7 watts per foot Frost King

M

MFJFIGS

Well-known member
I bought 7 watts per foot Frost King heating cables (3 of them, 12’ long each).  I am worried the wattage may be too high and could damage the trees. I am wondering what materials could be used to wrap the tree wood and keep the cables from causing any burns. I am not sure a couple of layers of burlap would offer much protection.
Your thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Here is a link
https://a.co/d/50yGClV
 
@"MFJFIGS"#76 Hello I like heating cables, but I'm worried as well that they may be a little too powerful. I always think about making small tents with heating cables on the bottom. The frost King does seem very powerful. I don't think burlap is going to be protective enough. @"TorontoJoe"#1 had a heating cable frost resistor post. This is out of the Pharisee I wonder about a small Heating pad / blanket to be placed on the bottom of a small tent. I keep thinking less is more.
 
@"MFJFIGS"#76 Hello I like heating cables, but I'm worried as well that they may be a little too powerful. I always think about making small tents with heating cables on the bottom. The frost King does seem very powerful. I don't think burlap is going to be protective enough. @"TorontoJoe"#1 had a heating cable frost resistor post. I wonder about a small Heating pad / blanket to be placed on the bottom of a small tent. I keep thinking less is more.
 
If you are going to use the cables and then wrap the trees over them...you could fashion something like tomato cages around the tree.
Of course you would have to cut one side to get it around the trunk but it would hold the cable off the wood.
 
Where are your planning on storing the trees?

Depending on how cold it gets where you are and where you are storing them, I would make sure the soil is warm. They sell soil warming cables designed for that, I don't think those Frost King cables are labeled for that type of use. 

You could easily have a thermostat with a soil probe turn your cables on and off as needed.
 
@"MFJFIGS"#76 

I use Wrap On heating cables as well as Warmly Yours (look just like yours) all mine are 7 watts per foot. I wrap the tree in burlap first and wrap the cables around that. I've never had a problem. 

I'll be posting my winter protection method for in ground trees soon.
 
Great thread Joe.
I plan on placing the [font='Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]built-in thermostat switch in between the burlap and the pink insulation. I couldn’t tell from the photos but I think that is where you have it. Is that correct?[/font]
[font='Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Thank you 🙏 [/font]
 
Yep. Right in between. I try to keep it off the ground as well. I usually run the cord and put the plug and stat up top to keep them high and dry. 

I’m going to have to prune back even harder this year. Last year I left a lot on and it was a challenge to get good coverage. 


Click for original
IMG-1340.jpg
 
This needs to be a permanent thread in frequently asked questions. Like sticky on top threads. This is always going to be relevant for years.
 
My thought was there are only so many overwintering methods for fig trees and it wouldn’t get lost. Perhaps if this section grows a bit I can put a link directory to each link play the top
 
@"MFJFIGS"#76 @"TorontoJoe"#1 @"Figgerlickinggood"#7 the more I read this thread, and the link Associated threads it feels like it's important enough for them to be combined. Perhaps into one permanent thread. Teresa brought up that this should be in a YouTube video. (I think she's right), but we need that video embedded on our platform. Even though I'm from California this looks like a very very important subject. It's one our administrator is knowledgeable on, I believe it needs to be a permanent thread like the sticky ones on top in the old house.
 
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