Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer

plantoid 10/24/2016, 7:28 pm

trolleydriver wrote:Assuming I can find enough materials to fill my new 3x3x3, I am wondering if I should try to start composting in it this year or wait until next Spring. It would be an interesting experiment to start this year to see if it would generate much heat before Winter really sets in and everything freezes solid. On the other hand, I may be wasting my own energy as well as some compostable materials and therefore should just store the greens and browns separately until next Spring. Advice and suggestions are welcomed.

A lot of folk fight shy of starting filling a composting bin in late autumn for some reason . Once the middle of the heap gets a bit warm the bacteria will carry on re producing & start making detectable heat , breaking things down till the heat is less than 5 oC or so .
At less than 5 oC activity will be so slow it could take three to five weeks for the green matter to start rotting slowly , but who cares it's happening abiet very slowly .

I'd start right away , if it gets preserved in deep frost /cold so what ?
Come spring just add some more new fresh stuff , mix it in as you add water and get the heap going again .
Just be aware that once you get the heap to the size you're after don't add any more material or you'll never every be able to get it worked up to a finished state .

floyd1440 10/24/2016, 8:05 pm

I concur with plantiod. Main thing is to gather brown materials, put some greens in too, but hit it hard in the spring to get your finished compost.

**trolleydriver** 10/24/2016, 9:21 pm

floyd1440 wrote:I concur with plantiod. Main thing is to gather brown materials, put some greens in too, but hit it hard in the spring to get your finished compost.

I'm going to get it started but once we get into winter with -30 Celsius temps then it will stall out until Spring. It';s already getting cold. It will be down to -5 C on Wednesday night. Last Fall I filled up my plastic compost bin and when it thawed out in the Spring I soon got some nice compost out of it.

BTW I've already collected 23 bags of leaves from neighbours. I will need to chop them up with the mulching lawnmower.

**jimmy cee** 10/24/2016, 10:44 pm

Zmoore wrote:Hope TD doesn't mind me jumping in on his compost thread. Nothing to do with thermometers though.
I played with my compost tumbler some more this summer. I still haven't worked out how to keep it from going anaerobic and getting a little gummy and wet.

Lots of straw, shredded newspaper, shredded dry leaves, bit and pieces of cardboard. Turning / tumbling compost releases much moisture, make certain there is good air ventilation.
It took me two seasons to realize this and finally last season my tumbler finished. A slow process because of the small amount, it won't heat up as much as a large bin, because there aren't as many microbes

**trolleydriver** 10/28/2016, 3:53 pm

Here is an update on the temperature in the plastic compost bin. I keep adding kitchen scraps to the middle of the pile. The temperature has been in the 10 to 12 Celsius range for the past few days. That is cool but the outside temperature has been much colder (currently 4 Celsius) with overnight temps at or below freezing.

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2911

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2911

**trolleydriver** 11/2/2016, 8:22 pm

The temperature today in the plastic compost bin is 16.4 Celsius.

I am hoping to fill up the new 3x3x3 compost bin in the next few days and will monitor and report on temperatures once it gets started.

I received five more digital thermometers from Hong Kong today. Not sure why I need so many but they are dirt cheap.

**trolleydriver** 11/5/2016, 6:54 pm

The temperature in the plastic bin has risen to 26.2 Celsius (79F). That's 10 degrees Celsius higher than 3 days ago. Not bad considering how cold it has been especially overnight (around freezing). The only thing I have done to this bin is add kitchen scraps every couple of days.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2973

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2973

And now for the temperature in the new 3x3x3 compost bin that was just filled today. Here are the temps at the one-third and halfway marks right after filling the bin.

One-third mark.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2974

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2974

Halfway mark.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2972

**trolleydriver** 11/6/2016, 3:09 pm

After one day there has been a nice rise in temperature in the new bin.

The Upper (middle) reading is 31.3 (up from 17.1) Celsius. The lower (one-third from the bottom) reading is 34.0 (up from 13.2) Celsius. Those temperatures translate into 88.3 and 93.2 Fahrenheit respectively. The current outdoor temperature is 8 Celsius (47 F). I'm happy with the progress.

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2975

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2975

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_2976

**sanderson** 11/6/2016, 4:06 pm

**trolleydriver** 11/7/2016, 9:57 am

After another 19 hours and overnight outdoor temperature well below freezing, the readings are as follows at 10 am today:

Upper thermometer ... 37.9C (100.2F) ... up from 31.3C

Lower thermometer ... 36.2 C (97.2F) ... up from 34.0C

The rate of temperature increase has slowed way down. I'm hoping for more.

Update:

At 12:30 pm the Upper Thermometer is reading 39.1 C. Come on baby get in the 40s Celsius.

I probably should wait another day or two before turning the compost. I'm looking for input from my coach, sanderson.

**trolleydriver** 11/7/2016, 3:35 pm

And here it is ... drum roll please.

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Xmas-drummer-smiley-emoticon

The Upper Thermometer recorded a temperature of 40C (104F) at about the 48 hour mark. Outside temperature when the photo was taken was 14C (57F). Tonight's overnight temp is forecast to be 2C (35.6F).

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3010

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3010

CapeCoddess 11/7/2016, 4:39 pm

Thanks for putting in the F for folks like me who haven't a clue...
Razz

has55 11/7/2016, 5:22 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
Thanks for putting in the F for folks like me who haven't a clue...

+1

yolos 11/7/2016, 8:50 pm

has55 wrote:
CapeCoddess wrote:
Thanks for putting in the F for folks like me who haven't a clue...
+1

+2 I can never remember the formula for conversion. I keep googling it but then I quickly forget it because the conversion formula is not something that is with a noticeable theory behind it. Why 9/5 ths.

**trolleydriver** 11/8/2016, 6:31 pm

This afternoon new pile #1 reached 48.5C (119.3F). Photo shows 48.4C.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3040_zpsrvcotjht

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3040_zpsrvcotjht

And new pile #2 (yes there is another new pile ... see "Second Year SFG in Canada" thread) had a temp of 13.1C (55.6F) immediately after being built.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3043_zpsohlzxosx

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3043_zpsohlzxosx

**trolleydriver** 11/9/2016, 11:59 am

Well things have really taken off in New Bin #1. I put a tarp right on top of the contents and that seems to have slowed down heat loss from the top. This tarp is in addition to the white tarp that is top of the bin but which does not touch the contents.

The temperature at the middle of the pile is now at 56.7C (134.1F). Outside temperature is 5C (41F).
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3044-001_zpsefmgns6e

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3044-001_zpsefmgns6e

Lower down in the pile it's a bit cooler at 47.6C (117.7F).
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3045-001_zpscpnkg0vp

And New Bin #2 is at 23.8C (74.8F).
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3046-001_zpsfo62fkps

UPDATE: 2 hours later temp in New Bin #1 has gone from 56.7 to 58.7C (137.7F). Very Happy

**trolleydriver** 11/9/2016, 4:26 pm

And now another milestone ... 60.1C (140.2F). Outside temp 4C (39.2F). I'll have to turn the contents of this bin tomorrow.

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3050_zpsar7nyx29

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3050_zpsar7nyx29

**sanderson** 11/10/2016, 3:56 am

Yep

**trolleydriver** 11/10/2016, 11:09 am

This morning's temps.

New Bin #1 at mid point and lower down in the bin. I'll be turning this bin before the next readings.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3018

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3018

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3017

New Bin #2 at mid point.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 Img_3016

**trolleydriver** 11/11/2016, 9:34 am

I turned the compost in New Bin #1 yesterday. The temperature at 4 pm (just after turning) was 20C (68F). This morning at around 9:30 am (17.5 hours after turning) the temperature inside the pile stands at 36.5C (97.7F). I was hoping for a higher temperature by now. The outdoor temperature is 3C (38F) and very windy. The white tarp cover on top of the bin had blown off in the wind which may have resulted in some heat loss. I need to build a better and more permanent top for the bin.

UPDATE 1: 4.5 hours later.

Temp in New Bin #1 is up to 44.4C (111.9F) ... lookin' good
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3076_zpsuodjfbt4

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3076_zpsuodjfbt4

Temp in New Bin #2 is up into a nice range. Now sitting at 54.8C (130.6F) Not sure if I will bother turning this bin. May just let it cook for a while and then let is cool off for the winter.
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3075_zpslaa4xh2l

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3075_zpslaa4xh2l

UPDATE 2:
As of 4 pm (24 hours from turning) New Bin #1 is now up to 48.1C (118.6F).
rock on

**sanderson** 11/11/2016, 3:27 pm

Maybe at least a couple of turns for #2 so everything gets a rotation?

**trolleydriver** 11/12/2016, 11:07 am

Temperatures recorded today at around 11:00 am.

New Bin #1 - It's at a nice 61C (141.8F) already. Soon to be turned again if I find time. I would say that so far this 3x3x3 bin has been a success.

New Bin #2 - Up slightly to 55.4C (131.7F). I'll probably let this one cook for a few more days before turning it.

**trolleydriver** 11/13/2016, 4:48 pm

Temperatures recorded around mid afternoon today (Sunday).

The outside ambient temperature was about 9C (48F).

New Bin #1 - I took the tarp off the bin and realized that I had placed another digital thermometer in the compost but the wire was not long enough to reach the outside of the bin so I had forgotten it was there. Incredibly the reading on this thermometer was 66.9C (152.4F). The temp reading on the other thermometer (the one where the screen was outside the bin and where the probe was a little lower in the compost) read 62.8C (145F). After these readings were taken the compost was turned and the temp reading after turning was 26.4C (79.5F).

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3085_zps3gtf1bdb

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3085_zps3gtf1bdb

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3084_zpsaruxrcdq

compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3094_zpsli0n25ls

New Bin #2 was reading 57.1C (134.8F).
compost thermometer - TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 4 IMG_3083_zpsdjsbchjc

**sanderson** 11/14/2016, 1:35 am

Wow! Some hot temps.

**trolleydriver** 11/14/2016, 11:33 am

sanderson wrote:Wow! Some hot temps.

Is it too hot?

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