The San Hima 12V/24V Heated Electric Blanket is a soft grey electric blanket that plugs into a 12V or 24V socket. We used it on cold trips in the NSW winter, at Coorongooba campground in Capertee National Park and further south in the Snowy Mountains, to warm the bed in the back of the Prado. It has three heat levels, a timer and auto shut-off, and cost $65.
What’s in the box
A 140 × 100 cm blanket in soft polyester fleece with a controller on the lead and a cigarette-socket plug. The controller unplugs from the blanket, so you can put the blanket in the washing machine.
What we like
- Warm in under 10 minutes
- 3 heat levels, 45-120 min timer
- Works on 12V and 24V
- Switches itself off
- Machine washable
What we don’t
- Single size, 140 × 100 cm
- Needs a 12V outlet
- Draws 4.2 A on high
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | San Hima |
| Model | SH-EHB-GREY-VOR |
| Material | 100% polyester |
| Colour | Grey |
| Size | 140 × 100 cm |
| Power | 12V or 24V50.5 W |
| Power draw | At 12 V: 4.2 A high3.2 A mid2.2 A lowAt 24 V: 2.1 A high1.6 A mid1.1 A low |
| Timer | 4590 or 120 minutes |
| Washing | Machine washableController detaches |
| Features | Overheat protectionAuto shut-off |
On cold nights
On the high setting it’s warm in under 10 minutes. Our routine on cold nights was to switch it on before bed with the 90-minute timer, so the bed and sleeping bag were warm by the time we got in, then let it switch itself off. At Coorongooba in winter and in the Snowy Mountains, that made getting into bed a lot nicer. It’s single size, so in a double bed or swag it covers one person or goes across the middle, and it works best under a sleeping bag or a doona rather than as your only warm layer.
Controller and safety
The controller has two buttons: heat (high, mid, low) and time (45, 90 or 120 minutes), with lights for each. The timer is the useful part: it switches the blanket off on its own, so it doesn’t run your battery down overnight. It also has overheat protection.
Power use
It draws 4.2 A on high, 3.2 A on mid and 2.2 A on low at 12V, or half that at 24V. That’s fine from an auxiliary battery or a power pack like the Kings 24Ah Power Pack: an hour and a half on high before bed uses about 6 Ah. There’s no battery of its own, so it needs a 12V outlet.
Fabric and care
The polyester fleece is soft and kept its feel after use, and with the controller unplugged the whole blanket goes in the wash. Folded, it fits in a drawer of the drawer system, ready for the next cold trip. For more ways to stay warm and comfortable at camp, see our rooftop tent and camping chairs guides, and our trip guides for where to go.
Conclusion: San Hima 12V/24V Heated Electric BlanketConclusion
The San Hima 12V/24V Heated Electric Blanket warms a bed in under 10 minutes on a cold night, runs on 12V or 24V, switches itself off with the timer and goes in the washing machine. It kept us warm on winter trips to Coorongooba and the Snowy Mountains. It’s single size, it needs a 12V outlet, and it draws 4.2 A on high, so use the timer. I paid $65, and for cold-weather camping it’s worth it.
A warm bed in under 10 minutes on a cold night.
We used it on winter trips to Coorongooba and the Snowy Mountains, switched on with the timer before bed, and it switches itself off and goes in the washing machine. It's single size, needs a 12V outlet and draws 4.2 A on high.
- Campers
- 4WD tourers
- Couples
Yes, for winter camping. I paid $65, and on cold nights at Coorongooba and in the Snowy Mountains a warm bed was worth every cent.
