We normally take an electric fan heater on our camping trips and run it overnight to stay cosy.
We have one of these box things that trips when it is overloaded so think it should be perfectly safe.
Neighbours on our campsite this weekend were pretty shocked that we do this and said they would use an oil filled radiator overnight, but absolutely not an electric fan one.
We use electric fan heater if cold, ours has a thermostat that switches off when temperature is satisfied and it also cuts off if knocked over. I'd say it is safe if it is a newish heater with these features.
I too use an electric fan heater throughout the night when cold, one that is thermostatically controlled with safety cut out and anti-trip cut out.
I place it on firm ground away from traffic.
IMHO, they are safe when used with caution in a tent, and are far more effective than an oil-filled radiator in warming up a tent when it is cold.
DK
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There an urban myth that they burn off oxygen and can kill you, but that cods wallop that I think comes from the Asia about electric fan burning off oxygen which is also cods wallop.
Others than the tipping over thing but I haven't seen a unit that doesn't have at least overheat protection, if not tip protect. I've used electric fan heaters for years.
I wouldn't use an oil filled one in my tent as I camp with my DD and if she accidentally touched it she would get a nasty burn. They get so hot. I'll stick with a fan heater.
Who has space to lug a oil filled radiator around with them?
As for unsafe, the only advantage I can think of with a oil radiator is they are lower wattage, they are not very effective at providing quick instant heat, from personal experience, even the ones with fans aren't that good until up to temp.
We took two heaters with us on our last trip, one was a halogen heater with a trip switch which cuts out if the unit is knocked over. My issue was that this would still be hot and could burn the tent or our toddler. I rigged up a holder with this in our metal dog cage which we use in the car. This meant that little fingers couldn't accidently touch the fire and if it was knocked it would cut out. We used the oil filled radiator at night and left this in the main part of the tent but not in the bedrooms, this kept us nice and toasty!
We use an electric fan heater. I would think an oil filled radiator would use more energy as you would have to have it on all the time to feel any effect. Our fan heater we have on while we are sitting around in the evening, but not through the night.
We too only use ours while sitting in the tent on a cold evening and switch off over night as our sleeping bags normally keep us warm enough.
Even newish appliances can fail and anything electric that heats or cools can cause a fire in the wrong environment, I'm sure the risk is very, very low however as it's generally me the last in bed and first out it doesn't bother me having to be the one switch it on & off when needed.