[gardeners] heat pad

Byron.Bromley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:40:09 -0500

For those "Handy Persons", I made a 12x22 box out of 1x8's
Covered the top with 12" Aluminum Flashing

Inside the bottom I mounted some 1x3's  about 6 in in from each end
Mounted a light socket in the middle of the 1x 3's, Use 2 / 25 w light
bulbs
wired to a dimmer switch. 

I made another 1x4 box to fit on top, also covered with 12" aluminum
flashing.
Cleated the 2 boxes together. 

Reason, this helps disperse the heat and reduces hot spots.
The flashing also keeps moisture off the light bulbs

In the top box I drilled a small hole to install a dial thermometer.
In the bottom box I drilled a 1/8th in hole in line with each bulb so I 
could see if they were still working. 

A little paint or stain, a modicum of care, your biggest repair expense
will be an occasional light bulb

My cost was less than $15, but I had the wood

Happy Growing
Byron