I have a unique problem, it think. I sell eggs about every day on a honor system. In the summer i have an electric cooler that i placed the eggs in and the people drop by, put their money in a jar, and take what eggs they buy. Winter poses a problem. The cooler can't be used and they are freezing. Here's my plan, let me know what you think. I plan to build a cabinet and take Pipe heat tape and zigzag on the inside walls. The tapes just keep water lines above freezing. Do you think if i insulate the walls that the heat tape will produce enough heat to prevent freezing? I am in upper east Tennessee and we have alot of mornings in the low 20's. Any suggestions? I work 10 hour days leaving at 6:00 am and returning around 6:30 each evening and I need to keep up the honor system. So far, I haven't lost eggs to greedy people. Thanks!
There are some very low watt bulbs out there . . . Why don't you continue to use coolers? Their insulation will hold temperatures that are warmer as well as colder. We often carry hot food in one and cold food in another in the back of the pickup. You may be able to fit a cheap styrofoam cooler inside a larger one and place your heat tape between the 2. I like your honor system! We still buy fruit from a little orchard that uses that system - - push the money thru a slot in the counter and take a bag of apples . Steve
I have a suggestion for you. Make yourself a electric water bottle heater... 1. Get yourself a small submersable fishtank heater. 2. Put the heater in a glass baby bottle. 3. Fill with water. 4. Seal the top with silicone(around the cord) keeping the water/heater in the bottle.. 5. Put the electric water bottle heater inside of a cheap styro-foam cooler running the electricity cord through a hole in the styro-foam(re-fill the the hole around the cord with a squirt of expanding foam) .. Adjust the fishtank heater as needed depending on the temps.. To put things in perspective I grew mushrooms outdoors in a styro-foam cooler in my shed when it was minus 40'C...It stayed a nice toast 80'F inside the cooler...you would have to adjust the temps down considerably but you get the idea... You can even use a non submersable type fishtank heater as long as only the element is immersed in the liquid... I might have a picture of what it looked like if you interested...
I agree with LynnP; can't you continue to use the current cooler and just unplug it? If it is insulated it should keep the contents getting too cold. If they still aren't warm enough in the AM put a water bottle filled with boiling water in to heat up the cooler a bit. Just a thought.
Thanks for the suggestions. The hot water didn't work as i lost 4 doz eggs trying that. The electric cooler is one of those igloo type and it cools 30 degrees cooler than the outside temp. So it has to be off. I just need to keep it about freezing. How low do you think the fish tank heater would go. I like that idea. And, yes i would like to see a picture if you have one. thanks!
