My new heat mat cost me time to make it. All the pieces and parts were in the garage or shed. It is made up of rope lighting, a wooden frame and aluminum foil on the shelf under frame. Seems to be working quite well so far. Temps staying between 75* & 80*. But I will babysit tonight when the temps drop. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
I was at Walmart that other day and found a foot warmer on the clearance rack. It is a 25"x60" heating pad with 3 heat settings, for the bottom of the bed...I think I will put a sheet of plastic over it and put it in the greenhouse to germinate seeds. My 5 heat mats and two light fixtures that double as heat mats are full....
I wonder how much heat you get from incandescent rope lights. I have used a 15 watt lightbulb with a shroud to keep in the heat in with a remote sensor to monitor the temperature. Do you have a remote temperature sensor? Perhaps you can monitor the temperature. Jerry
Jerry, Right now I'm monitoring the temp very closely. The rope lighting gives off a lot of heat. It's warmer then commercial heating mats. I may have to raise seed trays higher. Soil tested at 76 degrees. I'll test again later tonight. And yes I have a remote temperature sensor.
Usually the temperatures in my area (even in winter) are high enough for seeds to germinate. However a few times I did use the kitchen's pantry as a makeshift incubator - And it sure did work great! Probably because it already had a 25 Watt incandescent light bulb in it, (to keep all the freshly baked stuff warm). But it never really occurred to me that I could get just as good (if not better) results by using rope lighting... So I guess I really learned something new today! Only problem now, is where to find a rope light which has bulbs in? As nowadays I can only see the ones with LEDs... Seeds planted and kept in a makeshift incubator. ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
I yesterday did try to find a rope light that had real bulbs in it (not LEDs). But nowadays all I could find were the ones with LEDs, in all the 7 colors of the rainbow too, flashing as well as non-flashing (all made in China of course) - But no bulbs, only LEDs... However I did find this: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/philips-25 ... RLqMB30DYw This is exactly what they use in the fast food joints - To keep their french fries warm. So I bought a few of these, in case they too become unavailable someday, and are replaced with some other kind of LED... I doubt if I'll ever need to use them, as I am after all situated just one degree above the tropic of Cancer. But in case there is a sudden ice-age, or the world shifts it's axis due to a giant meteor collision (putting me near the poles instead of the tropics) - I at least will still be able to grow my own food! I think slowly and steadily, I too am now turning into a doomsday prepper!!!
Which is why I have a stack of solar panels too! And am also seriously considering to build a windmill as well, (in case there is a nuclear winter, and sunlight is cut-off - at least the winds would still be blowing)! By the way, really like the honey gold color of light your rope is emitting. Most soothing to the eyes indeed, specially at dawn or dusk!
Wonder if crock pot with small amount of water. and put on warm would work.But wish I had space to start some plants.Got containers I over wintered in mud room.Small heater big enough to keep rescue cat warm+ her heated bed.
Overheard in another forum,put cooling rack on regular people heat pad & set seed containers on.Some places say DO NOt use these heating pads but I have forever,almost. Just make sure they are dry & I wouldn't leave the house. I do go to sleep & leave one on. sNs
