Pacemaker Club: PM and Magnetic Fields in RV or Camper Van

PM and Magnetic Fields in RV or Camper Van

by twodrifters
2021-01-05 03:15:43
General Posting
1017 views
3 comments

I have read the manual for my Boston Sci PM and am acquainted with the cautions and distances recommended. But some things aren't addressed.

We have an RV that we use from time to time but want to downsize to a Class B camper van. After a lot of online research we are finding that most vans (and some RVs) have the battery bank under the bed(s).

Using an EF/RF/EMF meter in our RV I discovered that the only time the meter registered a magnetic field above recommended limits was when I got near the battery bank. Due to Covid I haven't been able to take the meter to check out a van. But I know that there are a lot of electronics packed into the high tech Class B vans.

Has anyone dealt with this issue? We don't want to make an expensive mistake.

Ann

3 Comments

I hesitate to say this...

by crustyg - 2021-01-05 07:43:56

I think your concerns are unfounded, and very few magnets are strong enough to affect your PM and there aren't many changing magnetic fields in a motor vehicle that have enough of an external field unless you hug them to your chest. There are static electric fields around some devices, but in general they don't/can't affect your PM.

However, you have, and use, an EF/RF/EMF meter, which says to me that any reassurance that I can give will be ineffective. I don't know of any rechargeable battery tech in common use that's magnetic...

Camper Vans & PM

by Selwyn - 2021-01-05 08:36:42

My leisure battery is under the bed of my camper van and does not affect my PM. I would not expect such a battery to affect a PM.

The only issue I have ever heard of with a motor vehicle is with electric cars and fast chargers generating a field where 1m is recommended clearance.

I have certainly changed the leisure battery myself ( this involves leaning right over it) with any problems.

I expect if you were concerned having used your meter you could always add some shielding. Otherwise, as crustyg says reassurance is hard to give with actual facts.

Batteries

by AgentX86 - 2021-01-05 17:39:02

There is nohign about batteries that would cause you any problem. My EP instructed me to stay away from automotive alternator systems (including lawn tractors) but it has nothing to do with batteries. Batteries are DC sources, so not a problem at all.