I push the automatic start and in 10 minutes my vehicle warms up to 60 to 70°. Then I will get out of bed… Lol! I do not want to change clothes or potty until I warm up the van. I also warm the van up for 10 minutes before getting into bed. For me the real trick is not going to bed cold than it is easier to stay warm under the covers all night long.
"I talk alot". We love ya for it. Thanks, Bob!
Hi bob i am a trucker for 25 years long disatance wen i started we use a cover mattress 12volte very efficient the best now we use wabasto diesel heaters but always have this matrices covers for backup. Its amazing the heat and the amperage use is very low.
Very thorough! Thank you!
Thank you I am just gettimg started and I appreciate that you tried it and it may be a feasible option .