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Heat Mat
- Thread starter Josh
- Start date
Josh said:
There are some very good heat mats with regulated temperature and for chilis 27- 30 is a great range to set these with,Most people will run them constantly 24/7 to germination occurs,The basic ones is just getting your core temperature just right and then germination is just as good,Some of the wilds seem to like a fluctuation in temperature similar to there natural environment
talas said:There are some very good heat mats with regulated temperature and for chilis 27- 30 is a great range to set these with,Most people will run them constantly 24/7 to germination occurs,The basic ones is just getting your core temperature just right and then germination is just as good,Some of the wilds seem to like a fluctuation in temperature similar to there natural environment
Thanks. Yea I am a worrier so my concern was a fire. I have been checking out one that incorporates a metal rack; that way it does not touch the surface it is sitting on and it also doesn't touch the bottom of flat. That with a thermostat should get the job done safely.
My hugely limited experience is that they need to be on constantly until germination occurs.
The heat transfers up through the cells (the plant pot things) until the soil around each seed is at the right temperature to germinate - which of course takes time.
Consistency in temperature seems to be the key.
The heat transfers up through the cells (the plant pot things) until the soil around each seed is at the right temperature to germinate - which of course takes time.
Consistency in temperature seems to be the key.
AlabamaJack
eXtreme
Josh...a basic principle of heat transfer is conductive heating is more efficient than convective heating...conductive heating means the mat is touching what it is heating while convective heating has an air space between the two components...air is a good insulator and if you have any air movement, you won't be as efficient in your heating efforts as you would be when the mat is touching the bottom of your tray(s)...
the difference may be minor but it is more efficient to have the mat touching the bottom of the trays...bottom line, if the mat is touching the bottom of your tray, it will heat up quicker and use less energy to keep it warm than if there is a space between the two...
the difference may be minor but it is more efficient to have the mat touching the bottom of the trays...bottom line, if the mat is touching the bottom of your tray, it will heat up quicker and use less energy to keep it warm than if there is a space between the two...
AlabamaJack said:
Well, I was thinking the same thing. It was simply my concern for fire problems that was making me lean towards one with a rack. What kind do you use? If there is a website you got it from that would be appreciated. I guess if everyone has used the direct contact ones with no problems I would be willing to give it a go. Realistically it takes 451 degrees to set paper on fire and the mat will never get close to that, even more so with the thermostat. That is pointless info but part of the process of talking myself into not worrying about it hahaha.
Thanks Josh.
AlabamaJack
eXtreme
Josh...I don't use a heating mat...I have a 2 chamber germinator I built last year and the temperature is controlled with a remote bulb thermostat...the sensor for the thermostat goes in the soil of the germination trays...I use 150 watt halogen bulbs (2 in each chamber) for heat that are controlled by the thermostat...each chamber is 2' X 2' X 4'....and for seedling light, I have 2 fluorescent shop light fixtures in each chamber that you can adjust the distance from the seedlings and run four 6000K T-12 40 watt bulbs...
I can put four 72 cell starter trays in each chamber...
I can put four 72 cell starter trays in each chamber...
I use a thermostat for germinating seedlings only, and rely on lighting to produce enough heat to sustain light after that.
Essentially, I have a heat mat that houses a propogation chamber. The heat mat has no thermostat, but I use an external thermostat that has a remote temp sensor that goes inside the chamber. I set the remote thermostat to 29C, and then have a secondary temperature sensor ($20 from Bunnings) just to ensure everything is operating as expected.
Essentially, I have a heat mat that houses a propogation chamber. The heat mat has no thermostat, but I use an external thermostat that has a remote temp sensor that goes inside the chamber. I set the remote thermostat to 29C, and then have a secondary temperature sensor ($20 from Bunnings) just to ensure everything is operating as expected.