Tent heater, any suggestions?

[Three Berries]

The heater tapes at 3" or so were around $30 for material to go around 2- 5 gallon buckets. Then another dual temp controller for two buckets was $25 or so.

I kept the roots at 71F but the ambient went to the upper 50Fs.

 

[Ca++]

I envisage a wardrobe that the intake air passes though. Within which, a number of heaters. Certainly using just one 'instant heat' type would be no use. It would turn off at a certain temp, and you get -18 air on your then frozen plants. I think a series of oil heaters with stats set a little bit apart would be a quick fix.

The more technical would use proportional control of a big convection heater. With a second heater on constantly, that wasn't big enough, but will save the grow when the main heater fails. Which everything does, one day. Proportional control is $20 to set up. Involving a temp probe in the tent, that wires to a module that also has your heat extension lead wired through it. That's maybe 3 cable to make off. Then you need a youtube to program the thing. Target temps, and how far you allow it to stay, and how harsh you are with corrections. The temp controller videos explain it well. It's actually a £10 item, but you need to chop up an extension lead.

This link might work for you..
It's a PID and the REX 100 is about as cheap as they get. If you are geeky enough to use one.

Yeah.. course I have one


In a box somewhere



Edit: We all know heater stats don't have numbers on, because what they think the temp is, changes with the weather. The PID based heater control, knows the exact temp you want, and uses only the right amount of power to get there.
Simply must insulate that tent though, or it will loose thousands of watts into the cellar. Many of which will be lost heating the walls.

 

[X15]

Oil heaters work great. They are safe and can get pretty close to the plants. Though not too close lol. They offer stability.

 

[exploziv]

You need insulation first, around your tent, then you can heat it with most of the solutions featured here. Trying to heat an uninsulated tent in a unheated space while also venting it it will prove greatly inefficient, at best, that is if you can find a device powerful enaugh to do it while not taking too much space. You will also probably need to reduce airflow in order to conserve heat. Otherwise running a low wattage device in there might barely manage to keep it over freezing, while running all the time.

 

[Three Berries]

If you have room, water is the best heat moderator there is. A stack of milk crates with jugs is compact and will make a difference in the speed the temp climbs and falls over the entire 24 hr period..

I'm using the converted closet with tent in a unused room, that I usually use but only to finish out this grow. I have 15 gal oil change jugs filled with water under each plant. They are about 5" tall and two fill the 2x4 tent floor. Not going to go through the dead of winter this year in there.

 

[X15]

You need insulation first, around your tent, then you can heat it with most of the solutions featured here. Trying to heat an uninsulated tent in a unheated space while also venting it it will prove greatly inefficient, at best, that is if you can find a device powerful enaugh to do it while not taking too much space. You will also probably need to reduce airflow in order to conserve heat. Otherwise running a low wattage device in there might barely manage to keep it over freezing, while running all the time.

Good point. I’ve used moving blankets. They are cheap and effective. Add a layer of plastic film and your R value will go up. R Tech poly board is very workable if it’s available in your and in your budget. But make sure you have adequate ventilation before you start locking in heat.

 

[X15]

Simply insulating the floor or surface your tent is on could be enough too. RTech is very effective in this situation.

 

[X15]

cutting a sheet to fit the top of your tent can help radiate heat downward… the type of light you have could affect this.

 

[sativaman514]

A great option is to run a 2nd tent for veg, with an HID, that you use to warm the first one.

Set a 400w HID in the veg tent, with an extractor to send hot air at the bottom of the other one. Other tent can be lit with watherver LED or HID.

Low wattage heater are inneficient. Under 1000w, they won't generate enough heat. Using 400w of power instead and having more space to grow is a no brainer.

 

[RyanR]

How big is the room? Will be hard to do without heating entire room.

 

[Switcher56]

Best to have a thermal battery with the heater. An oil radiator would work better than just an electrical heater because the oil stores the heat longer when the device is not running.

Exactly! That is what I had. I didn't use mine in the tent though, I used it in the room (near the tent's air inlet), activated by the heating leg of my controller.

 

[X15]

That is what I had. I didn't use mine in the tent though, I used it in the room, activated by the heating leg of my controller. View attachment 18772576 View attachment 18772577

That’s a cheap and effective set up. I’ve used the exact combos and used my environment controls tell me how to adjust for variations.

 

[Switcher56]

That’s a cheap and effective set up. I’ve used the exact combos and used my environment controls tell me how to adjust for variations.

I used to run a dehumidifier on the RH controller. When it bit the dust, I replaced it with a 4" in line fan, hooked to a charcoal filter.

Works like a charm. I don't know why it took me 3 years to think of it. $30 odd vice $200-300

 

[negative37dBA]

a lite on the heater.... take some black elec. tape n cover it - end of problem

Sometimes......but when it has a grille back the light will shine through......
Peace, negative.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

A great option is to run a 2nd tent for veg, with an HID, that you use to warm the first one.

Set a 400w HID in the veg tent, with an extractor to send hot air at the bottom of the other one. Other tent can be lit with watherver LED or HID.

Low wattage heater are inneficient. Under 1000w, they won't generate enough heat. Using 400w of power instead and having more space to grow is a no brainer.

Since it's always easier to control the temp in a room vs. the tent itself, this is the option I use. You're already using wattage to heat, why not run a veg tent which exhausts into the filter for your flower tent intake?

HPS has lots and lots of infra-red, so you can use black pots in trays to help absorb and radiate heat.

 

[iStruggle]

I just use a radiator style

 

[RyanR]

Rinnai ventless propne heater isn't exactly cheap but is highly efficient and may work.for you to heat entire room.

 

[Legalcdn]

$21 cdn.
Honeywell heatbud is 150w on low and 250w on high. Connect to inkbird controller. Electrical aluminum tape for red light removal. The coils never glow red. I use it in fall/winter/spring in canada for a 3.5ftx5ft on low and it keeps the temp via controller at 25 celcius (77f).

 

[shiva82]

tubular heaters. somewhat moisture proof. sealed and no lights. cheap aswell. have to be positioned horizontal and if you buy one with a thermostat make sure it is just a dial with no light. most don't have any lights.

 

[Ca++]

2000w might get that space above freezing.
You should stick in a heater before any plants. Have a ballpark figure.