Need some Ideas to keep fridge grow 70 at night when lights are out

blackgolem

Well-Known Member
First off this a fridge grow. I noticed there were red stems and slow growth and the temps was well below 70 before lights warm the box. During the summer months I have great results, just been so cold lately. Is there a way to keep proper temps in this environment, and have it controlled by a thermostat. Some suggestions I'm sure will be, using a ceramic heater the problem I've heard with that is, the forced air will dry the plants out and kill them definitely don't want that action. Thought to use an electric baseboard heater but that seems like over kill any Ideas would be appreciated. The area measures 7.22 square feet.
 

Heavy Consumer

Well-Known Member
You could keep a thermostatically controlled electric heater fairly near the fridge, but of course that would mean keeping the whole room it's located in at around 70 degrees, not only the fridge. If you have a small spare room or large cupboard, that would be faster and cheaper to heat up. (even if you have no air intake, which I assume you do, but as it's a fridge, who knows, this would still prevent cooling) If this is what you mean you don't want to do as it will dry out your plants, how about a humidifier near your inlet?

How about using heat mats (like those used for reptiles or plant germination chambers), stuck to the interior of the fridge? they may not keep it at the exact temp' you want, but at least it would take longer to cool to damaging levels.

Is there a way to get the original fridge motor running, while disconnecting its cooling apparatus? If so, you could check out how much this influences the interior temp's. I'd imagine that running a fridge motor is cheaper than running a heater for 12 hours at a time!
 
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blackgolem

Well-Known Member
You could keep a thermostatically controlled electric heater fairly near the fridge, but of course that would mean keeping the whole room it's located in at around 70 degrees, not only the fridge. If you have a small spare room or large cupboard, that would be faster and cheaper to heat up. (even if you have no air intake, which I assume you do, but as it's a fridge, who knows, this would still prevent cooling) If this is what you mean you don't want to do as it will dry out your plants, how about a humidifier near your inlet?

How about using heat mats (like those used for reptiles or plant germination chambers), stuck to the interior of the fridge? they may not keep it at the exact temp' you want, but at least it would take longer to cool to damaging levels.

Is there a way to get the original fridge motor running, while disconnecting its cooling apparatus? If so, you could check out how much this influences the interior temp's. I'd imagine that running a fridge motor is cheaper than running a heater for 12 hours at a time!
Hey thanks for the quick reply Heavy Consumer, I like the Idea of the heat mats I think I'll flip that Idea into,(now that you've planted it) taking a heating blanket coil as its wires are covered like electric wire, and run this all over the walls, ceiling and floor. Of course I don't know if it will heat up enough but like you said it may keep me safe. I believe it even turns itself off and on when needed, I have and old one lying around I'll give that a try. Thanks again for the input, sometimes a guy can just over think a thing and I happen to be famous for that!!!

Keep Growin
 

Heavy Consumer

Well-Known Member
I have been looking at usb 5v heaters like these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301472222472?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I was entertaining the idea of fixing them to 12' by 12' ceramic tiles and putting the 4 tiles under my pots
what do you think of that? i think the ceramics would radiate enough to keep my cabinet warm
sorry no pics this all exists in my mind
I've never seen USB heaters before. Interesting product. I imagine you'd want to try and make them water resistant somehow.
 

blackgolem

Well-Known Member
Have you seen those soil heating cables?
Not really I'll have to look into those Heavy C, will Google and see what I can find out about them. I'll try the heating cord if not
good enough then look into other options. Come back in the morning and let you know. Quick addition, I just looked at the soil heating cables, have to say that although there are larger ones available in my Google search, the cable that was inside the heating blanket was identical to those products. Maybe I've lucked out...
 
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blackgolem

Well-Known Member
I have been looking at usb 5v heaters like these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301472222472?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I was entertaining the idea of fixing them to 12' by 12' ceramic tiles and putting the 4 tiles under my pots
what do you think of that? i think the ceramics would radiate enough to keep my cabinet warm
sorry no pics this all exists in my mind
These don't look to bad may have many uses. Just wondering if a power supply is available. appreciate the input though folks great ideas. I wonder how warm these are?
 

blackgolem

Well-Known Member
Well gentlemen I have to say that at this point I am satisfied, the environments temp before at night was around 56 degrees and now its 68! I believe that's within an acceptable range right?
Thanks again!

Oh, Heavy Consumer thanks for the Like.
 
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