Propagation Sweat Chamber

Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:57 am

This is my rendition of a propagation chamber. It has no artificial light, just day light. If you Google Sweat Chamber it based on it.

Basically a wood box with windows on two sides. The shelves will be simply 3 parallel Rebar. In the bottom of the chamber will be a heater, controlled by a thermostat and a tray of water above. The high humidity is why it's called a sweat chamber. After germination the flats are removed to better lighting.

Tomorrow I will finish the shelving and install the heating system.

Eric

Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:26 am

nice one doubledog! ive used clear rubbermaids but that ones sweet.

Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:10 am

Soil,

Do you have any suggestions? How did the clear Rubbermaid work?

On my setup. Should I install the thermostat at the top or middle? You would think the top would be the hottest.

What about the heater fan. Should I install it off to the side so it pushes the heat right up to the top? Keep the heater centered so it reflects around the water pan and radiates up through everything or open center so the heat pushes up to the top?

Eric

Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:18 pm

when i had the rubbermaids( which i might do again) i just set two flats in them and put them in my GH. it was sort of like a mini GH in its own. it worked for what it was for but not as good as what it looks like you got.

as for your method though. what kind of heater are you going to use? are you simply just trying to heat the air inside? if so i would go with the middle version with an added option if i may suggest. if you get a tube(preferably metal) that is decent sized(4-6 inches) i think 6 or 8 would be best though. anyways you place this right above your heater and the tube goes straight up almost to the top. what happens is the heat goes up in the tube, which creates a draft and sucks the air from the bottom( which is cooler) into the tube, as it rises it heats up. this creates a flow cycle almost like how you have the arrows drawn in the middle heater version. in turn creating a almost perfectly uniform heated space. simply hook up a temp guage and some switch of some kind to turn off when a certain temp is met and on whenever it gets too low and it will stay at whatever you want. i had a friend who used this method to heat his house on the cheap, but the concept would work perfectly in your "Sweat box"

Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:43 pm

Very nice. That is what I need a box to start seeds in my cold solar greenhouse! How about if I build a box around a bread tray metal rack! My friend has a bread store and I have 30 of the plastic trays that fit into the racks! The plastic bread trays are strong and would hold two seed trays each! How does the humidity effect the thermonstat?

Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:10 pm

Frank,

I think your bread trays should work. The thermostat I have is weather tight type. It can be wired for either cooling or heating. I have one of these. http://www.kkontrols.com/poth8ftco.html

Soil,

A 4" to 8" flue would hog a lot of space, I'm wonder if this pipe could run up the outside of the box? I've seen something similar on a converted refrigerate sweat box. He was using a computer fan to circulate.

I need to study it a little more, but I think the heater is also heating the water. Steam seems wrong.

Eric

Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:24 pm

If the chamber was sealed some the moisture in the soil would be adquate I think. I was even thinking that a light blb or heat lamp would give enough heat and you could see how ften it came on from a distance mostly at night. I need one of these bad because my pep and tom take too long to come up and I loose some seeds from decay!!

Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:43 pm

Frank,

The heat lamp may work, but I'm thinking a little fan is needed for circulation. I'm try to avoid hot spots.

The soil moisture maybe adequate, but I'm not sure. I'll probably try a shallow pan of water just to be safe. :wink:

A friend of mine gave me a heat element w/ fan out of a food dehydrator, I may give it a try.

Time to go finish the rebar shelves.

Eric

Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:21 am

Update picture with the rebar shelves in place.

Soil,
Looks like I have room for a 6" pipe after all. I will give it a try.

Eric

Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:33 am

Very nice set up! After they sprout you move them within 2 days or so right?

Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:47 am

its doesn't even need to be 6 inch, the point is to channel the heat and create a draw. this moves the air around constantly giving even heat. if you can channel the heat up a 2 inch pipe i bet it would work,

lookin good btw!

Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:18 am

Frank,

Moving the flats out will depend on germination. Peppers will probably take the longest then tomatoes and so on.... Not long after germination.

Soil,

Ok. For this evening, I just put a waterbed heater and a pie plate full of water in the bottom. Should be able to finish this project tomorrow.

Eric

Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:28 pm

Living up to its name.

Eric

Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:31 am

damn now i want one :lol:

Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:39 am

Soil,

Two recycled windows, 3/8 rebar, plywood and a few screws.

Build a larger chamber with two shower doors. :wink:

Eric