Quote: Originally posted by e_port_ranger on 22/2/2006
Quote: Originally posted by B Chrystie on 22/2/06
Would argue that if you had the heater on at all then it was probably pretty cold outside, and so condensation from a cold surface on the tent was more likely anyway.
So it's a tough choice then, freeze to death or get a bit damp............it's not easy this camping lark. At least we get to explore the laws of physics during these long winter nights.
Dammit! I HATED physics at school - don't make me do it again!!
Having never been that good at physics and not paying too much attention to the three types of radiation "Alpha Beta & Gamma" whilst in class I am now confused as to weather or not the electric fan is:
A: a good thing or
B: a bad thing
please help as Im hopefully going away soon and I can't bear to have this hanging over my consience.
> whilst in class I am now confused as to weather or not the electric fan is:
A: a good thing or
B: a bad thing <
It's a good thing. It does not cause any condensation.
I will try to explain the full story.
Condensation occurs on surfaces with a large difference in temperature on its two sides, normally inside and outside, like on windows. The condensation sets on the warm side, hence inside the tent.
On that surface exactly on that point the air temperature lowers. Cold air can contain less water than warm air, hence when cooling down that bit of air looses its water which than attaches to the particular surface (water has the physical property to attach to other surfaces): window or flysheet of the tent.
Warming up the inside of a tent will allow the inside air to contain more water, so in general LESS condensation will show.
A fan will make the air pass along the colder areas, warming them up, and absorbing more water: taking away condenstation. Direct a fan heater to a window and you will see the condensation vanish, exactly like on the windscreen of your car. You clear it up by using blown air alongside the windscreen.
It's the same in a tent.
Why does one yest see more condensation in a tent? Simple. You breath and when exhaling you blow out water of your body. Plus everybody sweats, always, continuously, even if you don't really notice. It's a large amount of water, litres per day.
Using a burner inside, be it heater or a hob, also will create water a product of the burning (actually the same reason why your breath contains water, although in your body that is a very slow process, but it does create your body heat).
So when it's cold people stay inside during the cold evening, usually more people, adding to the amount of water to be contained by the air inside the tent by breathing and sweating. Using a gas heater will increase the amount of water insider the tent. On the flysheet this will condensate due to the difference in temperature. That's all. it's a natural process.
Again, warming up inside will diminish condensation due to the higher capacity of warm air to contain water and blown heat, especially of a fan heater will improve this. The blowing creates contact of new warm air with the condensated water and thus will absorb that to it's maximum capacity.
Plus again: a tent is made to endure it, so there is no problem for the tent. It is much more a matter of comfort the have dry air inside as that feel warmer. Dry air will transport lees heat from your body than cold air. The water in cold air makes it a better conductor of heat, away from you body so it will make you feel cold.
Hence all this thermo wear, the principle of which is that it conducts sweat/transpiration away from you body and creates a layer of dry air directly around your body, so you will cool down slower end thus feel much warmer.
Any ventilation will renew air, it will transport the inside air containing more water to the outside, and let in new colder air, still containing less water. This air will warm up and thus absorb more water inside, drying out the inside air. Ventilate and this process of drying will continue and compensate for the water of peoples breath and transpiration.
In general you can say that if a lot of condensation shows, more ventilation is necessary
So, a fan heater is a good thing, especially when combined with adequate ventilation.
Don't worry and just bring your fan heater, you will enjoy it.
I wish I had managed to get to talk to the couple who was camping last weekend at Norton Disney heavy frost bothe nights and them in a big tent ,and people worring about camping at easter lol would have liked to seewhat heating they used and they was not on EHU
------------- geoff & annb,--
never lost just on tour
your just jealous of the little voices talking to me
We use a halogen heater all night in the Diablo 600...no condensation whatsoever. Only time we get condensation is with the Gamma tent single skin porch which is always dripping in the mornings, with or without heater (in inner tent)
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"Those are hares, not silly old rabbits. Lovely March hares!"
hi been reading the threads on elecric fan heaters, could you tell me if you just use an ordinary fan heater or if it has to be a special camping one? we are new to the camping lark , any info would be great.
Quote: Originally posted by kegonlegs on 24/2/2006
Hi e-port were did you get the extra g sheet from and how much was it ?
This is going to be confusing now so bear with me Kegonlegs. I haven't mentioned a spare ground sheet on this thread so you must be getting me mixed up with some other ukcamper.
The thing is I do use a 6m x 8m tarpaulin under my Diablo 600, and I got it from B+Q for approx. £8. Hope that makes sense.
> could you tell me if you just use an ordinary fan heater or if it has to be a special camping one? <
It depends on where you will use it. 10 or even 16 Amps connection will stand a normal fan heater, although the 10 Amps connection only just. 10 Amps EHU can have about 2200 to 2400 Watts.
A normal fan heater will take 2000 Watts.
Problem is if you are on a site with only 6Amps or even only 4 Amps. This happens more often on the continent. Overthere 6 Amps is very normal. 6 Amps will allow only for 1120 to 1440 Watts (depends on taking 220 Volts or 240 Volts as power) simultaneously. A normal fanheater working on 2000 watts will trip the EHU.
So preferably buy a camping fan heater, or rather a fan heater allowing 500 Watts and 1000 Watts as setting.
Some have three choices: 500, 1000 and 2000 Watts. That would be the most versatile.
Mine does 500 and 1000 Watts.
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Topic: Electric fan heater dispute
