Can we fix Ralfy's heater

These fan heaters don't have that here, but the radiant heaters do.

Big Clive

I have an almost identical heater but it has a little “anti tilt” switch on the bottom (A plastic rod which is pushed up to close a contact when the heater is vertical but which springs open if the heater falls over). Given you were running this unit while horizontal I’m guessing that feature wasn’t present on Ralfy’s ?

Also Ralfy might like a heated blanket (electric blanket but in a “throw over blanket” style) as the “stay warm until the fire heats the room” option. Safer than the electric heater under a blanket, but a similar “warmed by the blanket” effect. Some of my friends swear by them. Ewen

Ewen McNeill

That would be enhanced with a wicking material that fogged off and then ignited.

Big Clive

I bought one of those heaters in France. After a month it stopped working. Went back to the supermarket and got a refund. Bought a 3 bar (400 watt) halogen heater from Amazon. Saves electricity I rarely use 2 or 3 bars. I don't trust the wire nuts on the blue wires.

Nuts 'n' Proud

There's not an appropriate vape fluid?

Mike Page

I may give it a light misting of WD40 so it emits stinky smoke when he uses it.

Big Clive

Ralfie damage

Russell Levine

You need to add some electronics to his heaters so they start screaming when they overheat. Actually not sure if they should scream or start swearing.

Mark Trombley

It's cheap and available. My own preference is for a more industrial metal cased unit, although the one I got runs the fan with extreme force continuously.

Big Clive

Our company published a Safety Bulletin about this type of heater in April 2020, as they'd almost caused a fire under someone's desk. 6 months later when we requested a heater for our cold workshop two of them turned up... Make of that what you will!

Stephen Eyles

I was wondering if that option (fine sandpaper/emery paper, rather than plain paper) would save BC having to endure Ralfy coming back ‘cap-in-hand’ for another contact cleaning, after spending another couple of months in a moist bothy? Or are those abrasives too harsh on the contacts?

Phil in the kitchen

We've had a few of these in the office and got rid of them because of the NOISE. Rattle rattle rattle! Replaced with slightly posh quiet ones.

Mike Page

Is it possible the fumes from a Laphroaig Islay Mist Limited Edition 17 year old Whisky could corrode copper contacts? I don't really know......

I have replaced that switch with a thermal switch from CPC by HONEST-WELL they have a life of 100,000 as cleaning did not last long on my dad's heaters. Just before he passed he turned all the electrical heaters, Rayburn and loaded coal fire high which when we came into the house paper was crispy. Opening the door was like opening an oven door and took a step back. So I went round fitting extra switching to all electrical heaters to keep heat down!!

N. Shaun Tremayne

Corrosion, is why I always keep a sheet of very fine sandpaper in my toolbox.

Andrew Donaldson

It might be worth building an extra circuit so that it doesn't work in the dark, or do you think he'd put a candle under the blanket as well?

Jim Hewlett

it looks like it's already warped

adrian

Any better alternative component of thermal cut-off? After long time the physical property changed (due to moist or dirt) it should fail more frequently.

Johnson Lam