OK, so reading round the threads here it looks like people prefer fan heaters for big family type tents - would one of those small 800w quartz/halogen heaters be OK for a 2-3 man tent, do you think? This sort of thing:
The thing is I'd like to be able to get away over winter but don't have a car. So I've got to keep any electrical stuff I buy as small as possible so I can carry it on the train. The quartz ones are *way* smaller than the fan jobs bulk-wise, but then there's no point buying one if I'm still going to freeze!
Tent will be either a Lichfield Strathy 2 or a Vango Beta 250, both tunnel style so plenty of headroom for a heater to stand upright, and I've got a micro table to stand it on.
I have heard that a halogen heater can cook you if you are too close! not sure on the dimensions of this but it doesn't look that different in size to my 2kw fan heater I bought from Asda.
Quote: Originally posted by Tynxuk on 30/11/2012
I have heard that a halogen heater can cook you if you are too close!
Any type of heater will 'cook' you if you are too close - it's called burning!
Put simply there are three types of heat transfer - Radiation, Convection and Conduction.
The quartz style heaters use infra-red radiation and they heat surfaces and don't heat the air. You will need to be positioned so that your body can feel the heat exactly like sitting in the sun.
Convector heaters heat the air which then circulates - warm air rising, cold air falling etc. But as you are heating the expanse of the air you often need more heat to get a warm feeling. A fan heater is forced convection, so directs the heat to where it is needed rather than relying on natural air flow.
Conduction is where you hold something warm like a hot water bottle or electric blanket.
What you will find with an infra-red heater is that as surfaces get warm then they will start to convect heat so the air will get warm eventually.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
Quote: Originally posted by OliverDay on 30/11/2012
The quartz style heaters use infra-red radiation and they heat surfaces and don't heat the air. You will need to be positioned so that your body can feel the heat exactly like sitting in the sun.
[...]
What you will find with an infra-red heater is that as surfaces get warm then they will start to convect heat so the air will get warm eventually.
Well, that's what I was thinking - small airspace, so the whole thing should heat up quickly anyway. I guess at ten quid you can't go far wrong giving it a try...
Hi twigletzone
I think you may have read it wrongly....
Quote: The quartz style heaters use infra-red radiation and they heat surfaces and don't heat the air. You will need to be positioned so that your body can feel the heat exactly like sitting in the sun. [unquote]
unless you stay sat in range of it there will be no heat benefit....
a fan heater or convector heater are by far the most efficient.... in small places you would only want it set to low to maintain a nice warmth.
If your camping without a car, but using EHU. For compactness and transportation. I suggest you go with a small, cheapie fan heater. More practical, with your tent being only 2/3 person tent, the lower setting will suffice. It will keep you very cozy and warm.
Ditch the halogen idea.
heath63
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