How to Build an Electrically Heated Table: Article in Low Tech Magazine

Kris de Decker just published an article about how to build an electrically heated table like the Japanese Kotatsu or the Spanish Brasero di Picon. His table runs on 12 volts, using 75 watt hours in the first hour that it runs, followed by 50-60 watt hours after that. He tested it this December and found that it warmed him up quickly.

I did not read the article.  What is the point of these heat tables?  Seed starting or keeping foods warm?

I was introduced to this concept decades ago when I was in Japan attending school for a couple of semesters.

I would love to build something like this for my computer table. I don't mind the house being on the cooler side in general (although nowhere near as cool as some permies seem to like it, as I would turn into an icicle), however when I need to spend time at the computer, my feet tend to get too cold.

This totally fits with the concept of "heat the body, not the room" and the article does stress the need to put fire safety first. It is important to remember that even low heat if left drying wood for a long time, can make wood more flammable. It's more complicated than that, but I'd need one of our more knowledgeable on the subject permies to explain it.

60 Watts is the same as a fairly bright incandescent household light bulb *, so ought to be fairly safe if one is careful putting things together.

Jay - I highly recommend a hot water bottle under you feet as a short term solution when sat at a computer desk!

* At least in the UK

Anne Miller wrote:I did not read the article.  What is the point of these heat tables?  Seed starting or keeping foods warm?

The purpose is to keep people warm. The heater is on the bottom side of the table, so it radiates heat onto your legs. And then blankets draped over the table hold the heat in. It is like Paul's video on micro-heaters, but it's built as a more finished product.

I looked up  Japanese Kotatsu:



source

And the Spanish Brasero di Picon:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasero_(heater)

I am very familiar with the concept in video from Paul so I get it...