Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Kleftiwallah on November 18, 2019, 12:31

Title: Propagation table heater cable question.
Post by: Kleftiwallah on November 18, 2019, 12:31

I have a propagation table in the greenhouse 8' X 2' with a Parsene heater cable system installed, when I removed the gritsand to track down an annoying small leak I see the heater cable is discoloured to a bark brown in places (on the bends usually).  The cable still warms up but I don't want to return a ton and a half of gritsand only to have the cable break down and have to shift the lot again.  Is this discolouration terminal?

Any ideas, I suppose I could shell out for a new element.  Cheers,  Tony. :(

Title: Re: Propagation table heater cable question.
Post by: RichardA on November 19, 2019, 16:22

if occurring in several places then unlikely (in my humble non electrician opinion) to be overheating or a short. I have dismantled both my prop tables to move the greenhouse to build a house recently and both cables are uneven in colour (not really bark colour) but faded from original consistent bright yellow down to almost white in places. Could be staining from the sand (such as minerals or iron) or simply from any watering or fertilisers/tonics used or even from plants roots. Provided cables don't touch should not get overheating. Is it worth an email to supplier with photo??? random thought did you fix them with anything such as tape even temporarily ???

Title: Re: Propagation table heater cable question.
Post by: Kleftiwallah on November 19, 2019, 17:18

Thanks for those encouraging words RichardA  I'll pop it back with care.  Cheers,  Tony.