Forum Discussion

tony_lee's avatar
tony_lee
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015

Electric matress pad - issues with square wave inverters.

Can't stay in southern Baja forever and have to make the best of Christmas to New year in sunny Lancaster CA so need to prepare for a dramatic change of temperature.

Betty insists all her troubles would fade away if only she can get into a nice warm bed - so looks like an electric bed heater is on the shopping list - and maybe another electric heater so we can get our moneys worth out of a 50 amp hookup.

Question is - we have a 1500W vintage Trace modified square wave inverter that so far has not been found guilty of letting the smoke out of any appliance, including battery chargers, TV and other electrocics.
However, I am aware that some people have had problems with coffee makers and similar devices containing unwarranted amounts of fancy electronics and I wondered if anyone had had experience with say, the Sunbeam units with 15 hour timers and variable heat controls similar to this one http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-Quilted-Polyester-Mattress-Controller/dp/B00FHW8QI4/ref=pd_sim_201_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41kUrfJ92dL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0EH8SEZW46Y1SBSJ1MBB

or would it be safer to get something with a bit simpler technolgy
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    I guess we have just about exhausted the topic of electic warming pads and i was surprised how little choice thdre really was for us dinosaurs who have old gear and are too mingy to upgrade

    Thanks for all the pointers.

    We'll try the softheat unit and hope we are one of the lucky ones who don't have failures every year until the 5 year warranty runs out
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    2oldman wrote:
    The nice thing about PSW inverters is you never have to have discussions like this.

    And you may consider getting a dual-control unit if the two of you can't agree on a setting. You know, the women are usually colder.


    Yes, PSW is my preference too, but in this case the MSW invertsr charger has been working faultlessly for 15 years and im loath to double the value of the Airstream by installung a new unit. Cbeaper to get a heating pad that can cope.

    Yes, it would be a cboice between separate beds or separate heat controls. Betty likes to run about twenty degrees hotter than me
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2015
    Finally got a reply back from Electrowarm about running their mains units on MSW
    ?===================================+
    Our units will only run on a true sine wave inverter.

    If you have further questions please contact us.

    Best regards,



    Chris Billow

    ElectroWarmth Products LLC
    ==============================
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Dec 11, 2015
    The nice thing about PSW inverters is you never have to have discussions like this.

    And you may consider getting a dual-control unit if the two of you can't agree on a setting. You know, the women are usually colder.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2015
    After punching numbers until my fingers went numb, I came to the conclusion that a warm comforter like a THINSULATE LEVEL 3, plus a hot water bottle tossed into bed 20-minutes before retiring was hard to beat. No matter the manner of heating, once bed is exited at 0300 no pad or blanket is worth ten cents. A premium blanket retains warmth for 20-min, upon re-entering no thermal shock. A big comforter allows me to wrap my head and even my feet stay warm. Thinsulate level 3 is no joke - it's a low forties high thirties "lots of warmth" insulator and I lose not one amp hour in the process. When I am boiling water for the bottle I also make a cup of (caffeine-free) hot chocolate. Bottles available in larger FARMACIAS in Mexico. A heated hot water bottle will turn the bed into an oven. No worries.

    Fond memories of Palmale/Lancaster (landscatter). Crazy Otto's at 4PM when the crude oil train rumbled past from Bakersfield. Dishes danced off the tables...
  • NRALIFR's avatar
    NRALIFR
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2015
    tony lee wrote:
    pnichols - I had a better look at that site and realised that the 12V pads are 36" wide so not useful if we need individual controls on a queen bed. Couldn't find any other sizes.
    I've emailed to ask if their short queen size model is ok on MSW supply but I imagine their reply will be "maybe" since they do mention using it when connected to shore power.


    Tony, I have an 12v Electrowarmth mattress pad and would recommend them highly. When I bought mine several years ago, they made a Queen size 12v model that was designed to put more heat in the leg/foot area than the chest/head area.

    If my pad ever stops working, what I intend to do is this: buy two of the twin size bunk warmers and lay them across the width of the mattress, which would perfectly cover the top of a Queen mattress. That would also give the ability to control the heat of the two pads independently.

    That may or may not be useful to you, but wanted to throw that out there. That's how much I like their product.

    :):)
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2015
    pnichols - I had a better look at that site and realised that the 12V pads are 36" wide so not useful if we need individual controls on a queen bed. Couldn't find any other sizes.
    I've emailed to ask if their short queen size model is ok on MSW supply but I imagine their reply will be "maybe" since they do mention using it when connected to shore power.
  • tony_lee's avatar
    tony_lee
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2015
    pnichols wrote:
    Many of the posts above seem to be ignoring 12V heated mattress pads - an example of which I gave a link to in a post of mine earlier - also other posters above mentioned 12V heated mattress pads and their power consumption advantage over a 120V pad.

    If one already owns a MSW inverter and a 120V heated mattress pad that won't play together ... then they have to decide whether to buy a PSW inverter, another 120V heated mattress pad that will work with their existing inverter, or a 12V heated mattress pad.


    No, didn't ignore it and I went over the web site until I found info on controls and power consumption and it is on my list. Depends on what I can get hold of when we get north of the border as to which way I go. 12v supply is available in the distribution centre at the foot of our bed so power is no problem other than a bit of messing around installing an outlet.
    One thing I have found is that 12V equivalents of many household appliances are not very good value because of limited performance (microwaves, kettles) and usually at least 100% price premium - which applies in this comparison between the two 12v units - your suggestion and the one supplied from the mains. Certainly performance should not be a factor in this case because power levels are low anyway and because as has been pointed out a 60 watt load from 12V will draw 5 amps whereas via an inverter could be 7 amps or even more from a large inverter

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