In winter, there are many challenges like dry skin, cold feet, aches, and pains. Along with moisturizers, balms, and hydrating creams, heating pads are also a popular must-have. Though the comfort and warmth to soothe pains are great outcomes, a question usually surfaces about how many watts a heating pad uses. Are they environmentally friendly and budget-friendly? Here, we will explore the energy consumption of heating pads and their contribution to your monthly power cost.
We will also discuss what factors influence heating pads' energy consumption and how we can reduce their cost of operation.
Key Takeaways About Powering A Heating Pad
- How many watts a heating pad uses depends on the heating pad's size and settings.
- A medium-sized heating pad consumes about 80 watt-hours (Wh) if used for two hours daily, which is 2.4 kWh a month and 29.2 kWh a year.
- In terms of cost, a heating pad costs around $0.64 a month or $7.68 a year. This calculation is based on a 26 cents/kWh rate.
- People are seeking alternate power resources for money-saving and also for promoting green living.
How Many Watts Does A Heating Pad Use?
Heating pads are small power eaters. The number of watts they use depends on their size and settings. They generally consume between 50 and 200 watts, while they may use as little as 20 watts on their lowest settings. Adjusting the temperature setting to lower numbers can help you conserve energy.
Since heating pads are available in various types, this can also affect their power consumption. So, let's explore different types of heating pads.
Electric Heating Pads
Electric heating pads are the most widely used type, and they operate using electrical energy. You can adjust the temperature settings according to your comfort. Lowering the temperature settings helps save electricity.
Infrared Heating Pads
Infrared Heating Pads generate heat using infrared technology. They help with blood circulation, inflammation, and muscle soreness.
Moist Heating Pads
Moist pads combine moisture with heat to soothe joint pain and stiffness. The moisture promotes better heat penetration, resulting in relaxation and comfort.
Microwaveable Heating Pads
Microwaveable heating pads are easy to use and versatile. You fill them with rice or gel and then heat them in the microwave.
Definition Of Amps, Volts, Watts, Running Watts, Rated Watts, Watt-Hours.
Let us present some background knowledge before discussing the details of how many watts a heating pad uses.
Amps
An ampere is a unit for measuring electric current. One Ampere is equal to the electric current produced in a circuit by one volt of voltage acting through a resistance of one ohm.
Volts
The volt measures voltage, i.e., the "pressure" in an electric circuit. The higher the voltage, the more electrical current will flow in the circuit.
Voltage = Ampere x Resistance
V = IR
Watts
A watt is a power unit that measures the rate of energy transfer. It is the rate at which electrical work is done when one Ampere (A) of electric current flows through one volt (V).
Running Watts or Rated Watts
Running, or rated watts, is the power of continuous watts needed to keep electric devices running.
Watt-Hours
Watt-hours measures the amount of energy consumed by a device rated at 1 watt over 1 hour.
How Many Watts Does A Heating Pad Use?
Heating pads are available in various shapes and sizes, which can affect power consumption. For example, a small mattress pad may consume 60-100 watts, while a large heating pad may consume 120-200 watts.
The number of watts a heating pad uses depends on its size, wattage, settings, and duration of use.
- Wattage Rating:Generally, heating pads use between 20 watts to 200 watts or more.
- Size of the Heating Pad: The larger heating pads or blanket style heating pads use higher wattages as compared to small heating pads.
- Thermostatic Control: Some heating pads have built-in thermostatic control so you can set a specific temperature. The higher the temperature setting, the higher the power consumption.
- Duration of Use: Though heating pads may be comforting and soothing, still using them for an extended time can be hazardous. Also, long use means more power consumption.
- Energy Efficiency:Higher-quality heating pads are designed for energy efficiency and need less amount of electricity to generate desired heat.
The following table summarizes the wattage of different sizes of heating pads.
|
Heating Pad |
Rated Watts |
Length of Time Powered (hours) |
Estimated power needed daily (Watt-hours) |
|
Heat therapy pads |
10 to 70 watts |
2 Hours |
20-140 Wh |
|
Small mattress pads |
60 to 100 watts |
2 Hours |
120-200 Wh |
|
Medium blankets |
70 to 150 watts |
2 Hours |
140-300 Wh |
|
Large heating pads |
120 to 200 watts |
2 Hours |
240 - 400 Wh |
How Long Can Jackery Run A Heating Pad
As the world moves towards a more green lifestyle and power costs are soaring globally, solar power is becoming the most popular power source. The Jackery solar power generators combine the benefits of environmentally friendly power with portability. We recommend the Jackery solar power generator 300 Plus and 500 for running your heating pad. In addition to the heating pads, you can also connect other devices simultaneously using multiple output ports on the generator.
Jackery Solar Power Generator 300 Plus
The Jackery solar generator 300 plus is a small solar generator weighing only 11 lbs. The solar panels are almost the same size as an iPad or a book, so you can easily carry the power station and solar panels together. It has a large 288Wh capacity and strong 300W output that allows running a large number of basic equipment.
The Jackery solar generator 300 plus has 52 protective mechanisms, 12 BMS algorithms, and four types of physical protection, making them perfect for both indoors and outdoors.
You can easily run your heating pad on this generator and thus travel comfortably. Switching to solar power from the grid even while you are home can help you save a significant amount of money.
The following list shows the running hours of common devices on a fully charged 300-plus generator.
- Light(5W): 24 H
- Camera(8.4W): 13 H
- Bluetooth Speaker(10W):19 H
- Phone(18W): 16 H
- CPAP(28W): 7 H
- Electric blanket(55W): 4 H
- Drone(90W): 5.8 H
Jackery Solar Power Generator 500
The Jackery solar generator 500 is the same size as a basketball, which makes it a compact and reliable choice for camping, road trips, RV, and home backup scenarios. All Jackery solar generators are gas emissions-free energy sources and are equipped with reliable battery management systems. You can use the Jackery solar generator 500 for running your camping equipment and indoor appliances, including lighting, computers, space heaters, coffee makers, etc.
The following list summarizes the running time of appliances on fully charged Jackery solar generator 500.
- Phone (18W): 22.6 Charges
- TV(60W): 7.5 H
- Blender(300W): 7 H
- Space Heater(300W): 1.5 H
- Coffee Maker(550W): 0.8 H
- Toaster(650W): 40 Mins
Conclusion
Heating pads are commonly used for soothing aches and pains, but a common concern is whether they consume a significant amount of electricity. The answer depends on various factors. They are mostly designed to be energy-efficient, using relatively low wattage. Typically, they range from 50 to 150 watts, comparable to a standard incandescent light bulb.
While heating pads themselves may not use much electricity, the duration and frequency of usage can impact overall energy consumption. If used for short periods and not constantly, electricity usage remains moderate. Leaving a heating pad on for extended periods can contribute to higher energy bills over time.
Heating pads, when used responsibly, do not consume a considerable amount of electricity. It’s crucial to be mindful of usage patterns and adhere to recommended guidelines to maintain energy efficiency. While they provide therapeutic benefits, practicing energy-conscious habits ensures that the comfort they offer doesn’t come at the cost of significant electricity consumption.
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