Using Radiant Heat Panels

[Mikoh4792]

Where do you place your probes? I'm not sure if I should mount my thermostat probe to the wall since I have an RBI and the actual panel which produces heat will be an inch or so away from the walls. Does heat from a radiant heat panel radiate straight down or does it radiate outwards as well?

Also for snakes that like to bask while perched or off the floor(my carpets) where would a good place be to place the probe?

[rocknhorse76]

Hmmm, that's a good question since you'd want the floor to be up to temp, but wouldn't want the upper basking area to get too hot either. I'd say that you'd want to mount the probe down low under the RHP so that the floor area gets up to 90 or so. That would give the snake the option to bask up at the higher temp area as well. How far off the floor are you planning on putting the elevated basking area?

[Mikoh4792]

Hmmm, that's a good question since you'd want the floor to be up to temp, but wouldn't want the upper basking area to get too hot either. I'd say that you'd want to mount the probe down low under the RHP so that the floor area gets up to 90 or so. That would give the snake the option to bask up at the higher temp area as well. How far off the floor are you planning on putting the elevated basking area?

Well that's going to depend really on what kind of branches I use for the new enclosure. I will housing my almost juvie carpets(still under a year old) in 2x2x2's so I'll just put a bunch of branches in there so that the highest basking spot will be a few inches under the heat panel.

The thing is, I don't know if placing the probe on the wall will work since the panel looks like this http://www.reptilebasics.com/images/products/thumbs/rhp28.jpg so the actual heating panel will be about 1-2 inches away from the wall. This won't be a problem if the heat radiates outwards http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb300/20070503/Light-Beam-Projector-304590.jpg

but if it radiates straight downwards like a beam than the probe would only be controlling the residual heat a few inches away from the actual heating area.

I don't have any experience with RHP's so if someone could tell me which way RHP's heat(regarding the methods above) that would help me in knowing where to place my probe.

[rocknhorse76]

This would be some interesting info to know since I also may be doing something similar, albeit larger, in the future for my Argentine boa. I'm kinda thinking that since an RHP produces heat in the form of infrared waves, the heat would be centered directly under the panel. In that case, you'd want the probe directly under the panel as well.

[Mikoh4792]

This would be some interesting info to know since I also may be doing something similar, albeit larger, in the future for my Argentine boa. I'm kinda thinking that since an RHP produces heat in the form of infrared waves, the heat would be centered directly under the panel. In that case, you'd want the probe directly under the panel as well.

This is where it gets a little tricky for me. If that's the case then I need to place it so it wouldn't move out of place in enclosures for my larger snakes. Not only that My small snakes don't like to get near the probe for some reason so I would only be taking up basking space if I put it directly under the panel.

[Mikoh4792]

no one can chime in?

[Amadeus]

All i have to say is they are to expensive for what you get. lol I must be cheap

[Mikoh4792]

All i have to say is they are to expensive for what you get. lol I must be cheap

They last a long time though.

[Amadeus]

They last a long time though.

My CHE has been running fine for a year and I keep it on all the time.

It was purchased on the cheap too =] =]

[Mikoh4792]

My CHE has been running fine for a year and I keep it on all the time.

It was purchased on the cheap too =] =]

I meant long as in 10+ years. The RBI rhp has a 10 year warranty.

[Terranaut]

I have the same panels. They radiate slightly to the side but mainly down. You can actually touch these while they are on. I have a jcp enclosure with one of these (80watt in a 4x2x4) and my perch is about a foot from the panel. It keeps a nice 96ºish. The heat gradiant is not so much side to side as up to down. I have my probe directly below the panel about 1/2 way down the rear wall. I set my temp by checking the surface of the perch and the bottom corner which is sitting around 80ish. My thermostat is set at 85º. Hope that helps a bit.

[Mikoh4792]

I have the same panels. They radiate slightly to the side but mainly down. You can actually touch these while they are on. I have a jcp enclosure with one of these (80watt in a 4x2x4) and my perch is about a foot from the panel. It keeps a nice 96ºish. The heat gradiant is not so much side to side as up to down. I have my probe directly below the panel about 1/2 way down the rear wall. I set my temp by checking the surface of the perch and the bottom corner which is sitting around 80ish. My thermostat is set at 85º. Hope that helps a bit.

I was planning on using an 80 watt in a 4x2x2 for my carpets too so that gives me an idea. Where do you find branches for enclosures that big? I don't have driftwood or trees that large around my area.

[Terranaut]

I currently use an oak dinning chair and a bar stool. My smaller carpet has pvc pipes in his enclosure.