Will a Heat Lamp Damage Gear?

[Rick Inman]

Will one of these kind of bulbs (LINK) pointed in the direction of my kit, damage the gear?

 

[Tamas]

If you put it close enough - well yeah!

What is the matter, need to thaw out the gear Rick?

 

[captndale]

It depends. A heat lamp produces warming by infared radiation. If heat will damage the particular piece of gear and it gets hot enough, then yes. Heat lamps do not produce much ultraviolet radiation. UV radiation is most damaging to rubber and plastic products but does not affect metals and does not penetrate much below the surface.

 

[Rick Inman]

What is the matter, need to thaw out the gear Rick?

The gear was still wet last night before the dive. The air temp was about 10 degrees. Bolt snaps were frozen shut. 2nd stages were frozen hockey pucks of ice. Hose disconnects were locked in place. Rear dump frozen shut. Crotch strap opening frozen closed (actually, the entire strap was hard as a rock).

Of course, once we got in the water, everything slowly melted open and the dive was great.

Just thinking, I could point a heat lamp at the back of my truck overnight when I don't unpack the kitted-up doubles between dives and drag them into my heated dive room.

 

[TSandM]

Rick, Peter has a nice little electrical heater that they make for keeping the cabins of boats dry -- It puts out only a very small amount of heat, but enough to keep things from freezing or condensing. It wasn't expensive, and I would suspect any marine shop would know what you were talking about if you asked about one. The big thing is that they are VERY low fire risk, which a heat lamp is not.

 

[Rick Inman]

Rick, Peter has a nice little electrical heater that they make for keeping the cabins of boats dry -- It puts out only a very small amount of heat, but enough to keep things from freezing or condensing. It wasn't expensive, and I would suspect any marine shop would know what you were talking about if you asked about one. The big thing is that they are VERY low fire risk, which a heat lamp is not.

Good Idea, Mrs. Borgaclause.

 

[Ben_ca]

I was thinking a small BBQ grill... That is why Santa left you that lump of coal right?

Merry Christmas Rick...

 

[dhampton82]

The gear was still wet last night before the dive. The air temp was about 10 degrees. Bolt snaps were frozen shut. 2nd stages were frozen hockey pucks of ice. Hose disconnects were locked in place. Rear dump frozen shut. Crotch strap opening frozen closed (actually, the entire strap was hard as a rock).

Of course, once we got in the water, everything slowly melted open and the dive was great.

Just thinking, I could point a heat lamp at the back of my truck overnight when I don't unpack the kitted-up doubles between dives and drag them into my heated dive room.

ummm rick, it sounds like its time to hang it up for the year!

 

[Rick Inman]

Merry Christmas Rick...

You too, Ben!

ummm rick, it sounds like its time to hang it up for the year!

Naw... we're just getting the good vis!

 

[spectrum]

The big thing is that they are VERY low fire risk, which a heat lamp is not.

You are saying that the heat lamp is a significant fire risk right?