What wattage for heat cable for plastic tub?

[onemind]

Hi,

I am not a reptile person but i was hoping you guys could help me heat my plastic tub that I am using to grow mushrooms in.

The mushrooms need to be around 28 degree celcius with 90% humidity.

I have a thermostat and am not sure which heat cable to get.

I was thinking the 7 meter 50watt cord and i was going to drill holes in the tub and weave the cable back and forth through it. My only worry is that the cable would get hot enough to melt the tub as it would be in direct contact with it.

Here is a picture of the kind of tub i am heating:



Also, what kind of tempatatures do different lengths and wattages typically get in a small enclosure such as this. I need to maintain around 28 degrees even in winter if that makes any difference. Also, there will be other holes drilled in the tub for air exchange therefore heat loss.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[twodogs]

use an electric blanket

[onemind]

Thanks man.

I was considering a blanket but a lot of people warned me of fire risks etc.

The heat cable is just as cheap if not cheap and will probably work just as well.

[twodogs]

With a blanket you can wrap around the sides. Have used this myself for home made beer. you only need to have it on for short periods as it will help to insulate.
Failing that have you thought of a heat pad?

[Bonustokin]

onemind, your idea with the heatcord will be fine. The heatcords can get pretty hot, so use that thermostat and set it to 28C degrees and you wont have a problem. A electric blanket would cost alot more to run then a heatcord i think.

[onemind]

Thanks again.

I was a bit worried about the heat blanket as my tub will have very high humidity with holes in it so the blanket would get damp.

I figued a heat cord would be cheaper and easier to work with.

My concern is however, even with a thermostat, do the cords themselves get hotter than the air the heat? I mean, maybe the cords themselves are like 60 degrees and they heat the air up to 28 when the thermostat turns it off. So the cords are hotter than the air so a thermostat would make no difference because it measures the air and not the cables.

Basically, what i am asking is, how hot do the cords themselves get? Hot enough to melt plastic? And how long and what wattage for my size and temp?

Thanks

[cris]

Higher wattage cords can definately melt plastic, i melted a 9m 80watt(or maybe 8m 90watt?) into some plastic when testing it out.

I only use 4m 15 watt cord for heating plastic tubs, similar length:wattage ratio cords should be fine too, if they make any. I dont use thermostats either.

[onemind]

Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Do you know what temperature it is inside the plastic tub?

Would a 4m 15watt cord maintain 28 degrees in winter?

Cheers

Does anyone know if there is a temperature chart or something on a cord manufacters website or something?