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Old January 22, 2012   #70
rwsacto
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 288
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Naysen,

How will you "apply" the heat from the oil filled heater different than the ceramic heater?

All electric resistance heaters have the same efficiency (3414 btu per kWh). The difference is how you transfer the heat to the object being heated. The heat mat and aquarium heater are mostly conductive transfer to the container, water and media. The ceramic and oil filled heater are convective transfer to the air with maybe a bit of radiation to the container or plant. You may be heating a bunch of air that does not contribute to your cause.

Reducing heat transfer to the environment (insulation, enclosure around the plants, reflective panel) reduces the heat required.

Hope this helps,

Rick
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