Heatstrip Intense Portable THY2200P

This tech is amazing and it works, but will it match your needs and expectations? – This thing really works, as advertised. I had planned to install 2 x THY2200 (basically this Intense Heatstrip bar without the stand) onto the wall where you can see I've run an extension cord up to the GPO from my THY2200P, with another on across the same wall to the right. But I decided to buy the mobile stand version to test if it really does… Read more

work, albeit not exactly a cheap test. My plan was to then use this mobile version on the opposite side of our deck to spot heat either the outdoor lounge or far end of our 10 seat table.

You might be able to see from the photos I've included or tell from my language that I have not (yet) purchased 2 x THY2200 units and affixed them to my chamfer boards on an angle and then plugged them into the GPO's I had our electrician fit as part of the renovations we did to add the deck and open up the kitchen wall. But why?

My testing proved that the device works, as advertised. Yes it is a very effective spot heater that is unaffected by cross-winds, and it seems to work basically using the same principles that an infra-red sauna uses. I'm of Finnish descent and I could never bring myself to use an infra-red sauna, but plenty of Fins do, because they work; and so does this outdoor electrical infrared heater. But infra-red saunas are not the same as being in a traditional hot rock sauna with a bunch of other naked people. ;)

And thus what you might expect an outdoor heater "to do", might not match what these "do do". My advice, find someone who has one of these, or go to a shop selling them and actually get one turned on, preferably outside and move around in front of it. Understand and believe for yourself that they really do work, depending on where you are in front of the direction where it is pointing. But trust me, as soon as you are no longer in front if it, you will not feel any warmth whatsoever, from my personal experience.

These things aim heat and whatever is in front of them and within range (see 3rd attached image). And the heat is amazing and allows us to use our deck all year round (but we are in Brisbane, Qld). And even if there is wind blow, the people in front of where this thing is aimed still keep feeling the warmth.

So if I'm such a fan-boy and have given it 4 stars, you're probably asking why haven't I bought 2 more wall-mounted versions yet? The run cost of each one of these is 55c/hour (based upon 25c/kwH electricity buy rate), and the sun ain't shinning generally when I actually want to turn these on, so no help from my solar panels.

Secondly, despite my clear requirements to my electrician that I intended to run 2 of these mounted onto the wall where they put the double GPO's in, they only put them on a single 10amp electrical circuit. :| I'm not sure if I can safely run 2 of these at the same time on that circuit without it throwing a safety switch? So this is more my issue with a lack of research and planning and expecting common sense from our electricians.

Thirdly, if I actually wanted to run all 3 units for 4 hours one night, the run cost would be $6.60 for the night. I actually thought these would be cheaper to run as in theory there is less waste (i.e. heat blowing away). Yes, I'm the type of parent who yells at their kids to turn the A/C off and open the window when they're hot.

Finally, spot heating works with these units, but if you move your furniture arrangements, like we have done, then fixed spot heaters become less effective, and the funnel of warmth distribution of these devices is more limited in practice than I had hoped for when I read 5-9sq.m of coverage. If I could get power to these (elegantly/unobtrusively) when hung from the ceiling directly above the table or seating areas and these areas were going to remain fixed, then I think I would have committed ages ago. They really do work.

For now I have one mobile one of these, which can follow where-ever my darling wife is sitting and any lucky people aside her. Maybe the answer for me is to get another mobile version or two of these, but the stand is quite bulky and the power cords are a trip hazard so I haven't done that either.

In summary, they are a great product and I have 1st world problems. I'm so fortunate to have these sorts of problems. I could be in India right now...

totally Disappointed for that price – UPDATE: After placing this review in Google, the CafeIdeas called me and tried to convince me in a rude way this issue is nothing to do with them. I had to hang up on them in order to not to get more abuse from this person on the phone. Very unprofessional customer service. I ordered this electrical heater strip, as I use my veranda a lot and… Read more

was sick of getting a LPG bottle for my gas heater. I was so looking forward to it as it claimed that it warms the area of 5m2 on the CafeIdeas website. When I received the package,, boy oh boy .. it was so difficult to assemble it although my husband is a tradie. Instruction booklet was so little and not clear. We managed somehow and carried to my veranda.. Then comes the real disappointment!.. although I sat right underneath it, there was no heat that I felt, I was freezing. I had to get up, get on top of the chair and reach my arm to the heater to feel the heat. That much money it paid and there was no heat. My veranda is so sheltered but still it wasn't up to what it claimed … Not at all... Emailed CafeIdeas, manufacturer called me back. Asked for the photos of the area to contact their warranty group. It must have satisfied them cause he emailed me back stating they cant refund but they offered to replace it with a LPG heater instead. I already has LPG so I didn't need the another one. So that's it. I'm stuck with huge product in my veranda which I paid more than $550 . Read reviews and then buy your products please, my mistake was I didn't ask around about it. Update: after placing this review the cafeIdeas called me and tried to convince me in a rude way its nothing to do with them. I had to hang up on them in order to not to get more abuse. Very unprofessional customer service.