Just an opinion, but could storage of the heater be an issue, I have known some fan heaters to always have that firt time use burning dust smell after being stored.
also I know the fan heater I use in the house has a thermostat, how would this work in a tent that isnt likely to ever switch off.
Again just opinion, not based on any expert knoweldge or experience..
But sounds a scary event and glad your all ok, and thanks for sharing.
Incidents of fan heater overheating and caught fire is far and between, this is the first one that I know of since joining UKCS in June 2009.
I shall continue to use my fan heater overnight (essential when camping during the colder months), making sure it is unobstructed, placed on a sturdy surface and away from areas with main areas of traffic.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Tents may not retain heat as well as a house, however, thermostats still work, based on personal experience.
Having said that, I have 2 fan heaters with non-working thermostats, plus a rather expensive steam iron with a non-working thermostat, plus a kettle that would not switch off automatically, plus a hair-dryer that overheated and caught fire.
It seems to me that the thermostatic control is likely to be the first to malfunction for small appliances based on my limited experiences.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by bob_s on 28/5/2013
also I know the fan heater I use in the house has a thermostat, how would this work in a tent that isnt likely to ever switch off.
Apart from the thermostat, fan heaters are also required to have a high temperature cutout to prevent them from overheating. That is why I said in my earlier post that there must have been some combustible material present if the heater produced flames.
All these electrical items in tents, does anyone bother to get them pat tested each year? Place around corner from where i work does it for 25p per item. Whilst this may have been a one off incident, might be worth many considering having their items check by a professional.
------------- "You know, you really should keep a personal log; why bore others needlessly?"
25p a pop? I'd do it, but then we have a house full of portable appliances, drills, hairdryers etc etc, and like 99.9% of the population, we never have those tested.
Electrical tests are for the sparkys, but checking cables, plug wiring, and fuses could certainly be done at home.
As it happens, our camping fan heater is an Outwell, and when we got it, it wouldn't work. Took the plug off and found the earth conductor was detached inside
Will check and run ours at home before our next trip.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
I've camped in the winter in snow many times with no electrics or heating, but I know what mean, I would not want small children to have to do that without heating!
But really to me there is something intrinsically wrong about electrics when camping, takes away much of what makes it special to me, but that's a personal thing and of course we all value different things.
Oh goodness, that sounds awful. In the days before we had EHU we had a rechargable airbed pump. We had left it in the car to charge up and when I went to get something else out of the car it was smouldering!!
Your experience wont stop me using the fan heater for longer trips though, but just shows how important it is to not leave any kind of heater unattended in a tent.
I never leave my fan heater on unattended, as I cannot bank on it that the dog will stay still in his bed and not get startled when I pop to the loo etc...!
It is no hardship switching it on and off, as it does not take long to heat up the tent once it is on.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Have a ceramic one from argos.was only 20 pound hope its ok, was planning on leaving it on over night if its cold.it has a thermostat , but anyway glad you are safe and well
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Topic: Electric fan heater caught fire!
