When the space-age looking Dyson Hot landed in the Caravan Times office, there was a collective buzz as staff rushed over to have a play. Like all Dyson products, the object is visually arresting with a futuristic and intriguing design.
There are no obvious elements such as ceramic plates or fan blades; just a large purple oval ring atop a slim base. So how does it actually work as a heater? And most importantly for us, can it be taken away on a caravan holiday?
The heater follows on from Dyson’s Air Multiplier by using the same system to warm a room evenly. So rather than simply moving around the air, the Hot can change the climate of a room.
Air is drawn in and then accelerated through an aperture which is the thickness of a £2 coin. This creates a powerful jet, while surrounding air is drawn into the airflow, amplifying it six times.
While most portable heaters use a rotary dial as a basic thermostat, the Dyson Hot uses a digital system to select the exact temperature and maintain it. If you fancy some cool air, choosing the 1 degree setting turns the Hot into a fan.
Meanwhile a rotary base allows it to rotate up to 180 degrees to spread the air. All functions can be controlled using the ultra-slim remote, which docks neatly on the top of the heater using a magnetic system.
Is it any good as a heater?
The controls on the Dyson Hot are thankfully minimal and easy to use straight from the box. A pair of two-way toggles control the thermostat and fan speed, while either side is a power button and the rotate button. A digital display shows the current temperature, while the Hot can be tilted upwards or downwards for better spread of heat.
Those with families will appreciate the safety aspects of this new Dyson. The firm claims the heater cannot burn you, because none of the exposed parts get hot enough. Additionally, the Hot automatically shuts down when knocked over, and pauses when rotating if you make adjustments using the buttons on the base.
Can it be used on a caravan holiday?
This is where things get potentially tricky. While the Dyson Hot is innovative in a number of areas, power consumption is not one of them. A 1500kw output is fairly typical for a heater such as this, but in the caravanning world this can automatically rule it out for holiday use.
Most campsites tend to have restricted supplies ranging between 6A and 16A, with only the upper end of the scale being suitable for the Dyson Hot. Earlier this week a warden from the Hilhead Caravan Club site spoke to Caravan Times and advised against using high output heaters with other devices such as toasters or hairdryers, claiming such devices have previously tripped the power circuit.
Our verdict
It’s hard not to be intrigued when first setting eyes on the Dyson Hot. The firm are known as the Apple of household appliances, yet in the same way, customers pay a premium for design. The Hot retails at £270, putting this beyond the reach of all but the fashion-conscious.
As a heater the Dyson Hot is excellent, using the digital thermostat and Air Multiplier technology to give a quick and even spread of heat. Most caravanners however will be wary of using such a high output device on holiday unless hooked up to the largest of power supplies. As such, the Dyson Hot may be best left at home, where the beautiful design and impressive efficiency can be enjoyed from the comfort of a sofa.
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