Grow lights, heaters etc, on a budget

Good point, ta. I keep seeing "Transaction safe" type fliers on eBay, so perhaps they would cover smaller amounts? I haven't read them carefully to know for sure, but I expect they want shopping to be safe, and have enough profits to cover a few duff transactions. Here's hoping anyway!

Reminds me of the, apocryphal I'm sure!, story that at stock take there was one saddle short in the horse riding section of Harrods. Junior asks the Manager what to do, and he say to put it on everyone's account and when everyone, except the person who bought it, complains to refund them.

Only one person complained!

 

Well i'm having a right tottering time with my 'grow box bodge...erm design... it's made out of Kingspan...(other insulation products are available) it has the base of a propagator in it..not TC and a 180W grow light ....it is housed in the GH....It's not getting above 15 degrees in there,i'm thinking i've left too big a gap in the top for ventilation....i'm only trying to keep a couple of early tomatoes going and bring some chilli's on just to see if i can so i'm going to redo the top and see if it gets any warmer.....i'm certainly not making it very easy for myself it being in the GH but i'll give it another go

 

Gaffer tape all the joints? It needs to be completely air tight (to retain heat) - apart from any deliberate ventilation holes you provide - and those you might cover at night, for example.

Would be easier to maintain the temperature if it was inside the house though ... is that not an option?

 

I didn't really want it in the house as it's.....lets say...not very pleasing on the eye but you're right Kristen...i'm going to bring it inside and try to hide it otherwise i think i'm on a hiding to nothing trying to crank the heat up out in the GH

 

Treat yourself to some "Walnut Burr" effect Amtico tiles, or something that will be pleasing, and stick them to the outside I suspect that the shape of the thing runs the risk of looking like a coffin though! (if that's the look you are after it was probably traditional to have Elm, rather than Walnut - I'm sure Amtico do Elm look-alike planks too! Zigs will probably know the correct heritage materials )

 

Luckily it's just a prototype and will be dismantled once i've got vines full of early ripe tomatoes

 

If its out of sight, why not just sling an old duvet over it to give it some extra insulation. Duvet's being breathable it will stay ventilated too probably.

My whole approach to gardening is that everything is just a prototype. That way you can try stuff and change stuff without great expense

 

@clueless1 ....i was getting my knickers in a knot thinking if it didn't have enough ventilation it would burst into flames being made completely out of KS but there's no chance of that do you think?...i don't know how warm i'm expecting it to get.....can't you tell this is a new one on me

 

Maybe:

Cover with Duvet/etc. Put thermometer in. Note the temperature after a few minutes. Come back in an hour and check temperature - did it go up much? Give it another hour and re-read and see how much more it has gone up (the rate of increase will slow, you won't manage to get to face-of-the-Sun temperatures no matter how long you leave it! I think with LEDs you will be hard pressed to get enough gain to worry about, but you might. With old Incandescents there would be a real risk ...

 

I thought insulation panels were actually more fire resistant than wood or MDF and the likes.

 

Lights

Music

Action

 

Brilliant plan @fat controller ....

I dismantled my 'grow cabinet' (unstuck the tape) and reassembled at the top of the stairs...it was a bit of a performance though as i seemed to be having a 'Frank Spencer' day...you know the type...you put things down and they disappear ,everything is just out of reach when you need it,the tape decides to stick to everything but what you want it toannnnyway....only had to cut the polystyrene 'door' to fit .....it's OK my finger didn't bleed too much..... so all done...checked the temperature....a nice toasty 22 degrees.....