Heatbomb troubles!

totallynew · 10-28-07, 14:41

Has anyone ever had trouble with heatbombs?

I've made them before without any problem. But now, I can't seem to get them to not fail. What's happening is that they seem to be shorting out or developing shorts. No water is getting into the unit to cause it, though. It's frustrating.

Where we are, it's getting very VERY cold and keeping the incubators (styrofoam coolers) warm enough (they highest I've been able to get one is 79*f) is becoming much more of a challenge.

I really can't find any alternatives to coolers + heat bomb, but that's not really working. Does anyone know any other possibilites? I've looked around in the archives/searched (which left me with HUNDREDS of results) and I can't find anything that can be done.

HELP!

mrpanda · 10-28-07, 14:49

Try a TiT - Tub in Tub

Doctor D · 10-28-07, 14:56

I gave up on heatbombs - they just don't produce enough heat for me. Have you considered using a space heater instead to warm up the room or closet your grow is in?

I use one of the metal electric heaters, but I hear that the oil-filled radiating heaters provide better, consistent heat (whereas mine gets really hot, then cools down, then gets really hot, then cools down, etc).

By the way... if you can get it to 79 degrees, that is gravy. You don't need any warmer than that.

totallynew · 10-28-07, 18:40

The TiT method won't work. The room is about 56*f normally (basement). And that method wont produce enough heat.

I've though about space heaters, but seeing as the growbags are in coolers to provide darkness.. the coolers would probably keep the growbags cooler as opposed to heating them up.

Any other ideas? PLEASE?

Hippie3 · 10-28-07, 18:45

79*F is plenty warm so the heatbomb is adequate for your styrofoam cooler.
as for failure,
are you using the fully submersible kind ?
one would imagine if the heater fails fast
the store should replace it under warranty
[save the receipt]
as it gets colder you can cover terrarium-cooler with blankets to help trap heat.
a cheap way to help heat room a bit is light bulbs, turn some on near the terrarium.

totallynew · 10-28-07, 19:01

79*f has me putting BOTH heathers into a small styrofoam container, and setting them on max. There's no room for anything else, really. Let alone 12 growbags.

The stores wont replace them because they're considered electronic devices -- once opened, it's no longer their problem.

I don't have access to the fully submersible kind, perhaps I'll have to venture into town to find one -- or order it online.

Thanks Hippie

Hippie3 · 10-28-07, 19:05

can you run a small xmas-type lightbulb into the terrarium ?

totallynew · 10-29-07, 10:35

Hippie -

Keep in mind these are SMALL cheap styrofoam containers, there really isn't much room.

What type of christmas bulbs are you talking about? And I thought light during incubation / colonization was a bad thing?

mrpanda · 10-29-07, 10:40

You could try a reptile heat mat,
REPTILE HEAT MATS
they dont take up much space.

Dr_T · 10-29-07, 11:05

My WalMart has submersible heaters for about $6. Don't know how far it is for you, but if it eliminates the frustration, it's worth it, imo. I use a heatbomb variant- I have a pretty big styro cooler, with a sterilite tub that fits in the bottom, with the heater in that. Bigger heat sink = more even temps. It's on a timer, runs about 1 hour out of five.

camMyco · 10-29-07, 11:07

Try a higher watage heater. thatpetplace.com is reasonable. always go submersible.

lardnar · 10-29-07, 13:32

Yep

Make sure to avoid the cheapest units at Walmart, some are under 10 watts! 75W is good, make sure it has an automatic shutoff (thermostat)

prism1234 · 10-29-07, 16:46

Get a HPS Lamp and plant a seed or 2. Your indoor herb light can also heat your jars/bags. The C02 helps the ladies as well!

totallynew · 10-29-07, 17:43

HPS lamps are insanely expensive

also, I'M TRYING TO AVOID LIGHT. I am COLONIZING -- light = BAD.

I bought a new submersible aquarium heater.

Temps in the tubes are currently 73-75*f -- still a bit too cold from EVERYTHING i'm reading.

argh.

prism1234 · 10-29-07, 17:47

Light does not equal bad, It equals pins invitro... HID seems pricey till your smoking on the funk for "free".

MrMerlin · 10-29-07, 18:08

What you might like to try is a heated pillow-or pillow warmer, very similar in essence to reptile pads, but you'll be able to tuck in your jars and snuggify them in the 'pillow'. get one of those in a cooler box and score a thermostat with external thermoprod from ebay, dingding and you're set me lad...

Trust me I've made all manner of incubator styles, from the hobo incubator (search), to the TIT ... Pillow warmer whips the llamas ass

Miss Nomer · 10-29-07, 18:20

I use the TIT with the smallest submersible heater I could find at Walmart. I think it's good for up to 20 gallons .. was like $13 and it keeps my incubator at a nice consistent 80-85 degrees.

totallynew · 10-30-07, 13:27

Hrm, sadly there are no pillow warmers to be found in my area -- most people have no idea what they are.. never mind that the name explains it. I drove to the nearest city to a huge mall and not even Macy's had one

Spores arrived today, so I will be starting a grow long tonight with all the info.

Thank you all, hopefully I'll figure out something that can consistently work

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10-28-07, 14:41	#1 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	Heatbomb troubles! Has anyone ever had trouble with heatbombs? I've made them before without any problem. But now, I can't seem to get them to not fail. What's happening is that they seem to be shorting out or developing shorts. No water is getting into the unit to cause it, though. It's frustrating. Where we are, it's getting very VERY cold and keeping the incubators (styrofoam coolers) warm enough (they highest I've been able to get one is 79*f) is becoming much more of a challenge. I really can't find any alternatives to coolers + heat bomb, but that's not really working. Does anyone know any other possibilites? I've looked around in the archives/searched (which left me with HUNDREDS of results) and I can't find anything that can be done. HELP!

10-28-07, 14:49	#2 (permalink)
mrpanda It is big and I am clever Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 616	Try a TiT - Tub in Tub __________________ Weeeeeeeee. That is all.

10-28-07, 18:45	#5 (permalink)
Hippie3 Admin Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 36,316	79F is plenty warm so the heatbomb is adequate for your styrofoam cooler. as for failure, are you using the fully submersible kind ? one would imagine if the heater fails fast the store should replace it under warranty [save the receipt] as it gets colder you can cover terrarium-cooler with blankets to help trap heat. a cheap way to help heat room a bit is light bulbs, turn some on near the terrarium. __________________ GROW SUPPLIES: www.Mycrotopia.com ------------Simply The Best------------* Namaste Temet Nosce

10-28-07, 19:05	#7 (permalink)
Hippie3 Admin Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 36,316	can you run a small xmas-type lightbulb into the terrarium ? __________________ GROW SUPPLIES: www.Mycrotopia.com ------------Simply The Best------------ Namaste Temet Nosce

10-28-07, 14:56	#3 (permalink)
Doctor D (Not a real doctor) Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,402	I gave up on heatbombs - they just don't produce enough heat for me. Have you considered using a space heater instead to warm up the room or closet your grow is in? I use one of the metal electric heaters, but I hear that the oil-filled radiating heaters provide better, consistent heat (whereas mine gets really hot, then cools down, then gets really hot, then cools down, etc). By the way... if you can get it to 79 degrees, that is gravy. You don't need any warmer than that.

10-28-07, 18:40	#4 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	The TiT method won't work. The room is about 56*f normally (basement). And that method wont produce enough heat. I've though about space heaters, but seeing as the growbags are in coolers to provide darkness.. the coolers would probably keep the growbags cooler as opposed to heating them up. Any other ideas? PLEASE?

10-28-07, 19:01	#6 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	79*f has me putting BOTH heathers into a small styrofoam container, and setting them on max. There's no room for anything else, really. Let alone 12 growbags. The stores wont replace them because they're considered electronic devices -- once opened, it's no longer their problem. I don't have access to the fully submersible kind, perhaps I'll have to venture into town to find one -- or order it online. Thanks Hippie

10-29-07, 10:35	#8 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	Hippie - Keep in mind these are SMALL cheap styrofoam containers, there really isn't much room. What type of christmas bulbs are you talking about? And I thought light during incubation / colonization was a bad thing?

10-29-07, 10:40	#9 (permalink)
mrpanda It is big and I am clever Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 616	You could try a reptile heat mat, REPTILE HEAT MATS they dont take up much space. __________________ Weeeeeeeee. That is all.

10-29-07, 11:05	#10 (permalink)
Dr_T Random Dude Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,742	My WalMart has submersible heaters for about $6. Don't know how far it is for you, but if it eliminates the frustration, it's worth it, imo. I use a heatbomb variant- I have a pretty big styro cooler, with a sterilite tub that fits in the bottom, with the heater in that. Bigger heat sink = more even temps. It's on a timer, runs about 1 hour out of five.

10-29-07, 11:07	#11 (permalink)
camMyco Modified Honey Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,072	Try a higher watage heater. thatpetplace.com is reasonable. always go submersible. __________________ William Blake’s poem: “If the doors of perception were to be cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: infinite”.

10-29-07, 13:32	#12 (permalink)
lardnar Mycophiliac Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 81	Yep Make sure to avoid the cheapest units at Walmart, some are under 10 watts! 75W is good, make sure it has an automatic shutoff (thermostat)

10-29-07, 16:46	#13 (permalink)
prism1234 Running from My Mycelium Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,863	Get a HPS Lamp and plant a seed or 2. Your indoor herb light can also heat your jars/bags. The C02 helps the ladies as well! __________________ No matter how pretty the fire is, dont touch it!

10-29-07, 17:43	#14 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	HPS lamps are insanely expensive also, I'M TRYING TO AVOID LIGHT. I am COLONIZING -- light = BAD. I bought a new submersible aquarium heater. Temps in the tubes are currently 73-75*f -- still a bit too cold from EVERYTHING i'm reading. argh.

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10-29-07, 17:47	#15 (permalink)
prism1234 Running from My Mycelium Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,863	Light does not equal bad, It equals pins invitro... HID seems pricey till your smoking on the funk for "free". __________________ No matter how pretty the fire is, dont touch it!

10-29-07, 18:08	#16 (permalink)
MrMerlin Chews fingers Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 245	What you might like to try is a heated pillow-or pillow warmer, very similar in essence to reptile pads, but you'll be able to tuck in your jars and snuggify them in the 'pillow'. get one of those in a cooler box and score a thermostat with external thermoprod from ebay, dingding and you're set me lad... Trust me I've made all manner of incubator styles, from the hobo incubator (search), to the TIT ... Pillow warmer whips the llamas ass __________________ I know all the rules but the rules don't know me

10-29-07, 18:20	#17 (permalink)
Miss Nomer longhaired hippie chick Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 47	I use the TIT with the smallest submersible heater I could find at Walmart. I think it's good for up to 20 gallons .. was like $13 and it keeps my incubator at a nice consistent 80-85 degrees.

10-30-07, 13:27	#18 (permalink)
totallynew Former Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 71	Hrm, sadly there are no pillow warmers to be found in my area -- most people have no idea what they are.. never mind that the name explains it. I drove to the nearest city to a huge mall and not even Macy's had one Spores arrived today, so I will be starting a grow long tonight with all the info. Thank you all, hopefully I'll figure out something that can consistently work

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