OWS WINTER: greenhouse tents (clear plastic) for warmth?

[sam11111]

Seems like it would work.

Also...can electric blankets be run from a car battery in the tent? Or a generator in a truck could power blankets in twenty nearby tents. Or the park may have outlets already.

Small 9v batteries warm both electric mittens and sox-- I have seen them.

Reach out to invite alaska and canadian Eskimos to NYC etc... they might endure winter well when many of us have to retreat indoors. Because they would be already acclimatized, I assume. True?

[Jackpine Radical]

1. There are also cheap inverters that convert 12 v dc

into 120 v ac, so you can run just about anything you want (within amperage limitations) on a 12 v car (or, better, deep-cycle marine) battery.

[TheWraith]

3. Bear in mind, those won't run much of a heater. nt

Heaters are typically 3-5 times more wattage than those inverters can support.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Of course. I wasn't suggesting batteries for heat energy.

I would look at some sort of LP catalytic converter for that. And one has to be careful about using them in confined spaces, of course. For overnight heat, I would just suggest sleeping bags & tents. I have spent many winter nights with nothing more, even in subzero weather.

[TheWraith]

12. In that case, don't bother with the inverter. Run straight off 12 volt DC.

It's much more efficient to get a 12 volt laptop adapter or the like than to use an inverter. They tend to be a bit power hungry themselves. If you're not trying to drive something which absolutely requires 110 volts, they just get in the way. And they're unsuitable for high-draw 110 appliances like heaters, stoves, etcetera.

[FSogol]

2. Condensation from people's breath would make the inside of the plastic sheeting rain.

Plants love the humidity, but people wouldn't. Good winter tents (with ventilation) and a good sleeping bag would be a better choice.

[Warpy]

6. Exactly, the dark outer tent skin is more efficient at absorbing and radiating heat

during the day (as anyone who's camped in the summer and made the mistake of trying to sleep in knows). At night, the sleeping bag is the main protection from cold weather--the tent skin just keeps the rain and snow off.

The only solar element that might help is a heat sink, a 5 gallon honey tin from a health food store spray painted black and filled with water might help at night.

[shraby]

4. What kind of tents do they use in the Antarctica?

[Frosty1]

7. Igloos?

Build them out of snow like the eskimo do.

[FSogol]

9. Sorry Frosty. No eskimos in Antarctica.

;)

[Frosty1]

11. I know that

But there is plenty of snow in NYC in the winter. If they get torn down they can be rebuilt.

[FSogol]

8. North Face Expedition Tents. Same materials as regular winter tents (gore-tex), but

with ports for ventilation and 35 tie downs points to keep it from getting shredded in high winds.

If you are going to be outside in the winter, having better layers in most important:

polypro long johns
wool
fleece jacket
gore tex shell

Spend the money on a good zero degree F down sleeping bag. Don't worry about the tent.

[Arctic Dave]

10. Plastic will only help from wind, not cold.

To survive in cold dress in layers and don't sweat. If you are sweating then you have too many clothes on.

Wind will be your worst enemy, it will push the cold into your clothing.