Heat cable for roof update malfunction

[Beny]

Just verified my both Trachy under mummywraping and saw the 2 heat cable WRAP ON for roof doesnt work anymore. I used these type of cable to wrap the tree and plugged them into a Thermocube on each palm tree. And i use another type of heat cable, from the EASYHEAT compagnies, that type of cable is using for heating pipe. Ive got 1 on each mummywrap system on ground for the roots. And both cable works well.
Conclusion: i think the WRAP ON roof cable doesnt work in the long terme with the T3. Maybe because the thermocube turn on and off the cable often. And that type of cable are not made for this, cause these cables was working for at least 3 month. And they are made to be straight and not turned around a trunck.
So, its better to use the HEASYHEAT cable with their own thermostat for the roots system and the trunck/foliage.
By chance, its the end of winter, ive got only 1 heatcable at the ground for each Trachy under mummywrap. Only with the sun, the temp. goes up to 50F when its 20F outside, and go down to 10-20F. And my bigger Trachy looks fine, the other one has a fungus problem, will see if it will survive

Ben

[lucky1]

WRAP ON roof cable doesnt work in the long terme with the T3.

Thanks for the update Beny.
Makes sense it probably wasn't designed to be used with a thermocube...or wrapped around anything.

Hoping the fungus trachy will bounce back for you.

Barb

[TimMAz6]

let us know how they look in another month.

[hardyjim]

Are you sure its the Cable and not the thermocube?

I would not want to use 2 thermostats on the same circuit
as it would be prone to short out...

[Beny]

Jim, yes im sure. I tested the Thermocube and both has 110V at the exit when in action. And the cable was plugged only in 1 T3. And i plugged these 2 cable inside my house directly and nothing happened.
Big test tonight, both Trachy has not heat, only for the roots, and its going down to 5F . Well below average again...Should be ok, they all wrapped with 2 arbotex and tarp.

Ben

[hardyjim]

This weather sucks-try piling snow around it if you can or spray some water on the cover...

I once sprayed my cactus cover with a pump sprayer-to insulate- when it was like -15F

[bananieru]

I have one of those for one of my boxes and so far it looks ok. I was even thinking of replacing all my Christmas lights in the future.
I have a wireless thermometer and the max was 29C and the min. was -3C this winter. I'll see the results when I open the boxes next week (or at least I hope so).

Tavi

[Beny]

Yeah, i know Jim, and we re heading to have another 5-8 inches of snow with the winter storm UKKO, geee.....I replaced the old cable bye the other type of cable from Easyheat. I bought a 24 feets, 160 watts, for my 8,5' Trachy. We had 2F last night here, and the palm had no heat last night. I check this morning and it looks fine...

Ben

[sashaeffer]

??? the heat tape that I use, and buy at box stores have their own built in thermostat to cycle on/off. Could it be your had that too and between that and the thermocube caused a failure?

I only use my heat tape around the root ball, wrapping it when palm planted in the ground.

[Beny]

Scott,
These heat tape who has malfunction has not a thermostat, thats why i used a Thermocube. These kind of heat tape are use to prevent ici on the roof of an house and maybe they are not made to being turn on and off frequently
Its better to use the EASYHEAT tape, i bought a 24 foots long tape for my 8,5 foots tall Trachy with the mummywraping protection. And the thermostat it has is set to turn on at 35F. Now its 20F outtside and the probe indicate 40F inside the mummywrapping.
Ben

[sashaeffer]

Yea, and the ones I use are for keeping pipes from freezing in trailers ect. Work just like a thermocube but self contained.

[hardyjim]

Yeah, i know Jim, and we re heading to have another 5-8 inches of snow with the winter storm UKKO, geee.....I replaced the old cable bye the other type of cable from Easyheat. I bought a 24 feets, 160 watts, for my 8,5' Trachy. We had 2F last night here, and the palm had no heat last night. I check this morning and it looks fine...

Ben

Good to here-they are usually tougher later in the winter/early spring as they have had time to adjust....


They are saying there may be a major snowstorm somewhere in the middle of the country early next week-

this weather blows!

[coconutmike]

I had thermocubes fail in the past. I also had those type of heating cables catch on fire so I am nervous about using this type of heat cable. I am using a commercial type of heating and so far so good. We will soon see. That last dumping of snow here has delayed us for about 2 weeks.

[lucky1]

those type of heating cables catch on fire

The roof-melt cables that Beny talked about?

Barb

[coconutmike]

Yes Barb. 10 years ago they used to sell the roof heating cables also for use in raised garden beds and if the wire intersects at any point they either melt or in my case send the arbotex into flames.
I remember that year all the palms and bananas on that side of my house turned black from the fire and luckily they all flushed out and looked beautiful again 2 months later

[lucky1]

palms and bananas on that side of my house turned black from the fire and luckily they all flushed out and looked beautiful again 2 months later

Heck of a way to heat our tropicals.

But even the water pipe heating cables warn against overlapping the cable at any point.

Barb