Which heat pad for my warming cabinet?

[drex]

Old fridge cost me nothing from recycling centre. The fan, tube and stat probably cost around £40 if that

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I've added a layer of Reflectix to all surfaces of my cabinet which is about the size of a fridge. It can now hold 45degC but having been on for an hour it won't heat to 50degC in a cold workshop at 8degC. Which is fine, I'm not likely to need more than 45degC.

I still think the 2' Hausen 120W tube heater is hitting a thermal cut out as the temperature rises and then falls back again before it gets to the target temperature. They must be set differently. Measured the surface temperature at 70degC.

See attached photo. The brown circular thing is a connector block (I think it's bakelite). The white block on the right is a fairly puny 12V fan in an old electrical box.
Foam is 20mm thick.

 

[MarHam]

some of them have a lower thermal cutout - the ones I had before, same cabinet, used to struggle to get over 30 degrees
What sort of insulation are you using?

I bought one from tool stn for my first attempt at a warming cabinet and it didn't get above 32 deg even inside a warm house, so I think it has a thermal cutoff of about 30 deg.

It seems to have destroyed the heating relay in my stc-1000 too...at least that's what I am blaming it on.
I'll probably try the one you suggest in your link as they actually state what the cutoff is. What controller do you use?
Do you use a fan to circulate the air?
Thanks, M

 

[MarHam]

I've added a layer of Reflectix to all surfaces of my cabinet which is about the size of a fridge. It can now hold 45degC but having been on for an hour it won't heat to 50degC in a cold workshop at 8degC. Which is fine, I'm not likely to need more than 45degC.

I still think the 2' Hausen 120W tube heater is hitting a thermal cut out as the temperature rises and then falls back again before it gets to the target temperature. They must be set differently. Measured the surface temperature at 70degC.

See attached photo. The brown circular thing is a connector block (I think it's bakelite). The white block on the right is a fairly puny 12V fan in an old electrical box.
Foam is 20mm thick.

My first attempt at a cabinet looks remarkably like yours does , but a bit smaller (only big enough for a 1 ft tube heater).
After using for a month or two, are you happy with the performance and the temperature it reaches or have you changed to a different heater?
Is that also an stc-1000 controller you are using?
Thanks!

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Hi Marham,

I've changed the heating element to 125W incubator element supported off the bottom of the box with ceramic insulators from Solway Feeders. The tubular heater worked but for £10 plus the insulators I thought I'd try this. No complication of another thermostat switching tubular heater off and on. Had to carefully straighten the new element out to fit across diagonally.

It will hold higher temperatures. Managed to overheat some cut comb the other week. Didn't melt but raised it to 55degC. Forgot to store the lower temperature on the STC1000.

Followed the build from the aquarium forum. Reading your previous post, did you have a fuse protecting the STC1000? I wired in a 1A fuse and have had no problems. Heating element and fan each have fused plugs.

. . .. Ben

 

[MarHam]

Hi Ben,
Thanks for your reply.
I went ahead and got the same heating element you did - like you say, more control as there is not the chance of having a thermostat/temp cutoff built in.
I had it up and running last night and it reached 40 degrees pretty quick.
Regarding the STC1000, I think it was just a dud, I got another one which had loads of good reviews and it's working fine (I should have spent the extra £3 in the first place).
I'll add a fan at some point, but it's working fine for now.
Thanks again, Mark

 

[Millet]

When i'm wanting to warm honey up quickly for clearing purposes which requires 1hr at 65C i wire the electric paint stripper up to st-1000..it has to be aimed at a sheet of plaster board so it does not burn the inside of the fridge..it hits the required temperature very quickly..the tube heaters i use normally struggle to get past 45c.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I'm looking at making a heater box that can either be used to heat honey or warm supers to make it easier to extract honey.
It will be the size of two supers about 200mm deep and have one of the blow heaters as below with the controller as below.
Just got to find the time to make it!

https://www.wish.com/c/5a866e402d65...JxyZmFmeqDb6B8XtvE5IoDbEEnRU_0ZxoCUZsQAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/2836894842...C_6mDgkzN0WeCcFx_c-zshPRV0fSQnthoCfPAQAvD_BwE

I think it will work and be very quick...... but may be too powerful. Cheap too!

 

[Poly Hive]

You were very lucky to get a unit from a recycoling place. I was refused by the largest freezer supplier in the UK on the basis of what might happen to the coolant gas and the same reason was given at the council recycling tip.

My work around was to find a scrappie and pay £20. *shrug* I have what I need and he was happy too.

If you have time which at that time I didn't then I suggest advertising on your local buy and sell FB groups for a dead one on the basis of free uplift.

I have to say I am taken aback that after someone goes to all the trouble of setting out why exactly something is what it is they get insulted for their efforts.

PH

 

[Angry_Mob]

Going to build one myself this year, just having a browse however and came across this fan/heater all in one unit. Should work with the stc-1000?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-T...incubator+ELEMENT&qid=1581889609&sr=8-38&th=1

 

[Newbeeneil]

Going to build one myself this year, just having a browse however and came across this fan/heater all in one unit. Should work with the stc-1000?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-T...incubator+ELEMENT&qid=1581889609&sr=8-38&th=1

I've been knocking up my box this afternoon, just waiting for my heater.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laluztop-E...t=&hvlocphy=9045777&hvtargid=pla-837766425042

And my controller,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/1740962196...b-PAL8W1YeI_Lm_ZVF2Sv3Gws64RJPKsaAnLaEALw_wcB

to arrive.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Going to build one myself this year, just having a browse however and came across this fan/heater all in one unit. Should work with the stc-1000?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-T...incubator+ELEMENT&qid=1581889609&sr=8-38&th=1

Will the STC1000, cope with the 10.4amps at 24v?

 

[Anduril]

Going to build one myself this year, just having a browse however and came across this fan/heater all in one unit. Should work with the stc-1000?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-T...incubator+ELEMENT&qid=1581889609&sr=8-38&th=1

Will the STC1000, cope with the 10.4amps at 24v?

The STC1000 has a 10 amp relay, I'd opt for the 24V 150W at 6.25 Amps, Otherwise for the 24V 250W heater I'd use a 24v PID with a 25amp Solid State Relay.

 

[MarHam]

I'm looking at making a heater box that can either be used to heat honey or warm supers to make it easier to extract honey.

This is pretty much what I have done. Mine is 60cm deep/high and the width of a national brood/super, so I can simply add supers above if needed prior to extraction, or make it taller to use for a home brew bucket if needed.

 

[Angry_Mob]

I've been knocking up my box this afternoon, just waiting for my heater.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laluztop-E...t=&hvlocphy=9045777&hvtargid=pla-837766425042

And my controller,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/1740962196...b-PAL8W1YeI_Lm_ZVF2Sv3Gws64RJPKsaAnLaEALw_wcB

to arrive.

Will the STC1000, cope with the 10.4amps at 24v?

The STC1000 has a 10 amp relay, I'd opt for the 24V 150W at 6.25 Amps, Otherwise for the 24V 250W heater I'd use a 24v PID with a 25amp Solid State Relay.

Electrics isn't my forté and what Anduril typed went over my head without the help of google. On reflection a prewired option like this one might be better along with the heater you linked to?

 

[Newbeeneil]

Electrics isn't my forté and what Anduril typed went over my head without the help of google. On reflection a prewired option like this one might be better along with the heater you linked to?

I've used W3002 controllers several times for different honey warmers and a 12v version for a portable incubator so am very happy with wiring this in. The prewired controller is a bit messy when you are trying to make kit as neat as possible.

 

[Anduril]

Electrics isn't my forté and what Anduril typed went over my head without the help of google. On reflection a prewired option like this one might be better along with the heater you linked to?

This prewired one also has a 10amp relay
150W / 24V = 6.25amp
250W / 24V =10.4amps
150W / 12V =10.4amps
500W / 240V =2amps the prewired one would work.

 

[rook66]

This prewired one also has a 10amp relay
150W / 24V = 6.25amp
250W / 24V =10.4amps
150W / 12V =10.4amps
500W / 240V =2amps the prewired one would work.

I have a 12v version of this heater
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-Te...9&sr=8-38&th=1 and not being a geek, what do I need to connect to the 220 main.
Thanks

 

[Anduril]

I have a 12v version of this heater
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-Te...9&sr=8-38&th=1 and not being a geek, what do I need to connect to the 220 main.
Thanks

Your link isn't working.
I'm not an electrician, I just use the formulae to make sure I'm not going to blow a fuse or burn the house down.

 

[rook66]

Your link isn't working.
I'm not an electrician, I just use the formulae to make sure I'm not going to blow a fuse or burn the house down.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Constant-T...incubator+ELEMENT&qid=1581889609&sr=8-38&th=1
This is it, already posted above