Oil type lamps

aslabend said:
just follow a diesel people carrier down the motorway for a couple of miles and you'll breath in more soot that my oil lamp will put out in a decade.
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So, assuming the people carrier returns 40 mpg, that means the engine has consumed .22 litre of diesel fuel. Second assumption is that you use a cabin oil lamp and consume 0.5 litre a month. In ten years that is 60 litres of oil.

The combustion of modern car engines is much more efficient (together with catalysers) than lamps, where oil is burned at much lower temperatures than in car engines. I'll try and set up a crude experiment to show how much sooty particulates are produced by cabin oil lamps as soon as I have some spare time.


In the meantime, here is some homework for you:-

http://www.breathe-easier.com/overview/indexC1.html

http://asthma.ca/corp/services/pdf/asthma_candles_eng.pdf
 
Probably depends on the quality of paraffin used, not willing to spend 5 quid a bottle myself, but I'm very unhappy with the yellowing in my cabin. Vapour output made living on the boat downright miserable in winter too, choosing between condensation and mould spreading or having to leave the hatches open.
 
sarabande said:
Second assumption is that you use a cabin oil lamp and consume 0.5 litre a month. In ten years that is 60 litres of oil.
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I bought a 1-litre bottle of oil from Hobbycraft when I bought the lamp the season before last. The bottle is now empty, but there's still some in the lamp. Half a litre a month, year round (even when the boat's up on bricks in the snow?) is a massive overestimate for me and, I suspect, the majority of non-liveaboards.

Pete
 
I like oil lamps a lot, and open fires in a grate for that matter.

Get the type with the heat guard attached to the lamp if you intend to use it in situ. Mine has the guard fixed to the boat and gets too hot; I use it on the cabin table held secure in an homemade wooden doughnut thingy. Just looking at the nice photo I might buy myself a pair of new ones.

Ewen Southby-Tailyour was asked what piece of modern sailing technology he would not sail without. I liked his answer:- Cabin oil lamps
 
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We have two Gypsy Moth ones, mounted as in the photo. Combined with the wooden bulkhead and joinery, they give a plausible, attractive traditional feel to a modern (well, 1999) plastic boat.

Bought them from Nauticalia.
 
sarabande said:
So, assuming the people carrier returns 40 mpg, that means the engine has consumed .22 litre of diesel fuel. Second assumption is that you use a cabin oil lamp and consume 0.5 litre a month. In ten years that is 60 litres of oil.

The combustion of modern car engines is much more efficient (together with catalysers) than lamps, where oil is burned at much lower temperatures than in car engines. I'll try and set up a crude experiment to show how much sooty particulates are produced by cabin oil lamps as soon as I have some spare time.


In the meantime, here is some homework for you:-

http://www.breathe-easier.com/overview/indexC1.html

http://asthma.ca/corp/services/pdf/asthma_candles_eng.pdf
Click to expand...

Most Diesels don't have cats but some ****ty system (DPF) to collect particulates and then burn it in the exhaust when hot enough with the help of the ECU adding diesel with/or an additive (uric acid) to increase temperature. Most diesels with this system run in towns are clogged up and produce big puffs of soot when accelerating. The damn things are so troublesome that there's a Polish guy down our way doing a roaring trade in cutting them out and reprogramming the ECU. As a motorcyclist I can tell you that a you can taste the soot following a diesel with a DPF.

0.5l of lamp oil a month! By christ do you think I'm made of money? Under a litre a year I would say is average for most.

Anyway, thanks for the info, I'll wear a dust mask next time I light my oil lamp :)
 
sarabande said:
In the meantime, here is some homework for you:-

http://www.breathe-easier.com/overview/indexC1.html

http://asthma.ca/corp/services/pdf/asthma_candles_eng.pdf
Click to expand...

It all sounds very worrying :(

Surely though there's much less particulate exposure in our lives in general now since the use of electric lights and heaters on the street and in the home? As compared to that mid to early last century and before.

What actually happens to 'breathed' particles - are they not just coughed up in mucus, and spat or swallowed?

Here on the water the air seems so much cleaner and fresher in general than it does in a more urban environment anyway, and presumably less pollen also, so maybe an oil lamp just resets the balance a little?
 
+1 for the Vapalux M320. Excellent light/heat output, and no problems with condensation if you ventilate properly.
I also have a wick type parafin lamp which gives a nice warm glow to the cabin but by contrast isn't really bright enough to read by - but used in combination with an LED spot works nicely...
 
Bugger the particle exposure, if you have ever seen a pressure lamp flare up (and yes I am referring to good quality and well maintained lamps - I've seen it happen with no warning) you would never have one below deck. I won't.
 
I agree completely about the fumes and vapour. Am seeking a 12volt version of the wall mounted oil lamp. I saw one, on line, but failed to book mark it, simply cannot find it now. Anyone any ideas please? :confused:
 
x25dave said:
I agree completely about the fumes and vapour. Am seeking a 12volt version of the wall mounted oil lamp. I saw one, on line, but failed to book mark it, simply cannot find it now. Anyone any ideas please? :confused:
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Toplicht seem to have quite a few in stock, probably basecamp too. Since they're just resellers you could of course browse their shops for a model that suits you and order it via a local swindlery.
 
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