oil filled radiators 500 watt

james1508 · Post by **james1508** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:36 pm

Hello

Does anyone find these to be a waste of time or have I purchased a dud?

I purchased an oil filled radiator because of the recommendation on the forum. It’s a 500 watt one purchased from Instore for £14.99. On trial in the Bongo it cleared the condensation on the inside of the Bongo window but the Bongo felt cold.

I know im a hard Northerner who can get by without heating but if im paying for a hook up I might as well have one (':)')

Any feedback appreciated before I take back to the shop.

Thanks

James

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:39 pm

500W is pretty feeble IMO. most little fan heaters are 1200W +
My Eberspacher puts out 1800W max (although max is too hot)

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:41 pm

I have exactly the same one I think its fine and a lot quieter than a fan heater too.Used it for the first time at the Buxton meet and it kept the Bongo nice and warm.It was as You would expect better with the inside roof down.
Dabs

AndAndDen · Post by **AndAndDen** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:45 pm

James we use a Fan Heater. Always warm as Toast. About £8 in Tesco,s. Dont find it noisy either

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:47 pm

Hi
I've got one of those heaters. We used it in the caravan in minus 7 c. in England, as I am a so- and -so for safety, and don't trust any installation in a caravan, even though ours is a superb model...I just worry.At that temperature it kept the frost off the inside of a 15 foot caravan, so in a Bongo, I expect it would be quite a lot warmer. Plug it in for an hour at home, and just feel it ...if it's working, perhaps you are just hoping for too much in the Bongo....by the way, you don't say how cold it was outside when you tried it
Cheers
Helen

apole · Post by **apole** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:23 am

Hi,
this Friday I tried my oil filled radiator 1000w. I tried different locations in the bongo and had a decent thermometer. In summary I thought it was a waste of time, outside temp was 7 C, and the temp in the bongo just kept falling.

I then tried my small ceramic fan heater, world of difference, even on low.

Camped saturday night, quite exposed position and a bit windy. We were warm as toast and being a small heater it was quiet.

So for me it's the fan heater, smaller, lighter and can be moved quickly once turned off.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:39 am

I have a 800w one that I have had for years but even this was only just ok at Buxton.

Tesco have value ones at the moment for £10 by the way which looked ok.

james1508 · Post by **james1508** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:54 pm

Thanks everyone for all your replies.

Helen and Tony it wasn’t over cold outside, around + 5. The thermostat seems to kick in to soon, although to hot to touch for more than 5 seconds, I don’t seem to notice it being on unless I actually touch it. I do have a fan heater which I have been using but I wanted something silent, I think maybe expecting too much from a 500 watt radiator. It’s supposed to be cold tonight so I will experiment again with the radiator later in my Bongo.

If that doesn’t work ill just have to buy a thicker vest

Thanks again James.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:59 pm

james1508 wrote:Thanks everyone for all your replies.

Helen and Tony it wasn’t over cold outside, around + 5. The thermostat seems to kick in to soon, although to hot to touch for more than 5 seconds, I don’t seem to notice it being on unless I actually touch it. I do have a fan heater which I have been using but I wanted something silent, I think maybe expecting too much from a 500 watt radiator. It’s supposed to be cold tonight so I will experiment again with the radiator later in my Bongo.

If that doesn’t work ill just have to buy a thicker vest

Thanks again James.

An 800kw rad and thermals and you will be toasty.

flash · Post by **flash** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:00 pm

I've got a 700W thermostatic rad. It kept us nice & warm a couple of weeks ago with the roof down. If the roof was up, it was struggling because of the lack of insulation. Have also got a 2KW fan heater but it's too noisy to keep on at night.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:21 pm

Hi James
We just use a radiator to keep from exhaling steam , and frosting the windows up, We use an inflatable mattress on the downstairs bed with a sleeping bag opened on it, and a kingsize quilt over us, and a dog on top....never been cold , even in freezing conditions WITHOUT the radiator. I often sleep in the awning with our German Shepherd in the inner tent, while Tony sleeps inside with the other dog , We just take turns and it has to be pretty cold....minus 2 or so before i feel uncomfortable I just have piles of quilt, and sleep in a tracksuit>>>>>being FAT also helps

Cheers
Helen

vanvliet · Post by **vanvliet** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:15 pm

Seems clear that the main problem is lack of insulation .Is there a handout or other information on insulating the Bongo ? Couldn't find one but I am not too 'hot 'on searching on this site

oil filled radiators 500 watt

oil filled radiators 500 watt

500w heater

500w heater