Heater

November 27, 2004

As the seeds have been slow to germinate, if they germinate at all, and reviewing all of the factors needed for growing, I determined that the only logical remaining factor would be the soil temperature. We have to convince these seeds that they are in a warm climate and not in a basement. So I checked out the lumber pile and other assorted odd and ends and built the following:

  

A box made of 1/2 inch insulating sheathing, open on the bottom. It has places for 19 holes scribed on the top, three of which have been cut out. The 1987 vintage computer power supply supplies 12 VDC power to a vintage computer cooling fan to circulate the heat of one purple 75 watt lamp (that my ex-wife purchased for a Halloween party in 1984) both located inside the box.

And you thought I was funnin ya, didn't cha. Preliminary checks indicate that the temperature inside the box will run about 105 degrees.

Here we are setup and ready to run. When the fluorescent lights 
come on the heat also comes on.

November 28, 2004

As the ambient temperature of the basement changes with the use of the wood stove, the 75 watt lamp was heating the box to as high as 120 degrees.(Higher ambient temperatures reduce the heat disipation of the box causing the temperature in the box to rise proportionately) To compensate for changing ambient temperatures I installed an old waterbed thermostat to turn the lamp on and off so that the temperature in the box would remain constant. I have it set for 100 degrees. I put a piece of aluminum under the light bulb as the heat was melting the sheathing. I also cut out three more holes to accomodate the fourth planting.

New for 2006

Because of the extra holes, I had to relocate all of the heater parts. The light is mounted in the channel at the top of the picture. The channel prevents the heat of the lamp from melting the insulating board, and also directs the air flow from the fan. It isn't a purple bulb anymore. It burned out. Notice the waterbed thermostat on the right side of the base. And everything is stuck to the box with silicon sealant.

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