This has been the first year I have been able to use a thermostat to control the temperature in my growing area. Previously, the zone was heated by two space heaters. One was turned on all the time, the other controlled by a timer to operate between about 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. While the heat was adequate, there were days when the combination of solar gain and heat would make it too warm, or if it was cold and cloudy, may stay too cool. The system had to be monitored closely and occasionally required intervention on my part.
I finally found the niftiest little thermostat for my orchid zone. It is a Lux model Win100. This year I started using programmable "outlet" thermostat. Program it, plug it into a standard grounded outlet, and plug the space heater into the thermostat. It doesn't get much simpler. Right now, one thermostat is programmed to start heating at 60 degrees F. The second thermostat is programmed to start heating if the temperature drops below 56 degrees F. That gives a redundancy for the really cold winter nights that we have had lately.
The heaters turn off automatically when the temperatures raise above the desired settings. It has sure saved wear and tear on my nerves. No more anxious trips to turn the heaters on or off in the middle of the day, or worse yet, forgetting to turn them back on at night. The orchids seem to be more appreciative of the regulated heat much better.
I was so excited when a thermostat for space heaters became available that I had to give them a try. So far they have been one of the best investments I have made. While the average cost is roughly $40.00 apiece, I estimate that will be saved during regular operation in energy cost reduction., When the nights are too cool in the spring for the orchids to be outside or the windows left open, I will be able to switch the program to a cooling mode and use one to exhaust the excess heat or energize a suitable method for cooling the room, and keep an operational heater for the cool nights.
This is definitely an unsolicited testimonial. The product has been very successful. I heat 300 square feet with 2 oil filled electric space heaters. The temperatures have been down to 0 degrees F. at night and in the teens during the day. The heaters come on and turn off as programmed. I just feel that someone out there could use and would appreciate the information on this product.
