Greenhouse heating : Plan B

[Ali Baba]

In December I noticed that my trusty Parwin heater didnt seem to be keeping my greenhouse as warm as it should. Close inspection revealed that 2 of the three heating elements had blown. Fortunately before they ceased trading I bought various spares so my heater is up and running again. However it poses a couple of questions:

If the elements fail again I have no more spares, however they are simple wound spirals of element wire. Is it possible to do a DIY new element? Anyone know how to do this?

More importantly, what do other growers do to alert them of heater failure? Power cuts are rare around here, so heater failure is the most likely issue. So has anyone come up with a good alarm system for low temperatures?

[conolady]

We have a baby alarm indoors linked to a digital thermometer. That works very well. Hubby did it.

[Ali Baba]

Thanks Conolady. I think you will have to provide more info on that one! How does that work...?

[el48tel]

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If the elements fail again I have no more spares, however they are simple wound spirals of element wire. Is it possible to do a DIY new element? Anyone know how to do this?

...............

The electrical safety aspect of this would suggest to me as an informed amateur but not an expert or electrician that it's a no go area. Element replacement = yes; element re-construction = no

[Ali Baba]

I tend to agree, but the Parwin website used to state that as a repair option

[el48tel]

I tend to agree, but the Parwin website used to state that as a repair option

I'd seek pro advice --- anyone at your local branch etc with the "right" qualifications. The implications from getting it "wrong" because it lives in a potentially damp area could be serious to you or anyone visiting your greenhouse.

[D^L]

As said, Parwin used to supply bespoke elements to fit into the heaters and replace broken ones. I can't believe that the elements really were unique to Parwin I expect they were of a standard style. I expect you could find equivalent ones of same rating and coils diameter length etc but I don't know how.
I would take the element into a specialist electrical supplier and see what they say.
I'm always a bit nervous of suggesting self help on electrics in a damp environment, please make sure you know what you are doing safety wise. Perhaps you are a prof. electrician but if not and you find there are bits of the spec you don't understand, probably worth consulting one.
Cheers
David Lambie
Bristol

[Ali Baba]

I take on board the comments about the heating coils. The beauty of Parwin heaters of course is they are very easy to repair as all the bits are readily detachable and replaceable. I guess though that one reason they went out of business is that they are so easily repairable. Maybe they don't conform to modern standards on use in a damp environment...

As my heater is working (with genuine Parwin parts) the more pressing reason for posting is installing some sort of warning system for the temperature getting too low. Any thoughts...??

[el48tel]

Depends on what you want!
I have a remote display in the house - at my old house I had a similar display with audible alarm (but that disappeared in the move) -- there's loads of stuff out there - and if you have a penchant for electronics there's probably a Raspberry-pi project you could buy

[Ali Baba]

I have a remote display in the house

Can you elaborate?
I have seen this :https://www.amazon.co.uk/SensorPush-Wir ... re+monitor