DeLonghi oil filled radiator Good!

[MilDoc]

Picked one of these up at Lowe's for $14.99, figuring that at that price if the shop wasn't kept warm enough we'd use it in the cold bathroom. Well, let me tell you, my uninsulated detached single car garage shop was warm enough to work in without a jacket despite ouside temps that didn't get above 28 today! 'course, it's been running full time since yesterday and I can't wait to see the electric bill, but hey... it worked well!

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...07L&lpage=none

Now to get the more expensive one with the timer for the bathroom!

[cgallery]

You know, that is the 2nd time in as many weeks that I heard someone rave about an oil-filled radiator. The other poster had pretty much the same experience as you (using in a garage). And I've had family members sing their praises, as well.

I know a BTU is a BTU, but I imagine there is something about these things that makes them work better than other electrical heaters.

[Garasaki]

I picked one up at 50% off as well.

It's done alright for me, not as rave as the reviews I've seen make it But my wife won't let me run it unless I'm out in the garage.

There are 2 reasons I can think of that they work better then an average elec heater:

1) Much more surface area
2) Much heigher thermal mass, or ability to hold heat over time

I have been using it with a box fan blowing over it on low speed...I hear that helps with the heat output.

[Ed62]

I've had one of those for about 3 years. It takes a while to heat a room, but it can really keep it comfortable once it heats up. Mine has 2 switches, which allow 3 settings. There is also a dial which allows you to select 1 - 6 for the amount of heat needed. This year I noticed when it is on high heat for 2 - 3 hours, the cord gets very hot. I wouldn't leave it unattended, if using high heat.

Ed

[MikeMcCoy]

I picked up the one with the timer this afternoon and it's actually warm here today but I fired it up to see how it worked and was really impressed. Hard to beat for $30.

[MilDoc]

This year I noticed when it is on high heat for 2 - 3 hours, the cord gets very hot. I wouldn't leave it unattended, if using high heat.

Ed

The attachment to the cord on mine said that this was normal and expected. And I did indeed notice it.

[LCHIEN]

The attachment to the cord on mine said that this was normal and expected. And I did indeed notice it.

A room heater is about the only place where its somewhat beneficial to have an undersized power cord.

In a Table saw, a few watts lost in the power cord subtract from the maximum power of the table saw.

But in a room heater, watts lost in the power cord... go 100% straight to heating the room, lessening the load on the heater itself.

Well, as long as the cord is not so small it overheats and melts the insulation.

Somehat whimsical, somewhat tongue in cheek and somewhat true observation...

[bmyers]

Oh, Loring.. I just love slide-rule humor...

I got one of those heaters last year. They are real nice. I have one in my "other" shop where my "other" lathe is.. Had to do something to fight the brutal winters of Phoenix...
Bill

[hermit]

Does anyone know how these compare to the infrared quartz heaters Lowes sells? I bought one of those just to take the initial coolness off of my shop. Their claim to fame is they work like sunlight to warm objects not necessarily the air like the electrical element or ceramic heaters. I was pretty impressed so I bought another. I have heat in my garage floor, but the upstairs shop is always cooler. I usually run the 2 for about 30 min in the morning. I wonder if these radiators would work better.

Todd

[WoodButcher26]

I also bought one this weekend on the same half off sale, it joined another similar unit in my 24x24 shop. Today I was comfortable in there for the first time in any January. And yes, the cords do get a little warm, I've been checking the first one since I plugged it in last winter, and it doesn't seem to have any real issues.

We ran the numbers and figured the cost per kilowatt hour versus putting in a "real" heat source, and there was really no comparison. I'll be using these heaters for the forseeable future.


Kim

[TB Roye]

I got a similar one 3 years ago when I built my shop. My shop is 10 x 12 and is insulated. During the winter I set it so it comes on at 6am and raises the temp to 69F until 2pm. I go out on the coldest morning at 7am or so and the temp. is 55F or higher depending on how cold it got over night. I can manually set the temp higher if I please. When I am applying finish I turn the temp to help speed the drying. I does raise the Electric bill somewhat but it's nice to have warm shop. Beside if LOLM kicks me out I can sleep warm. It does not take up much room as I have it between my router table and drill press and it's out of the way. On cold days the dog and cat come in and the dog sleeps on the floor and cat sleeps on the router table if I am not using power tools. I do vacuum the coils to keep the fire hazard down. When I am using solvent based materials I do turn it off just in case.

Tom

[sbs]

I have an oil filled like the one in the first post that we have used in the MBR for about 3 years. Very happy with it. It is the best electric option for warming an entire room.

We also have a couple of electric radiant heaters that we move around to other rooms as needed. They are good for warming up one part of you _right_now_ but not terribly good for overall comfort.

[Garasaki]

So is it safe to leave these things running un-attended??

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey guys,

Many thanks for the heads up. I have one in my daughter's bedroom, but never thought to get one for the garage (shop). I'll go to the BORG today and add some more balance to my credit account .

Thanks

Bruce

[Kristofor]

During the winter I set it so it comes on at 6am and raises the temp to 69F until 2pm. <snip>

Tom

Heh, you keep your garage several degrees warmer than I keep my house!

The oil filled electric heaters have always seemed very effective to me, but 2 of them that I've used have the down side of being oddly loud making strange 'crackeling' noises. The owner indicated that it was normal and had always done that, but it seemed odd to me.

Kristofor.