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There are lots of reviews here, but only one mentions the noisy transformer problem, so I would like to share my experience with that.
We purchased our first queen Soft Heat mattress pad from Costco about 6 to 8 years ago. At that time, the electrical connector on the pad was smaller than it is on newer versions. After a couple of years, we noticed a faint burnt odor and saw that the connectors had become brown. We contacted Soft Heat, and they immediately sent us a replacement mattress pad with new controllers and an updated connector that was significantly larger. We have not had a problem with the connectors since then.
However, at some point we started noticing a strange noise in the middle of the night. It sounded sort of mechanical and sort of melodic, sometimes like an ink jet printer in the distance, or sometimes kind of like a telephone dial tone. It was one of those sounds that is really hard to locate the source of. It was quiet enough that we thought it was coming from farther away. Finally, weeks later, we held the Soft Heat transformers up to our ears and realized that they were causing the noise. Even when the mattress pad was turned off the noise would be there, and could only be stopped by unplugging the transformers.
We contacted Soft Heat, and they immediately sent us replacement transformers. The replacements also had the noise problem. We contacted Soft Heat again, and they said that their engineers were aware of the noise problem, and were working on a solution. This was maybe in 2008. A recent reviewer stated that the transformers are still noisy as of March 2010.
We decided to plug the transformers into power strip next to the bed, so we could switch them off in the middle of the night. This solved the noise problem in an inconvenient and inelegant way.
If it weren't for the noise, this would be a five star review. They heat well, and we don't feel the wires when we sleep.
The noise is subtle, and it's possible we only noticed it because our street was super quiet at night. But, once we heard it, we found it hard to get to sleep until we had stopped it.
Based on my experience, most if not all of the Soft Heat transformers make a noise. I think other reviewers should hold the transformers up to their ears and report back on any noise they hear.
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The good: the concept is awesome you push the button when you start getting ready for bed. The first 15 minutes the unit goes to high and the sheets are toasty warm when you hop in then the unit goes to the setting you selected. Both my wife and I found that LO or 1 was plenty! If you get up in the morning and forget to turn it off... it then turns off after 10 hours. All in all terrific concept and warms things right up.
The bad: the transformers... since the unit is DC there are transformer boxes that sit on the floor. The issue here with both transformers is the high pitch whine / buzz that they make when converting AC to DC. That sound is made worse by the on/off cycling that the unit does based on the temp setting (cycles off more on LO than on HI). There is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it short of unplugging.
The awful: The manufacturer said some sound is "normal" and since both units do it it must be normal. So back to Amazon it went.
Very disappointing because it was nice getting into bed with warm sheets but then not being able to fall asleep because of the horrible sounds... well... you get the point.
Buy Soft Heat Warming Mattress Pad Now
This product could not be improved upon. It is soft, you feel no wires. It has a wide range of heat settings. I have not gone higher than 6, which is quite warm, but 1 is very mild, barely perceptible. Although it's a little pricey, I am not sorry I sprang for it, as it allows me to do with minimal heating of the room over night. I'm also happy about the reputation for safetybecause it is always stretched flat, it cannot bunch into a ball, overheat and catch fire as an electric blanket can. Also, unlike how it is with an electric blanket, the heat feels as if diffused throughout the bed, rather than localized in the heat source.
Read Best Reviews of Soft Heat Warming Mattress Pad Here
I love this product. I have ordered this mattress warmer for each family member. This warmer never has hot spots. I have had mine, just over 5 years,I wash it as directed at least twice a year. However I never put it in the dryer.I have a new one waiting in case mine goes out , I will have another ready to go.
When I had this warmer for a little over a year, the power box quit working. I notified the company , and had a replacement with in a week.I never want to sleep in a bed that doesn't have this warmer. Any one buying this product will find it much better than an electric blanket.
and safer too.
Phyllis
GT. LA
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Everyone loves this pad except for the "transformer noise". The purpose of this review is to explain what is going on and how to remove the noise.
What everyone is calling a transformer is actually a switching power supply. A switching power supply does indeed have a small transformer in it, but the transformer is operating at 14-20 kHz (cycles per second), which allows it to be relatively small. The sound put out by a switching power supply is such a high frequency that many people will not be able to hear it at all. That is why some people say they hear nothing at all while others are bothered by it. My guess is those who find the noise annoying are people who do not listen to lots of rock music. Those of us who listen to loud music have long since lost the ability to hear sounds above 15 kHz.
If you own one of these blankets and wish to get rid of the sound, put a large soup bowl or other bowl over it. The bowl size must be large enough to avoid an overheating of the enclosed powersupply. First time you try this, check to make sure the power supply is not getting too warm. High frequencies will not escape from underneath the bowl provided the power supply is on a carpet or placed on a hand towel.
A safer alternative to the bowl approach is to find a one foot piece of metal pipe with a diameter large enough to put the power supply inside. The pipe will not transmit the high frequencies effectively, and should remove the noise. If you can still hear the sound, try putting a hand cloth in the end facing out. The pipe should be metal to avoid resonating with the power supply.
Finally, if all else fails, buy an acid rock CD and listen to it full blast with earphones. I promise you will not notice the "transformer noise" again.
