Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 45238 2004-05-15 03:12:00 Off Topic: Compost Heap Temperature Terry Porritt (14) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
236729 2004-05-15 03:12:00 There was a thread some time ago about compost heaps, here is a follow up.

On wednesday I remade a compost heap from previously shredded shrubbery which had already gone through one composting session, jasmine etc, woody material, soft weed and soil from the vege garden, fresh shredded large daisy plants, large quantity of dead poplar leaves,with ammonium sulphate sprinkled in and watered for about the right wetness, all in all a heap 750mm square and about 1200mm high contained in a stackable wooeden compost bin structure. The heap is now about 800mm high

Yesterday and today the temperature at the centre of the pile measured with a Fluke multimeter thermocouple probe was 58/61 deg C. Too hot to hold ones hand there indefinitely !

Perhaps this is the answer for domestic heating, compost heaps with fitted wet-backs :).
Terry Porritt (14)
236730 2004-05-15 03:25:00 I can't see it as a popular replacement for an electric blanket. Yet. ;-) Graham L (2)
236731 2004-05-15 03:50:00 With a bit of manure added perhaps a fuel source as well TP. With a peg, a funnel and pipe, a lighter and a frying pan you could have breakfast in bed or a very good tool for getting layabout's out of the house. I'm sure GL will get over his initial reservations and be willing to help test your new invention, in the interests of science of course.

Cheers Murray ;P
Murray P (44)
236732 2004-05-15 04:15:00 Chickens would clean up the scraps and provide the breakfast eggs; their other output would keep the fermentation going. Graham L (2)
236733 2004-05-16 08:28:00 Curpin product ;)

Cheers Murray P
Murray P (44)
236734 2004-05-16 08:58:00 >Yesterday and today the temperature at the centre of the pile >measured with a Fluke multimeter thermocouple probe was 58/61 deg >C. Too hot to hold ones hand there indefinitely !

>Perhaps this is the answer for domestic heating, compost heaps with >fitted wet-backs.......

On a garden show on TV ages ago, it showed a gardener who had set up a compost heap with some coiled pipes in the middle and actually got a usable amount of hot water from the system. He had worked out how much material he needed and managed to keep it stocked up sufficient for his purpose. It was experimental but showed that it could have potential in certain circumstances.
exLL (515)
1