From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Colorado

what's the optimal distance to keep a light bulb above a plant in the hoop house so I don't burn my plant? thanks.

4/25/2009 7:11:05 PM

Whidbey Island

Depends on the light. If you are using a heat lamp, don't hang it over the vine at all. For any other bulb I would hang it, turn it on and then hold my hand just over the vine. It should not be hot. You might even want to put a thermometer just over the vine and keep the temp below 90 degrees.

4/25/2009 9:13:16 PM

Jericho Vermont

I use a 250 watt infra red bulb in my hoop houses. When the plant is small it hangs about 2 feet above and as the plant grows the light can get too close. I have always weighed out a burnt leaf tip to a possible frozen dead plant and the lamp always wins out. I have crisped the ends of many leaves but the plant always survives. The key also is to be able to regulate the lamp to come on when the temps are below a certain temp which also prevents major burns.
John

4/26/2009 7:22:46 PM

Oz

Do this,or get someone who will.
Run your cord to a light fixture.
Turn on the light bulb.
Using a three way outlet splitter,measure your AC voltage.
If the voltage is too low,try a larger gauge of extension cord.

If you can do some wiring,you can run several cords,and splice the hot/neutral/ground wires respectively.
Remember,bad grounds will put you in the ground.
Use a GFCI outlet.

If you are near 12 volts AC,at the end of your cord,use RV 12 VOLT bulbs.
You can use this "trick",if you have a yard light that is 100/200 feet long.

Hard to say how much heat you will get with a 12v RV bulb.
It will depend on hoop house insulation/temp/bulb output.

Another thing you can use is a lizard heat rock.
Sears has a good 110vac temp switch for their torpedo heaters.

4/26/2009 9:53:42 PM

Oz

oops,I read this post wrong,,,nevermind,,,,.

4/26/2009 9:54:44 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Murdocs has 250 ultra violet heat lamp used for baby chicks around 12 bucks.

4/27/2009 7:11:10 PM

Littleton, Colo

....somebody drove home drunk lazt spring and ran over a street light....I pulled over and picked it up.....uzed it last year.....2 over 1000lbs........

4/27/2009 10:15:48 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

small milkhouse heaters 1500-2000 watts around 20 bucks available at walmart home depot ect
with built in thermostat will do just fine.
don't hang bulbs over plants had one come down before due to wind, if need be drive a small post in ground clamp light to that.
Glenn

4/27/2009 10:24:29 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

BiZ...hopin that the City of Littleton aint watching this thread...cause if they are??? A Bill for the light fixture will be on it's way to you soonly!!! My guess is that the light you used last year (city rate's) $600 or more!!! Peace, Wayne

4/27/2009 11:24:41 PM

Littleton, Colo

lol !!

4/27/2009 11:51:01 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

The heat cables do a lot to help... I hang my brooder lights off the junction of the center hoop rib/spine, I added some 9 ga galvanized wire in there when I taped off the connections-junctions to have something to hook to.

Right now the light isn't above plant, I will soon have to aim light towards the far end so heat isn't aimed at the plant. The lights can be turned on and off manually or left to the computer control for cycling at a sensor feedback temp range I choose. This is being more affordable than last year's methods; it's still not free but I worry less as well.

4/28/2009 9:49:54 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Pete....lol

4/30/2009 9:08:35 AM