Query about electric blankets.

Anvid · Veteran Member

Query about electric blankets.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

A simple worry free and cheap solution is to get a couple of hot water bottles.

gubby · Guru

Shouldn't be any different to using one at home, as long as you have it plugged into appropriate 240v outlet.

The main thing is to avoid folding and unfolding them, they don't appreciate that..

Also if the van is wired up for 240 volts the van's body will be earthed when connected to the power.

Hope this helps..

Vic · Guru

I think you can get them as an overlay now as well instead of under blanket, not sure how good they would be though. I saw somewhere (here?) somone suggested getting a pet electric blanket and using that instead, keeps the legs and feet warm, hence the whole body......

Anvid · Veteran Member

Thank-you for those words of wisdom.

Hot water bottles certainly sound logical and not as dangerous. Good idea Shirley & Ron.

Our van is fitted out with a number of 240v outlets so we might use one of them and take our e/blanket. Thank-you for that idea gubby. We plan to stay at caravan parks while we are still new at this way of life and then venture forth later.

No doubt life won't be as cold once we leave the ACT area. We will be headed up to Narellan for a week or so and then up towards Forster. It tooks us 6-weeks since retirement to get this far - finding a suitable campervan (we hope) and arrange what we think we need.

ozjohn · Guru

We've had electric blankets in all our vans over 40 years and wouldn't leave home without them.
Cheers, Ozjohn

Vic · Guru

Another option could be wheat packs heated up in the microwave when on 240V. I prefer them over hot water bottles, although the HW bottle can be used anywhere. Think I'll go for an electric blanket too.

jimricho · Guru

I have the impression the biggest danger with electric blankets is fire but that should not be a problem if a few sensible precautions suggested above are taken. This applies whether at home or in the van. As pointed out the metal in the van has to be earthed and caravans (RVs too) must by law be fitted with a safety switch.

lilly31 · Guru

Vic wrote:
I think you can get them as an overlay now as well instead of under blanket, not sure how good they would be though. I saw somewhere (here?) somone suggested getting a pet electric blanket and using that instead, keeps the legs and feet warm, hence the whole body......

yes u can get a electric throw over rug now ..seen then in most dept store this winter ...

another option would be small colum or fan heater in van as well if if you have power

-- Edited by lilly31 on Monday 27th of June 2011 07:48:22 AM

jimricho · Guru

lilly31 wrote:
Vic wrote:
I think you can get them as an overlay now as well instead of under blanket, not sure how good they would be though. I saw somewhere (here?) somone suggested getting a pet electric blanket and using that instead, keeps the legs and feet warm, hence the whole body......
yes u can get a electric throw over rug now ..seen then in most dept store this winter ...

Thanks for that one Lilly, I'll sus that one out!

PS: If I wish to warm the (w)hole of my body I stand with my back to the campfire.

Firefly · Guru

We will be taking the hot water bottle for sure, this will be the first time we have resorted to doing so. Our new van is the Rapid so the beds fold up and an electric blanket wouldn't really work.

But that throw over sounds like a good idea, I will look into that for next trip. smile

Vic · Guru

Throw over electric blankets........Thanks Lilly, I will have a look at them as well, they sound good and not going to overheat if you go to sleep on them and forget to turn them off after you've warmed up. biggrin

When we had our older type of blanket, we would put them on before we went to bed and turn them off just after we got into bed and warmed up a bit.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

I prefer a 19-20 year old to lay over my bed, keeps me warm ALL night biggrin

Firefly · Guru

Good to see you still know how to imagine Wommie.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Firefly wrote:

Good to see you still know how to imagine Wommie.

Hey FF, I'm not that old, my eyes are bad but I can still use my hands biggrin

gubby · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
I prefer a 19-20 year old to lay over my bed, keeps me warm ALL night

Male or Female Wombat???? wink wink biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Female you DH, but do not tell Mrs W

Travel Bug · Guru

jimricho wrote:

PS: If I wish to warm the (w)hole of my body I stand with my back to the campfire.

______________________________________________________________________

Jim....you are a very naughty boy.... smile

Vic · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
I prefer a 19-20 year old to lay over my bed, keeps me warm ALL night

The only 19-20 y/o your going to get leaning over you is a nurse with a thermometer or needle........well, we can but dream can't we !!!

lilly31 · Guru

Sunbeam make them i think they r like a granny rug for the lounge ..They been around for few year now i got my mum one before she past away she use to sit and knit a lot so was great for her . I .have seem them at Big W this winter but i say all other dept store wouls have them too.. not sure of price think i pay about $70.for mums ....

Firefly · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
Firefly wrote:

Good to see you still know how to imagine Wommie.
Hey FF, I'm not that old, my eyes are bad but I can still use my hands

Ahh a boy who learnt braille, very clever Wommie, I would never have guessed.

dazren · Guru

biggrin C'mon wombat !! 18-19 year old ?? she would kill you, But you would die happy !!

I can see the Headlines now when they find your body, ' The Case of The Smiling Stiff ???

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

ok guys, you can joke but I can stioll go a few rounds I'm only 47 biggrin

NeilandRaine · Guru

If your blanket touched a metal side and you got a shock it would mean you have exposed wire and that alone would zap you good.
if your blanket is in good order and properly insulated you will not have a problem. They use elec blankets on steel framed beds.
Wombat is lucky he is only 47, If I had a 19 year old laying on me it would only be a dream if it wasnt I would die of fright.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

I like to have 2 nineteen year olds biggrin biggrin

Benwerrin · Veteran Member

You are not a WOMBAT, more like a bloody RABBIT. (lol)

gubby · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
I like to have 2 nineteen year olds

How about 3 nineteen year olds, that'd be equal to, yep 1 fifty seven year old should do... biggrin biggrin biggrin

Vic · Guru

Hmmm......well while Wombat has been dreaming about his 19 year old, I have been to the Good Guys and bought a single electric blanket
for $28 and an electric jug for $25.......I saw the throw over ones there too but forgot to price them. Mrs bought a pressure cooker (don't ask).

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

don't know what you guys are on about, everybody knows about wombats all they do is 'eat, roots and leaves'

jules47 · The Happy Helper

How the threads on this forum wander all over the place - fun isn't it? Always good for a laugh. Re hot water bottles, few years ago when we had camper trailer, used to always take hotties,got to West Wyalong CP late in day, set up, went out for meal etc., came back watched some TV, shower etc., boiled kettle for ho****er bottles, put them in bed - after 9pm by this time. And, yes, I am sure you kinow what is coming next - get into bed - soaked!!!! One of the bottles had sprung a leak - had to get manager out to open laundry and get coin for dryers, heater onto mattress - turned out to be a cold late night - but got dry - and slept well anyway. Oh, well, one of the joys of camping, eh?