Thanks to @eug I found them in-store for $44.99. But not available at all Costco in Australia. Better call your nearest store before you go.
1 x Thermacell Repeller, 3 x repeller mats, 1 x butane cartridge (currently at $48.99 from macpac.com.au) +6 x repeller mats, 2 x butane cartridges (valued at $26 from Bunnings)
48.99+26-54.99=20$ saved!
Enjoy the holiday season!
My first deal please be gentle :)
butane cartridges refillable?
I have followed YouTube videos instructions to do that and never worked.
Those without a Costco membership can get it from Anaconda or Bunnings for $61.10.
Anaconda and Bunnings have a 10% price beat policy. Just take it to the checkout counter and ask them to beat Big W's $39 price. That'll bring it down to $35.10.
Add the two extra refill packs for $26, or just refill* the butane cartridge.
A number of people have used these generic refill pads too.
If you don't want to faff around with butane refills, get the Thermacell Backpacker model which screws on to your camping stove gas canister for $58.87 with PDEC12.
*Some people pull out the check valve from the top, some just use a specific refill tip
I went with the backpacker version for the easy, and cheap, gas option. Lasts ages now, and use the cheapo pads too of course. Takes two pads of the type I got to be the same size as an original. Works really well.
How well does it work? I want it for a backyard deck where we just won't go due to mossies. Shame really.
Also what type of gas bottle is this going on top of?
I used the $4 one from Kmart which is rated to 180 hours, big W have the double sized for $10.
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/butane-canister-227g/312331…
At home you could just get a plug-in one though if you have power out there.
At home you could just get a plug-in one though if you have power out there.
But the main question is how efficient the thing is outdoor.
@SickDmith: The thermacell does burn through the little pads much faster than a plugin that is true, and takes 2 in my case … so yes perhaps $4 for 180 hours isn't bad.
@Pobman: Yeah.
I was just checking… Thermacell doesn't make any plug in ones.
So with Backpacker Thermacell how long does the pad last?
Also I know these pads are very efficient indoor. But I've never heard people are using them outdoor.
We have a lot of mosquitoes at the balcony so I am really interested.
Edit: We are using small oil burner filled with Bifenthrin and Citronella ( https://www.bunnings.com.au/bite-shield-citronella-oil-with-… ) and it doesn't help much.
@SickDmith: I meant you can just use the plugs that the 3rd party pads are designed for. The original termacell pads cost quite a bit, the 3rd party were something like $15 for 150 or so, but it uses 2 of those at a time.
Seem to last about 3 hours which is less than the Thermacell ones which are rated for 4…. but perhaps don't actually last that long, I only used the 3 that came in the pack and never used again so can't really say.
Bifenthrin is the same as what's in the pads
It's from the same pyrethroid family, but it's not exactly the same as the allethrin that's in the pads.
It may not behave the same way, e.g. some people have re-soaked used pads in permethrin (also a pyrethroid) to reuse them, but permethrin doesn't vaporise as readily as allethrin so it may not be as effective.
@Pobman: Thanks.
So it means our little burner doesn't burn enough of it. :)
Also I am not a big fan of citronella smell.
Review for Thermacell Backpacker mostly positive.
But I know it is just heating the pad. Does it get really hot?
The plug in I used indoor in the past was barely warm - I don't think it would work outdoor.
can it be used on days of total fire ban?
Not sure about other states, but in QLD they would be allowed.
Gas and electric barbecues, including gas and spirit stoves, are permitted to be used during QPWS-imposed fire prohibitions and QFRS-imposed fire bans, provided:
- they do not have the potential to generate airborne embers or possibly ignite nearby ground fuels
- are not left unattended
- are suitably contained.
Sorry, which Costco is this?
Ipswich, QLD.
Found them in Costco Liverpool NSW. Thanks.
Goodluck finding them
Did you miss the photo I posted?
I went to a store and asked 5 staff who told me they had 100 in stock but couldn't find them
@poxy001: Oh, so you were just talking about your store then. Should go back again, maybe they've found it.
SickDmith asked about temperature above, I thought I'd post this here so it's easier to find in the future.
I measured the temperature of the MR300 vs the Backpacker vs a cheap USB one, results are here.
I'm not sure why, but the MR300 (the one in this deal) went way hotter than the Backpacker. I was using a brand new Campmaster-branded gas canister from Kmart with a butane/propane mix in 74/26%.
I'll repeat the test when I have some free time.
Are the thermacell cartridges just butane or a mix?
They're just butane.
You could apply an adaptor bypass this (https://www.kmart.com.au/product/campmaster-3-pack-premium-b…) 100% butane to it.
The adaptor is like this one:https://www.amazon.com.au/Lixada-Camping-Adapter-Outdoor-Propane/dp/B072QXKVJP/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=gas+adaptor&qid=1639952511&sr=8-13
Sorry for too long hyperlink, I am not good at html.
The adaptor is vertical one, it could tip over if connecting with thermacell backpacker mozzi repellent burner(heater) due to gravity spot is too high.
you could looking for one could connect the gas bottle whick lay down sideway from ebay, I use this one for hiking trip due to the gas bottle is cheap than gas canister even both them from Kmart. 3/220g butane gas bottles @ $4 vs 1/227g butane and propane mixed gan canister.
I refill my camping gas canisters from those cheap butane gas canisters with an adaptor like this.
Of course it only gets refilled with butane rather than butane/propane so it won't work in very cold temperatures, but fortunately it doesn't get that cold here in Aus.
The adaptor is like this one
That's a strange adaptor, it adapts a propane cylinder to a butane device. The device likely isn't going to run as efficiently.
Thermal Backpacker manual says "This appliance shall only be used with 70% Butane / 30% Propane Mix Gas Cartridges".
Is it going to work properly on 100% butane?
@SickDmith: It specifically says it will not work with 100% butane canisters in my one, unlike the smaller ones which according to above are just butane. No idea if that's correct, but given the running costs with the $4 ones has been absolutely minimal I've not been overly concerned.
@Pobman: Thank you for the info.
I will get Kmart one once Backpacker arrives.
I asked above (you might miss it) about the 3rd party pads you which works for you. Any advice on that?
@SickDmith: I reckon that it just needs heat source to heat up to lease/vaporing mozzi repellent chemical(DEET, maybe) from tablets, regardless what heat/thermo source from.
One concern, the burner may optimize for certain gas to prefectitying the chemcial release(certain temperature range, possiblely).
Eventhought, the chemcial still be releasing by heating up, no matter what temperature range. The tablet working hour could be various depends on the temperture. longer than 4h or shorter 4 hour which manifaturer claimed. By the way, the effectness perimetre or area may be higher than 21 square metre or lower than that denpend chemcial concentration in the air.
Thermal Backpacker manual says "This appliance shall only be used with 70% Butane / 30% Propane Mix Gas Cartridges".
Is it going to work properly on 100% butane?
Yup, I ran the tests again and compared the Thermacell MR300 running butane to the Backpacker running propane/butane and just butane.
The butane-only MR300 hit a max of 190 degrees. The propane/butane Backpacker hit 167 degrees, the butane-only Backpacker hit 181 degrees.
So it looks like running it with butane only will heat up the pads more than propane/butane, potentially making it work better but not last as long - not any less than the MR300 model though.
Thanks for OP, I know this one from ebay/aliexpress etc. So much video uploaded to YT.
I'm not sure why, but the MR300 (the one in this deal) went way hotter than the Backpacker.
I repeated the tests, this time adding a spacer to ensure contact between the kapton-taped thermocouple and heating surface. The big difference was still there - 167 degrees vs 190 degrees. I guess it boils down to the higher energy density by volume with butane.
Thank you very much for being such a nerd. :)))
I have the older model, these things work really well!
Cheers