Hey Barb . Not sure how long. Not sure what caused the leaning. Fronds not looking great but I think they will survive if weather stays ok. If it survives I think I might just wrap in insulation next year. It has been a fairly mild winter this year.

wrap heat tape then burlap and finally shrink wrap and had no problem.

I remember your pics Keith, and it survived.
I would've bet against it, so good for you!!!

Re the reference to burlap, I think burlap has to be wrapped tightly -- like a second skin.

What brand of heat tape is the one that blew?

The one I bought but forgot to use says "The cable must NOT be buried or come in contact with the ground."

And "The cable must NOT be wrapped or spiraled and must be placed flat to the pipe using Easy Heat HCA brand application tape or a good quality electrical tape with a min 176F 80C temperature rating."

Maybe some of these cables are intended for unheated crawl-space pipes (not out in the elements, even under waterproof cover).

Barb

Thanks Barb . The brand of heat tape that was on that palm was Easyheat . the other ones I normally use are from HD and are Wrap-on brand. I know the wrap-on brand has a thermostat built in. The Easyheat brand I did not look and do not have wrap. I should have just wrapped in pink insulation, it was a mild winter( so far)
Keith

Easyheat...that's the one I bought too.
And forgot to use. 😆
They're not cheap, are they...mine's 30 feet and was $50. 😐

Yes it's been a relatively mild winter.
Not over yet...

But I don't think we can risk using insulation alone.
Heat provides that extra bit of insurance.

I just wish we could still buy those C-9 incandescent Christmas lights...
We're all going to new more of them if we're planting more stuff outdoors.

Hopefully the spear of your palm will be fine.
Maybe just wrap it in an old comforter for now with a big piece of plastic over it.

Barb

Thanks Barb. I was thinking last night and remembered last year both the palm and banana were under the overhang of the house. Thus keeping the snow and rain off them. This was the first year I had one out in the middle of the lawn. I should have covered up the end of the heat tape with the thermostat and plug in with a waterproof cover. PS I found a 6 foot heat tape and wrapped around trunk of palm yesterday, wrapped the fronds with insulation. Live and learn!

Sorry,my bad.....

I was referring to the 5th pic in your lead post,it looks like
the yellow tape is heat tape over the insulation????

maybe the heat tape should not overlap(be touching) either?

thanks Jim I took a look at the picture and you are right. I cannot remember but I believe I took that apart and did it the right way last fall. I will go take a peak today.
Keith

heat tape should not overlap(be touching

I think Erik warned us about that a year or two ago.

Reading my (unused) heat-tape package, I notice it says:
"when using 2 cables, overlap cables within overrun zone on opposite sides of pipe." (or palm 😆

What the heck is an overrun zone?
Overlapping, obviously, so does it mean that zone doesn't heat up on the cable?

the first year I had one out in the middle of the lawn. I should have covered up the end of the heat tape with the thermostat and plug in with a waterproof cover.

That's likely it, Keith.
PS--more fog today!!!!!! :evil3:

Barb

I always did heat tape first, then burlap/hessian, then insulation then plastic covering (which came off most of the time).
Yes, heat tape is supposed to be dry BUT mine was often sopping wet. So, I don't think that is it.
I did make an effort to not let heat tape cross over heat tape. Not sure if that would really be a big deal but I avoided it on general principle.
The heat tape I used (cannot remember brand name, but gave it all to KrisK so he might know) never felt warm to the touch. I often wondered if it was working, but snow in contact with it would melt.

never felt warm to the touch. I often wondered if it was working, but snow in contact with it would melt.

For that reason, agree should be placed in that order:
"heat tape first, then burlap/hessian, then insulation then plastic covering".

BillMA used heat tape too on his Washies, wrapped directly in contact with the trunk.
As far as I recall he never lost a palm because it was in a box too.

Here's a comment re "not crossing heat tape over itself":
And it also says TO NOT USE AN EXTENSION CORD.

http://www.foremost.com/mygreathome/?v=a&an=how-to-install-heat-tape

Barb

come on Barb !! real men don't read instructions. lol. Yes I will be more careful next year.
Also Jim I checked my other palm and I did change the heat tape last fall. I think I looked at and said that does not look right. Went and got new insulation and redone it. It would not work very good with heat tape on outside of insulation.

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I always used extension cords, often long ones. Oops. Couldn't afford to hire an electrician to add GFCI outlets out in the palm garden.

The instruction on my heat tape says to use with a properly sized, grounded and certified outdoor extension cord plugged into permanent receptacle.

The instruction on my heat tape says to use with a properly sized, grounded and certified outdoor extension cord plugged into permanent receptacle.

That sounds right....

I think there can be a problem when the heat tape is touching and gets wet...you can only get away with so much 😉

I think with that much insulation you could use the little tiny X-mas lights and save yourself $20-$40

I need lots of heat so I always have used c-7/c-9 lights...but there is a big gap in-between my insulation and
the palms I am heating-I also like to use the suns help as much as possible to heat the palms during the day.

On a days like today when it hits 35F the temp inside one enclosure was 72F max....Cactus enclosure saw 61F-just right.

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On the coldest night so far(-4F)temp ranged from 30F to 40F inside the Princeps enclosure...

Washy

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Shell game-which one is the Princeps 😀

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Nice pics, Jim! :thumbleft: