Heated Mattress Pads

[Deb]

We bought a heated mattress pad, with dual controls of course, for our TD. My question is will I have issues with our one inch memory foam topper? Do I need to put the mattress pad over or under the topper? Has anyone used a heated mattress pad? Hope you can help! Thank you!

[pete42]

Deb I don't know where to place the heater.

Having worked as an electrician for 41+ years I do know you will be sleeping in a low level electrical force field if the pad is 120 Volts.

12 volts not so much.

as the 120 volts change direction at 60 cycles a second the force field builds and collapses engulfing you and yours in the ever changing electrical field.

but since millions of people use them every day just like cell-phones and ham radio walkie-talkies use it and stay warm.

old cautious Pete

[Mukilteo]

Probably on top. Wouldn't do much good underneath.

[CAJUN LADY]

Deb, I've got one and use it on top. But, I put a thin foam eggcrate on top of it and it works just fine.

[Deb]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I just didn't want to damage the memory foam topper or the heated mattress pad. I appreciate all the input!

[mezmo]

Hi Deb,

I've got a Temperpedic at home which in general is quite nice. They
work by using body heat to help mold the memory foam layer to your
body. The makers specifically say not to put a mattress pad on top of
it as it limits the memory foam's working. But: I, myself, find I like
another layer on top as a full memory foam mattress can at times make
you feel like you're sleeping in your own form fitting giant foam camera
case - like they use to keep camera equipment in place and cushioned
for carrying around/shipping - just a long-winded way to say that once
you're "settled in" a full memory foam type mattress it can be hard to
turn over or move around at times, since you've 'sunk' into place so to
say.

A topper of the memory foam may not work the same, but I'd guess
putting the heated pad under the memory foam topper might defeat
its purpose. On top seems best.

BTW, this all assumes a "normal" heating and cooling home environment.
During an electrical outage once in the winter due to an ice storm, our
Temperpedic mattresses turned into extremely firm slabs of foam that
you could never get/keep warm in as the mattress continually drew body
heat out of you. Sleeping on a couple thicknesses of comforters on top
of the mattress helped alleviate that somewhat. it's just something to
take into consideration.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[halfdome, Danny]

We bought a heated mattress pad, with dual controls of course, for our TD. My question is will I have issues with our one inch memory foam topper? Do I need to put the mattress pad over or under the topper? Has anyone used a heated mattress pad? Hope you can help! Thank you!

We have been using the Electrowarmth 12 volt heated mattress pads for 5 years now. Our mattress is 4" of medium foam and 1" of memory foam.
We attach the heated pad to a fitted mattress pad (per instructions) and then a fitted sheet. Never had any issues with the foam. Danny

[droid_ca]

silly question ....Do you keep them turned on all night or just long enough to heat up the bed and whats the battery drain like?

[halfdome, Danny]

silly question ....Do you keep them turned on all night or just long enough to heat up the bed and whats the battery drain like?

They heat up within 15 to 30 minutes on the 7 setting. Depending how cold it is and if it's one or two of us in the teardrop determines how hot or cool to keep the bed.
Usually I'll turn it down to 1 or 2 and have never had issues with battery drain but then we have two deep cell 12 volt batteries. Danny

[nevadatear]

My experience is exactly the same as Danny's. We have a " foam with memory foam on top. We put the heating pad on top of the foam covering that it came with, then a mattress pad on top, like it recommends, then the sheet. We just used it last night, and still works great. But it does take a while to heat up, so turn it on at least 30 minutes before you go to bed.

Also no problems with battery drain, and we have a single battery. But we do turn it off after we are nice and warm, don't generally leave it on all night.

Debbie

[halfdome, Danny]

Also no problems with battery drain, and we have a single battery. But we do turn it off after we are nice and warm, don't generally leave it on all night.

Debbie

It cycles during the night as I can hear it in the control so it only pulls juice when needed. Danny

[Pottercounty]

I've always found the Memory foam very warm to sleep on however, the headed pad won't hurt it. I work with the T-Foam or what you would call Memory foam. I actually mix the chemicals to produce the different grades of this foam. We have a 5X9 and use a Twin size heated blanket that fits just perfectly and stay quite cozy...

[wincrasher]

would you recommend a heated mattress pad over a small ceramic heater?

or should you have both on hand?

[halfdome, Danny]

would you recommend a heated mattress pad over a small ceramic heater?

or should you have both on hand?

We have both. One to heat the ambient air and the other for the body. Makes a comfortable teardrop on a cold night
The choice is yours. Danny

[Wild Bill]

Actually had a bad experience with one. Bought one to put on my bed and another for my daughters twin bed. She woke up one night came into our room and said her bed was on fire. Sure enough it was, I was able to put out the fire, unplug the pad. Not sure what woke her up but she got off the bed before it burst into flames and luckily was not harmed. Burned a 12inch hole in the matress and filled the room with smoke. Quite an experience to say the least. Took the matress out side, opened the windows to the room closed the door and went back to bed. Called the FD the next morning and they said they see this often and they would not make a report since they did not put out the fire. The ensuing experience with the retailer, the manufacturer, and my insurance company was a nightmare in and of itself. And all I wanted was my money back for all 3 pads I had purchased , and the Matress replaced! Nothing else! In the end was told that these should only be used on a firm surface and that any bunching or folding can cause a short and possible fire, eventhough it has a built in breaker that never tripped. I have pictures someplace in a file, if I come across them I will scan and add. Based on my firsthand experience, I would rather be cold than burn to death trying to keep warm. Another note this was on a firm 6 inch futon type matress that was flat Bill