Electric blankets

[Capitol]

Tried to buy a new single electric blanket for granddaughter. Total failure. It seems that all the current products have a life of

[harry]

They killed lots of people. That's why you can't get one.

[NY]

We bought an electric blanket a few years ago which has two separate "his and hers" panels so the two sides of the bed can be heated to different temperatures. The heating elements are fine, but the controllers which plug into the mains are total crap: so far two of them have failed, either because the control electronics failed or because all the separate wires in the plug that is plugged into the blanket pulled out of the metal terminals. As with so many things, the plug was heat-sealed shut instead of having screws, and there was no pinout available as to which wire connects to which pin.

After the second failure, I found that the importer in this country had gone out of business and ceased to exist, and the only contact information for this brand that can be found online was the importer, not the original manufacturer.

We now have one working controller (I'm kicking myself for not ordering more replacements when I replaced the first one that failed) so only one side of the blanket is usable.

[Brian Gaff]

I'd not use an electric blanket far too dangerous unless low voltage then thee wiring is too thick. Brian

[James Wilkinson Sword]

There's no reason they can't be made safely. Temperature limiter to stop fires, and low voltage to stop shocks.

[PeterC]

A couple here:

I got the 2nd. one 'superior' about 6 weeks ago - it's OK on the middle setting. It's under, not over, but you don't say which you want.

[Mr Pounder Esquire]

(Peter Hucker)

[Terry Casey]

Did you notice the stock levels? 1 - 7 - no stock - 4

Looks like it might be a stock clearance and there might not be any more to come, in view of previous comments.

I was thinking about getting a new blanket - I think I'll get one while the going's good!

Thanks for the info!

[Capitol]

Wanted over, but under seem just as unreliable.

[ARW]

Best link I can get to "lots of people" is

[Steve Walker]

You don't want to rely on a device to shut it off (at least at the price point most people would pay), but you don't need to. Ours simply uses self-regulating heating cable that increases its resistance and lowers its heat output as it gets warmer. Nothing to go wrong and self-limiting.

I can't remember if it is low voltage as well though.

SteveW

[Tim+]

We?ve been happy users of a Dreamland Intelliheat blanket for the last few years. Available in single bed size too.

Tim

[James Wilkinson Sword]

So I was correct, it's easy enough to make it not catch fire.

Anyway, you'd wakeup pretty quick if you were scorched.

[harry]

Nothing has changed since then. When in electric board saw several fire aftermaths. As usual, victims died of smoke inhalation, not burning. Usually old people. If you're going to have an electric blanket, unplug it before going to bed. But hot water bottle is safer.

[harry]

There's no 100% sure test for electric blankets.

[harry]

At some point the "normal" flex is joined to the heating flex in the blanke t. This where they often fail. There is no 100% test of how secure this joint is. I have seen many failed blankets. Most now I 'spect are made in China or somewhere & are as suspect as they w ere years ago..

[PeterC]

Yes, 7DS tends to get something in, offer it, then not have any more.

[Robin]

In your opinion perhaps. But do you have any evidence?

In 1999 many electric blankets will have been designed and sold only for pre-heating with no thermal control at all. Very many of those will have been replaced by ones which were designed for all night use and have thermostats.

There's also a bit of a contrast between 20 deaths and 5,000 fires a year in Adam's link and the Which? report in 2013 that "3,700 fires have been caused per year as a result of faulty appliances" - of which electric blankets accounted for just 2%.

Now I don't trust Which? to get things right but those figures tally with the the official stats from ONS which show around 4,500 dwelling fires a year from *all* faulty appliances and leads.

So you reckon it's safer for nonagenarians to pour hot water into the narrow neck of bottles and take them to bed (where they may leak) than to turn on an all night under blanket? Have you adjusted for the risks of scalding which in elderly people can more often prove fatal? And for the health benefits (even leaving aside quality of life!) of a blanket which keeps them warm all over all night as opposed to a bottle which warms a bit of them for a bit?

[charles]

use a duvet.

[James Wilkinson Sword]

I see no reason a joint cannot be made which is reliable.