Best soil heating cable/thermostat

[palmazon]

Does anyone have recommendations based on experience, or is this something I just pick up from Charley's catalogue?

[epicure3]

I've just used the ones from Charley's catalogue. Are you using them for germination?

[fastfeat]

I've used the "value" (different color for different lengths) heating cables for years. I got mine at Orange County Farm Supply in Orange several years ago.

No problems, as long as you don't run staples into them...Just don't leave them unattended for extended periods (more than a couple of days) until you figure out how quickly they dry the substrate out. Not a problem if the case is sealed, but ventilated cases will, of course, lose moisture and can overheat.

[epicure3]

yeah....staples not a good idea...kind of like putting one through the fax machine. Don't ask me how I kow that.

[fastfeat]

yeah....staples not a good idea...kind of like putting one through the fax machine. Don't ask me how I kow that.

Yeah, if you do staple them (to a plywood frame that was the base of my prop case), use the insulated staples (made for electrical lines), NOT for staple guns. They come in a couple sizes, sold with the nails, at HD.

BTW, what's a fax machine? The future, my son, is wireless...

[epicure3]

yeah....staples not a good idea...kind of like putting one through the fax machine. Don't ask me how I kow that.

Yeah, if you do staple them (to a plywood frame that was the base of my prop case), use the insulated staples (made for electrical lines), NOT for staple guns. They come in a couple sizes, sold with the nails, at HD.

BTW, what's a fax machine? The future, my son, is wireless...

I donb't really remember what they look like but it had had a keypad on it or something.

[palmazon]

It's an integral part of The Great Palos Verdes Coconut Experiment up at Ashton's; we're burying it in a helical patern around the bottom of the planter.

[fastfeat]

It's an integral part of The Great Palos Verdes Coconut Experiment up at Ashton's; we're burying it in a helical patern around the bottom of the planter.

I'd put it on a GFCI receptacle then. None of these cables are grounded (3-prong); go figure! (You'd think they would be, being around water constantly.)

[palmazon]

I've found several grounded cables

it'll be plugged into a thermostat (which, in turn, will be plugged into a GFCI)

Just casting about for 'top of the line/state of the art' testimonials

[fastfeat]

I've found several grounded cables

it'll be plugged into a thermostat (which, in turn, will be plugged into a GFCI)

Just casting about for 'top of the line/state of the art' testimonials

Cool. Looks like I'll be upgrading mine when I burn out my old ones.