Heat cable questions

[Jonny.D]

Hi everyone,
Posting this here as not sure what category it should go in.

I've got a heat cable and would like to put it in a large plastic storage box I have.

From what I've read I would need to put the cable on sand, snake it round and then cover it with sand.

Problems I'm faced with is the cable is "Doing it's own thing" and wont "Stay put"
any suggestions on how to "Tame it"

Questions I have are,

1. What distance should there be between the cable loops?
2. How much sand should I use to cover the cable?
3. Should I close the lid of the storage box to keep humidity up?

Thanks for reading my post

[Travellers]

Warm the cable by plugging in then lay out withapprox 3ins between loops .e

[Bacchus]

Here's quite a good youtube chilli growing video with a heating cable used to start things off. It's worth a watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvP3d8JBvMo

[Jonny.D]

Thanks for the replies Travellers & Bacchus's.

I found this video helpfull "How To Build A Heated Propagation Bench"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwkGXEatKSk

[judy2shoes]

I just made my own propogator using heat cables. Mine is 7ftx2ft and I used 12m of cable

3-4 inches apart
laid in 2in deep sand and then covered with another 2in
I'm using individual trays with lids

Its working really well and almost everything has germinated in a week!

Good luck.

[Jonny.D]

Hi Guys,
Set up my propagator today and came up with a simple way to "Tame the cable"

Got the cable where I wanted it, then simply put some sand on the cable to hold it in place

[Jonny.D]

Hi Guys,
The propagators been running just over 24 hours, inside temperature 74-76°F though there is a lot of condensation forming on the sides and the lid and I'm wondering if this should be wiped away or maybe the lid left slightly open? Though my concern of leaving the lid open is that to do so would cause a temperature drop.

Any pointers for me?

Thanks


JD

[fishpond]

As long as the roots are warm the lid can be removed.
If the seeds haven't propagated yet, leave the lid on but wipe off the moisture.

[marchogaeth]

Hi Guys,
Set up my propagator today and came up with a simple way to "Tame the cable"

Got the cable where I wanted it, then simply put some sand on the cable to hold it in place

Your cable is touching itself - one the one I have it says very specifically not to let it do this or it will overheat and could be damaged.

[Jonny.D]

Your cable is touching itself - one the one I have it says very specifically not to let it do this or it will overheat and could be damaged.

Thanks for your concern, the photo was taken before I completed laying the cable

[Kristen]

Hi Guys,
The propagators been running just over 24 hours, inside temperature 74-76°F though there is a lot of condensation forming on the sides and the lid and I'm wondering if this should be wiped away or maybe the lid left slightly open?

If this is for seeds (rather than cuttings) leave the lid closed until germination. Condensation will run down the sides of the lid and back into the compost and will, therefore, be a closed system and you won't have to add any further water until germination (well ... excepting things that take months to germinate). If you take the lid off the soil will dry out and the seeds will yo-yo between dry and wet as you re-water them.