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How safe are 12 volt electric blankets ?

broadgage
Modern mains voltage electric blankets have a reasonable safety record if not misused.

But what about the 12 volt ones ? At such a low voltage there is virtualy no risk of a dangerous electric shock, but what about fire risk ? Are there any product safety standards, and are these enforced.


Are the heating elements of the self regulating PTC type, or just a simple length of resistance wire. Is there any requirement for the covering to be fire retardent ?


Slightly concerned to hear that friends are useing these regularly on childrens beds. (off grid home, no mains electricity) They are used in conjunction with wool blankets (naturaly fire retardent) and cotton sheets (moderatly flammable)

The running current is about 4 to 4.5 amps and the supply is from a 12 volt, 16 amp small power circuit with a 5 amp fuse in the plug.
Parents
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    Gosh. When I was a kid in the 1950's, my parents had an electric blanket. For warming the bed before they got in it.

    In the 1970's, my pals and I used to go off ski-touring in the winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. With good sleeping bags. A pal had a very good one – that he had to leave open while sleeping in -10° to -20° outside. Because his body temperature was retained; because the heat-loss gradient through the bag at those outside temperatures was negligible.  

    The point being that there is a bed covering for any room/outside temperature you are likely to encounter in Britain at any time of year. It may not be the one you have. But you can get one.

    I don't heat my bedroom. In winter it is typically 14°-16°. A common-or-garden duvet suffices. If I don't feel comfortable, I use an additional loose sheet under the duvet. 

    You can keep as warm as you want with appropriate bed insulation. So get it. What is supposed to be the point of an electric blanket? 

     

Reply
  • 0

    Gosh. When I was a kid in the 1950's, my parents had an electric blanket. For warming the bed before they got in it.

    In the 1970's, my pals and I used to go off ski-touring in the winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. With good sleeping bags. A pal had a very good one – that he had to leave open while sleeping in -10° to -20° outside. Because his body temperature was retained; because the heat-loss gradient through the bag at those outside temperatures was negligible.  

    The point being that there is a bed covering for any room/outside temperature you are likely to encounter in Britain at any time of year. It may not be the one you have. But you can get one.

    I don't heat my bedroom. In winter it is typically 14°-16°. A common-or-garden duvet suffices. If I don't feel comfortable, I use an additional loose sheet under the duvet. 

    You can keep as warm as you want with appropriate bed insulation. So get it. What is supposed to be the point of an electric blanket? 

     

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