Have now 4 such heating cable in a cold frame. Are controlled by a thermostat. Are also on the summer garden outside. So also exposed to the weather, of course, until November under power. 2 This heating cables are already 4 years use no problems. No fragility or otherwise detectable. The best rules over a themostat. (Xavax Universal Thermostat "UT 200" at Amazon) are recommended.