220 110 Room Heater for Nepal
I am still in Bangkok, I am preparing to go to Nepal, many persons would be thinking about trekking or what last few tourist sites in Bangkok to visit. Me, I am worried about freezing, Nepal is a country on the cusp, it is not cold, however it is not warm, it is not always comfortable.
I estimate that Katmandu, Nepal is about 28 degrees above the Equator.
This is about the same as Miami, Florida.
Now, in Miami you are at sea level, while at Katmandu I will be at 1220 meters or maybe 4000 feet above sea level. This altitude makes it colder, mostly at night, the days could be like Miami, then a cool drop at night. The warmer days convinces them to not heat the rooms. Therefore for a beach bum, I am freezing. Tibet is even worst, and the Chinese can be inhuman on how they treat a tourist. I was in Lhasa Tibet and it was frozen outside, I had a room with zero heat.
I remember....!
I have been trying to make this 220 110 Heater, something that would work in Quito, Ecuador at 2500 Meters with 110, however also will work in Nepal that has 220. I think I have found the right combination. I went to Panthip, today a computer mall, purchased a universal computer cord that has adjustable output, it give me a 15 Volt output, and then I purchased a 12 Volt Fan that you put in a computer.
I am testing, I will let run all night and hopefully I will have a complete forced air heater that is whisper quiet or about the same degree of racket as your computer. I am excited, the problems with this have been numerous. I think I have made great progress, however the test will be in Nepal on them cold mountain nights.
I suppose I should find a girl, it would be easier.
Oh well, life is good. I have been trying to do this for years. I used to use a hot plate, however it is only radiant, with this I have a fan that will blow through the heater.
NOTE: This may seem weird, heaters are easy to buy. However to purchase a heater that does not make FAN NOISE is difficult.
Owners of Hotels do not like room heaters.
Plus I can cook on this baby.
220 110 Room Heater for Nepal
- ash said on Saturday May 20th, 2006 07:05:00 AM
sounds like something I wish I'd had in Nepal. One night while trekking, we were in a room where the windows were not sealed properly. There were gaps between the frames holding the glass and the walls. big finger gaps. so I asked for 2 blankets. fine. Still froze. I was wearing my trousers, my fleece, my own blanket, their 2 blankets and i was freezing. I very nearly climbed into my emergency survival bag. those are problematic. They will warm you up, yes, but you'll wake up in a bag of sweat because they don't breathe. Still, beats getting ill.
- Anonymous said on Sunday May 21st, 2006 08:33:00 AM
When I was there last year I did exactly as Andy recommends and used a girl to keep warm with. It's cheap, environmentally friendly and nature's own way (a form of the buddy system after all?). Keep up the good work - love your blog.Rick Astley
- Chris said on Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 12:39:00 AM
Can we have a picture of this Gizmo -- all set up running past your hotplate? Not familiar with this variable output computer cable you've mentioned ... USB, eh?Thanks.- Chris
- Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 02:52:00 AM
I am debating on the photos.... hehehe, I have people write and tell me to Patent things. This jobby is getting close to this type of idea.
