"Chris French and Helen Johnson"
wrote in message ...
In message , Franz Heymann
writes

"Chris French and Helen Johnson"

wrote in message ...

What's the problem here Franz? Soil warming cables, thermostats
etc.
all
standard kit intended for greenhouses - as is my mains electric
heater,

I would not go near mains heating cables buried in damp earth.
Full
stop.

Fair enough, but AFAIAC they are safe. Obviously I would not put it
in a
situation were I would be likely to damage it, - but otherwise I
don't
see a problem. mine sits in the wooden propagator box in damp sand
the
cable is insulated and sealed. If it was to develop a fault in the
insulation then it would just trip the RCD anyway.

Only if the propagator itself is connected to earth.

Low voltage units are available for this obvious reason.

I guess they are, though I can't actually think
of ever seeing them on sale.

I used to have one when I still had a greenhouse. It ran at 12 volts
and used bare soft iron wires as the heating elements.

Franz