Winter palm heater

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:50 pm

Picked up this heater at Walmart tonight for $12. I think I'm going to be using it instead of heat lamps/Christmas lights for heating my enclosures this winter. It has a high/low heating setting which is 1500 watts for high and 750 watts for low. Another good part is it has a thermostat, so I can set it at 45 or 50 degrees and then FORGET about it the entire winter. No worry about overheating on warmer days by forgetting about the heat lamps/lights. It's frame is made out of plastic so it should be safe in my enclosures, and the air only blows out about 40 degrees warmer than room temperature. It was blowing 110 degree air with my house at 70. I'm assuming it'll blow 90 degree air out in my structure if its 50 in there. Air circulation should also help with moisture buildup in my enclosure, it should keep a more even temperature, and the ground should stay warmer. I'm going to get one of these for each enclosure. I'm excited!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:28 pm

Maybe to strong,try it out inside first.I used one in my 20'x10'x5' they blow a lot of heat out.
Don't want you to burn up those beautiful palms!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:08 pm

To much heat for a little area I think wxman. What I plan on doing is wireing a thermostat to christmas c-9 lights somehow to come on at 30 and shut off at 45 or so. I'll get on figuring that out and let you know. I think even at the low 750 watts, you'll bake your palms.

My ghetto incloser last year looks like a pinto next to your new benz, but that big incloser of mine added 30 degrees to the temp when on for a while. That was with a cloth top for air, if it was all plastic it would hold way better heat. Not to mention yours are insulated with foam. I only used 1 layer of 6 mil. The side actually blew open on the coldest/windiest day of the year here, 4 degrees with 25 mile an hour sustained winds and it still added 9 degrees at the spear. Let me tell yeah I was freakin out watching the temp drop lower and lower. I thought my ghetto palm hut wasn't enough but nope the next morning I just had to tuck it back together. No burn at all, not all winter even with the fronds all over the plastic, washys are different though, it shouldn't bother them in the foam inclosers though. So I think c-9s are a much more effective chioce and way cheaper to heat. Never underestimate the power of the glowing palm hut.

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:43 pm

Bill,

I just did a test outside, set the heater at low, 750 watts and let er rip. It's 55F outside, it heated to 106F. Too hot. So I know I can get 50F above ambient, and this is WITHOUT the foam yet. I then set the thermostat to 75F and walked away for an hour. It averaged between 65 and 75 inside. Perfect! I don't think it'll overheat at all. My heat lamps were only giving me 30F over ambient last winter, and we fell to -10F a few times. Got scary close to being too cold!

More watts doesn't necessarily mean overheating, especially if it cycles on a thermostat. I'll be doing more tests as it gets colder to make sure I'm not overheating before I put it on the palm.

I think Jim uses an electric heater for his cactus greenhouse if I'm right.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:05 pm

I see how the cold can scare you, it scares me too and it's a bit warmer here in the winter. I understand that watts are watts but I'm just worried the heat will be to much to fast with a big heater in a very small encloser. Jim does use one of those heaters in his desert area but the size difference can take the influx in temps better I think. Do you remember the picture of jim with his feet up in his encloser? It's pretty big in there. With your added insulation this year I'm pretty sure the lights will work much better then they did last year. If you get a really cold night you could put a thick blanket over the part of your inclosers that don't have foam. I hope the negitives aren't a common thing there. Your call for sure, just giving you other ideas.

Okanagan desert-palms · Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:06 pm

I`ve thought about using those heaters a few times but always stayed with the infrared heat bulbs. I might try one of those this winter.

John

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:33 pm

Yeah I know the enclosures are small. But with the thermostat I trust it'll turn off when it hits 50F in there. In October when we are hitting 35 for a low or so, I'll do tests to make sure it regulates 50F pretty good. I'll take temperature measurements in different areas of the enclosure while its running to see if any areas get scorched. The heater will allow my enclosure to grow with the palm also. Realistically, as long as the palm doesn't get over 100F for short bursts, it should be fine. Say the heater turns on and at the very top of the enclosure it hits 100F for a minute or two before the heater turns off, the heat will dissipate quickly in the winter cold and it'll be back to 60 or lower quick. I'm anticipating the heater running 2-3 minutes, off for 10 mins or so. Then back on 2-3 mins.

And when the sun is out, the heater will never kick on. Lids come off on days above 32F.

My average lows are around 9 or 10 in winter, and we see zero frequently! A lot of days don't see 15 for a high!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:37 am

I think the temp will jump around to much,you want to eror on cool rather than warm during the winter.Temps over 70F will put stress on your palms.What bill said is right on,my enclosure(as I said) was 20'x10'x5' I have the exact same heater(2 one for backup)you have there from wallmart.
I like the x-mas lights because you can put in more than you need,Arctic front,no worries just screw in as many as you need,if it warms up just unscrew some bulbs,cheap easy and looks festive all winter!
I really liked doing this last winter,c-7 lights are only 5wts per bulb and each bulb heated to 105F,they are about $7 a strand of 25 so even if you use all of them it's only 125wts and you can make it less when you need to.
I really don't want to get into thermostats and all the expense,I already have 16 seperate enclosures.I use 8 strands of lights and usually only 1 space heater,I was lucky last year in that snow or ice covered(insulated) the big enclosure during the coldest weather adding 10F.

Spring set up-no heat,just to keep rain and this stuuf off

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... hes005.jpg

Winter-

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -08002.jpg

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:36 am

Good information being discussed here.
Does it then need a vent/flap to get rid of heat as it accumulates.

BTW, if the plant is warm on top...what's keeping the roots warm?
Warm top area could dessicate foliage?

I'd want to try to run the thing in a freezer for a couple of hours (empty of course) to see if the heater's components can stand that kind of cold. We know Christmas lights will work in extreme cold...

Will follow this discussion with interest, guys!
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:59 pm

Your heater vs your freezer

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 1:13 pm

You've gotta show me how to do those!
Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:56 pm

OK, sorry for the ultra dumb question...but are those heaters able to be used outdoors in winter?
Will they function in temps of, say, 14F ?

That's the reason for my freezer vs. heater question

Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:27 pm

They will work fine as long as they don't get wet. You could probably hear the electric spinning if you put it in the freezer.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:06 pm

I used the same one in my bigger g-house last winter it got a few drips on it but no sizzle