My goal is to keep central heating turned off as much as possible. I bundle up indoors, which works for the most part but I will struggle when temps drop low enough. And hands in cold air on a keyboard are still a problem regardless.

What about using an infrared heat lamp, which traditionally has these use cases:

  • keeping pet reptiles warm
  • farms: livestock and incubators
  • physical therapy for humans (the claims: pain relief, skin healing/repair, blood circulation, anti-aging skin, …)
  • (atypical) specifically to warm hands on keyboards (but the emitted light is white when red would be better so as to not disturb natural night vision)

The last bullet inspires some enthusiasm. But I am interested in a DiY project on-the-cheap, buying locally not online.

This array of IR LEDs will be hard to buy locally. But the question is, are LEDs even the way to go? That article has a complaint about the LEDs (ironically) having a short life. And a complaint that they do not produce heat anyway. Is that a failure of just that brand and model, or generally a gimick?

The temptation is to go cheap on the bulbs, but this ad for a heat lamp for lambs is convincing to the contrary. They sell bulbs for $21 that last ~4320 hours. These bulbs are claimed to last 6000 hours.

What about carbon heating lamps? They look like the basis of space heaters, which are notoriously ineffecient. Though I wonder if the problem is just that people use space heaters to heat a whole room… when perhaps it’s more sensible to have a quite low setting to just keep hands or feet warm.

If a typical red filiment bulb is used, is it fair to say a simple dimmer would be useful, such as that of this fixture?

    • Norin@lemmy.world
      4·
      5 days ago

      Hey, I have never seen this site and it looks supremely interesting.

      Thank you for sharing it.

    • activistPnk@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      Great article. I think there are some flaws but it gives lots of good ideas.

      Possible flaws:

      • Insulating the underside of the work surface would prevent the work surface itself from getting warm. Hands have the most need for warmth. So I would be tempted to insulate the underside of the work surface as suggested but cut out a deliberate thermal bridge around the keyboard and mouse area – or maybe supplement a heating pad on top of the desk. But taking care not to add heat to the laptop.
      • Space heaters are discouraged by the article because they output too much power (as they are intended for heating a small room). But space heaters often have thermostats. I have an a/c powered oil radiator on wheels. It may be high wattage but I think it will know when to quit. And it would save me the effort of rigging up a thermostat.
      • IIUC, they rely on the blanket to mitigate heat loss around the sides of the desk. That’s where I would be tempted to use insulating radiator foil, perhaps in addition to a blanket.

      Thick insulation foam for roofing is often thrown out, like when a neighbor re-roofs and buys too much. I will be on the look out for scrap pieces to use under the desk.

      • chunkystyles@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        3·
        4 days ago

        I work from home and my office is in a basement with no heating or air conditioning. I use an electric radiating heater under the desk so that the heater is pretty close to my body. Yes, it does end up heating the room, but being close to it helps take the chill off. And it is only 700 watts max.

        Of course I still have to wear warm clothes.

        In previous years, I really struggled with my feet. But I recently bought a heated foot pocket thing, and I love it.

        Now when it gets extremely cold outside I only have minor issues with my fingers and nose getting cold. Still not perfect, but close.