I use mine only for seedlings or cuttings so no real significant weight for me. But reptile tanks with all their crushed gravel have to weigh a significant amount. That product listing doesn't show any specs for weight though.
Winging It In Winter By The Window: Soil Auto Grow
- Thread starter Carmen Ray
- Start date
It does! What does that price translate to, in dollars? (R160.00)
- Thread starter
- #284
$10 or about $19.2 with shipping! It's a good price
Oh I see Shed posted the conversion 
Skottelgoed Spons
Well-Known Member
Hey carmen glad to see your nba sprouted. Sorey about all the others that didn't make it. Like I said rather focus on getting seeds from b&b that is 5 or more because then it comes in the original package from the breeders than to take 1 or so from them. I don't trust the single to 3 seeds they sell. That caramel is coming along nicely. How has the temps been in gordons lately?
- Thread starter
- #286
Hi Skottelgoed, it has been dropping to ten degrees some nights, but then there are hot days of 20 degrees. It's inconsistent. How's it in your hood? By the way the two seeds that sprouted properly were the Caramel King, and the Lavender Best. The NBA Diesel is just as small as it was four days ago, but it's alive lol. I don't know if it will grow. I will try the other seed next grow.
Skottelgoed Spons
Well-Known Member
Hey been cold some days. Hitting about 13 to 15. But the last two days we got the 30's. Hey atleast your nba sprouted! I'm sure it will grow. I previously experienced a slow seedling then she just started to take off as if there was no end. That nba will grow
- Thread starter
- #288
Skottelgoed, do you heat your winter grows?Hey been cold some days. Hitting about 13 to 15. But the last two days we got the 30's. Hey atleast your nba sprouted! I'm sure it will grow. I previously experienced a slow seedling then she just started to take off as of there was no end. That nba will grow
As per Azi's suggestion, I am looking at buying a couple of reptile heating pads as soon as I get some bucks. They are inexpensive and I think they will be cheap enough to run. I phoned the reptile guy today and discussed it all with him. He assured me that the pads will take the weight of the plants.
My concern is measuring and maintaining the correct temperature and I am hoping that someone can guide me here. How will I measure the temperature? What sort of thermometer would I need to buy?
Regarding the wattage draw, here is the heat mat alone:
And here is the thermostat with the heat mat running through it:
Just an additional 1.4 watts. According to the specs on the back, the thermostat is rated to handle 1000w, it doesn't draw that many.
- Thread starter
- #291
Thanks for this Shed. How many additional kwh will that add to my daily consumption? What are your thoughts about the reptile heating mat which is affordable to me? If I had to buy 2 x seedling mats and thermostats I'd break the bank. I will ask Virgin Ground what her experience has been with them too as HG suggests.Regarding the wattage draw, here is the heat mat alone:
And here is the thermostat with the heat mat running through it:
Just an additional 1.4 watts. According to the specs on the back, the thermostat is rated to handle 1000w, it doesn't draw that many.
20 watts is 0.02 kw, so you would need to run mine for over 50 hours to equal 1 kwh.
I've never used reptile mats so I'll leave that to the herpetologists.
Sorry y'all.
I use plant mats....not reptile mats.
iPower brand.
I use plant mats....not reptile mats.
iPower brand.
Regarding the wattage draw, here is the heat mat alone:
And here is the thermostat with the heat mat running through it:
Just an additional 1.4 watts. According to the specs on the back, the thermostat is rated to handle 1000w, it doesn't draw that many.
Thanks Shed! That's very reassuring. I read mine to say the controller used that much. Maybe I'll have another look at it.
The probe thermostat certainly makes it more precise and if the power draw isn't that much more it makes the decision more of a toss up. So, thanks for that intel. I need to get a Kill-o-Watt meter I guess. Any recomendations as to what to look for or just something basic?
For the Kill-a-watt? I just went basic since I don't need the memory that the more expensive version has. I just take a pic of the kwh and time on it every morning before I unplug it so I can keep track of what the oil heater is using in the shed at night.
Ok, that good about the weight. Those mats really are pretty effective as long as you get one that's adjustable as I mentioned.
Stupid simple in my set-up. I put the mat down, and plug it in with my plants and a small cup of water sitting on it. A couple of times a day I take the temperature of the water with a simple digital kitchen thermometer and then adjust the dial for the pad if I need more or less heat.
I don't usually have to change it very often unless the room temperature has changed a bit from what is normal for me.
The other one with the controller and probe will let you set your desired temperature and then you plug the probe into the soil in a representative plant pot. The reading on the controller is your desired temperature, but not necessarily actual. I had to set my contoller temperature a degree or two higher than my desired temp to get the one I wanted at the plant level.
That version is more expensive as you noted, but is more hands-off once you get it dialed in.
The reptile version works great, but is not a set and forget set-up. I kind of like to fiddle with stuff so that one actually works great for me.
- Thread starter
- #297
Thank you Azi. In this photo you can see how I have the fabric pots in plastic plant trays to catch runoff. I would be placing the heat pad directly under the plastic tray. The diameter of that pot is 30 cm. I was going to order the 28 x 28 cm heat pad. I wonder if there is another way I can measure temperature.
Thank you, that's not a lot at all.
Thank you VG.
To buy 2 x seedling mats and 2 x thermostats will cost R1480. To buy two reptile mats will cost about R500. I am highly motivated to find a way to solve the temperature control problem with the reptile mat.
That's 30cm in diameter? My sense of scale is completely off!
Good morning Carmen
Everything is looking schmicky doo babe
And your photography is no fleek!
Everything is looking schmicky doo babe
And your photography is no fleek!
Gotta be careful with those heat mats. I was looking at some of the reptile ones when I was shopping around. They are like the plant heat mats. You don't want to cover them fully. They do need room for circulation so they don't overheat.
The reptile ones say that you shouldn't cover them with wood chips because it retains heat. Depending upon what you are using to cover it with, it could become dangerous.
I just want you to research and mull it over. Better to be careful then to have a dangerous situation arise.
I'm not sure exactly what you are doing with them but I saw mention of covering it with a plastic tray. Thought I'd mention something.
Safety first.
The reptile ones say that you shouldn't cover them with wood chips because it retains heat. Depending upon what you are using to cover it with, it could become dangerous.
I just want you to research and mull it over. Better to be careful then to have a dangerous situation arise.
I'm not sure exactly what you are doing with them but I saw mention of covering it with a plastic tray. Thought I'd mention something.
Safety first.