Question for Robo hive temp data

[Kev]

Robo,

If I remember correctly you were collecting some very interesting hive temp data using a remote thermometer.

I was wondering if you would update us that. We had some pretty cold temps about a week ago. I'm only a little to your north. I'm particularly interested in difference the heaters made in extremely cold weather. I'd love to see a plot of outdoor vs hive temp. (Even better would be to have it with a control hive.)

I made some hive heaters myself and have had them on the hives. They like to think they are helping.

Kev

[Robo]

Kev,


I've been sick and haven't had a chance to look at the data yet.  Soon as I get back in the swing of things and get caught up I'll share the data I have.

Rob....

[Kev]

Sorry to hear, hope you're feeling better soon.

kev

[Robo]

Kev,

Here is what I have.  I don't think it answers your question on heaters as I don't have a non-heated to compare.  Both of these hives had their heaters turned on sometime in January (I guess I have a variable problem somewhere, so the heater status doesn't show on the graph, hopefully next year).   About all it shows is the poly hive is ~10degrees warmer than the wooden hive. 

[Kev]

The whole thing's pretty interesting. On average about 27 degrees gained at the top of the poly hive from having the heater on and about 18 in the middle. 18 degrees is a lot in the winter and could really make a difference in a colony's ability to get to stores.

I was thinking about for a control to set the heater up in an empty super so you could cancel out the heat generated by the bees and just figure out how much you were gaining from heaters alone.

I also found your max and minimum outside temp interesting, too. I thought the swings would be greater. I can remember at least one day when we were at least 60, and we've hit -10 degrees F at least once during that time period.

Thanks for sharing the data.

kev

[Cindi]

Rob, this is a prime example of how I cannot understand certain concepts, I looked at your graph, and let me tell you, it looks like something from an alien planet, not of our earthly world.

When you have some time and it comes to your mind, tell us on the forum what everything means, in simple language, stuff that I can understand.  I think that what you are doing is very cool, and I get the gist that the poly hive is doing much better with heat stuff, which will cause earlier spring build up, tell us the story one day. Have a beautiful and wonderful life, livin' and learnin'.  Cindi