The Camping Forum

[SouthernDave]

We have got a mini oil filled radiator we are thinking of using in the tent when we have EHU. It is about the size of a large shoe box and chucks out good heat when its warmed up. Greatly reduced fire risk, even if knocked over. Also, when you turn it off of course, it stays hot for a while.

Has no-one else tried these as an alternate to flame? Any thoughts or comments?

[Rob-merlin1973]

We have an oil filled rad but to be honest in the tent it just does not cut it.

Instead we mainly use a small fan heater with thermostat and leave this on all night.
We also sometimes use

This gives off a nice amount of heat and light and shuts off if it is knocked over.

Also if we are going away without EHU we use a


Which is very stable and safe and gives off a good amount of heat.
Hope this helps

[subaqua]

sorry to dig up an old thread but i folowed a link on another.

a few things


Avoid halogen heaters at all costs regardless of the topple switch. they stay hot for a long enough time to start a fire.

Carbon Monoxide will combust in oyxgen and burns with a very pale blue flame , the little blue flicker you used to get on coals that people said " ooh going to be a cold night" was CO burning . you need a lot of Oxygen to combust it completely.

selling Non EU products in the EU is a minefield as the product needs to be CE certified. this is not an option for most manufacturers as they won't sell enough units to cover the cost of the CE certification. Have had a nightmare tryiing to import some american dive kit .

[nutgone]

It was probably a link I made (in relation to Wayne's little CO test in his dining room). I never actually read through the rest of the thread (& still haven't, properly).

I've always said the same about halogen heaters. Apart from the fact they don't give off any CO, they are just as dangerous as open flame gas heaters for starting fires. They do give off a lovely glow, but should never be left running unattended. I've always given this warning, every time someone mentions a halogen heater, in the hope I may save a life, or at least a tent, some day.

& I also knew CO can burn. If you mix it with pure steam you get something called water-gas (I believe). This is very combustible, & can be used to run all sorts of things, including engines. A charcoal burner with a boiling kettle steaming into the bottom of it was what I saw on a school science video once, & they even used them to run cars & motorbikes, during the war. (It's an experiment I've been dying to recreate).

I'm glad this thread was resurrected, I love it when the "Anti-Gas" brigade see just how safe these heaters can be. Although, when they see how much gas they eat through, they may well be convinced not to use them

[russells]

I'm going to make detectors part of my compulsory camping kit before we start the summer season.

I never thought of testing gas equipment in the house with a detector before using it - great idea! and one that fills me with confidence, too!

[Jellojones]

Hey everyone
Them heaters are fine as long as there working correctly, watch out for any soot, a blue flame gives off carbon dioxide and water vapour.
A yellow flame will kill u !

[nutgone]

Sound advice indeed.

I think a CO detector/alarm is a good idea if you wish to use gas equipment in tents. My old canvas frame tents are pretty safe, as they only have fixed groundsheets in the bedrooms, everywhere else is separate groundsheet, & canvas breathes better than these modern, man-made fabrics.

Still, a CO detector needn't cost more than about £15-£20, & could save your life & the lives of your family.

Get a detector & you can be as silly or ignorant as you like. But, even the more commonsensical among us can easily miss a faulty gas lamp shade or a hole in a mantel, which can both cause excess amounts of carbon monoxide.

I really hope we don't have a repeat of last year's needless deaths. Although, if recent news stories are anything to go by, it looks like we are well on our way. a few barbecues get carelessly bought into tents by new campers who know no better & suddenly there's mass hysteria against using any open-flame devices in our tents!

[OutdoorWorldDirect]

Hi Wayne,

Atleast you used a detector in the tent, personally i never recommend any one uses gas inside whilst they go to sleep.

You just never know, it only needs to be knocked over and the tent could go up in flames.

Also when gas is burnt it produces a lot of condensation.

It's a hard time of the year for camping because at night its still so cold.!

David