OK, an UPDATE on the heater thing.
I have completed my weather station heater. The cost came to about $35.00. $12.00 for the transformer plug, ( wall wart). $10.00 for the power resistor. $2.50 for the thermostat and the rest to miscellaneous,
fiber board and the terminal block (rat-shack). I had the stay-cons and the 4-40 mch. screws. One should be able to build the same for $40-45.00 if you buy everything + any S/H. Pretty fair price as to $175.00.
The power resistor is Philco 25 OHM and I believe about 45 watts. It's just over 4" long and 1/2" in diameter. It has attachment tabs although not shown in the photos because I have it bent over to distance it from the cone.
The core temperature reaches 450* F.
The thermostat I got on eBay. Low end is about 85*F and it opens at 115*F. The power transformer plugs are also available on eBay.
I did make a pattern as shown in a post in this thread, however I used thin bubble wrap and put aluminum foil on each side, just thought that would be better. (I did use silver duct tape.)
I setup the transformer plug with the end of a cutoff extension cord. In the weather station, is the other end attached to the heater. I will just plug the (wall wart) in an outlet in the garage and run a longer extension to the pug on the weather station heater in the colder months when needed. No fancy on and off switch.
Some photos below: The rain gauge housing with the insulation installed. The (wall Wart) and some photos of the heater installed.
I have two extra Power resistors if any one is interested - $20.00 each plus $2.50 shipping. Send me an email. They are very hard to come by but you can look on eBay.
Hope this helps some.
Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>