Rhp

[pdomensis]

Has anyone ever tried a non pet specific RHP, like for heating under a desk? I saw some on eBay for a bit cheaper than pet based ones.

[KORBIN5895]

Link please.

[Mikoh4792]

you mean something like this?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41KMqUU5lgL.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71kVx-vDS%2BL._SL1500_.jpg

[metalcopper]

I looked at those too. There are some on there for as low as $39.00. They are 150w I think. My question on them is: Do they mount to the ceiling easily? Does the 150w compare to the wattage listed for the reptile specific ones, or is there a difference in how the heat is distributed? I guess we'll never know unless somebody actually buys one and tests it out. They're not too expensive, so it might be worth a try.

[KORBIN5895]

I know a guy that used a 4'² one in a massive boa enclosure. It was designed for a bathroom ceiling .

[LarryS]

Here is one from Target. I wonder if they stock them in the stores?

Cozy Legs Radiant Heater Panel - Beige : Target (http://www.target.com/p/cozy-legs-radiant-heater-panel-beige/-/A-10803357)

[metalcopper]

LarryS, you're the creative one here, how would you safely mount that to the ceiling in a cage?

[LarryS]

LarryS, you're the creative one here, how would you safely mount that to the ceiling in a cage?

Lol, there are so many creative people here!

The one I linked to from Target has a statement in the mounting instructions limiting it to vertical mounting orientation only. I have a feeling that is because of the adhesive tape mounting system that it uses, but it bothers me nonetheless.

The only way to know how these could be mechanically fastened to a cage ceiling would be to have one in hand see what we could come up with.

I'll have to look at some other models and see if they have the same mounting limitations in the instructions.

[KORBIN5895]

You could use something similar to what the hang mirrors with. Those tabs that pish on the front and have a hole for a screw that would go beside the mirror.

[pdomensis]

Yep, I had the same questions you all brought up. I think mounting is doable (I was thinking vertically for an arboreal set up), but like was mentioned, I'd like to have some clue as to the wattage and how that translates. It might be that with a thermostat and dimmer 150w would be ok. The price would be a steal.

[sharthun]

Yep, I had the same questions you all brought up. I think mounting is doable (I was thinking vertically for an arboreal set up), but like was mentioned, I'd like to have some clue as to the wattage and how that translates. It might be that with a thermostat and dimmer 150w would be ok. The price would be a steal.

Yeah 150w is a lot more power than my RBI rhp's at 40 watts. Interesting thread!

[KORBIN5895]

Wattage is wattage.

[LarryS]

Looking at the Target ad again I noticed that the panel is only available online. I was hoping to get a look at it in person, oh well.

I'm sure some mechanical method could be figured out to mount these panels. The adhesive tape that this one used would never be acceptable inside a cage.

My concern would be the materials used in the manufacture and if any harmful out gassing could occur.

[drumcrush]

My dad and I actually went out on a search to find cozy legs heat panels. Couldn't find any to buy in person, except some hardware store (can't remember which one) but they were all out :/ planning on setting it up in my dads DIY ball python enclosure.

[pdomensis]

Let us know how it works

[Teal]

I can honestly say I have NEVER heard of those contraptions! But I am definitely curious as to whether they work out in an enclosure!

[KORBIN5895]

I can honestly say I have NEVER heard of those contraptions! But I am definitely curious as to whether they work out in an enclosure!

You're kidding right? Search rhp on this site......

[Mikoh4792]

I can honestly say I have NEVER heard of those contraptions! But I am definitely curious as to whether they work out in an enclosure!

Rhp's are in my opinion better than heat lamps for heating reptiles that require hotspots of around 90F.

[sharthun]

Rhp's are in my opinion better than heat lamps for heating reptiles that require hotspots of around 90F.


+1 Very satisfied with mine!

[LarryS]

Well I ordered one.

Amazon.com - Cozy Products CL Cozy Legs Flat Panel Heater - Space Heaters (http://www.amazon.com/Cozy-Products-CL-Panel-Heater/dp/B0009HMFPM/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1391823635&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Heat+panel+cozy+legs)

Looking forward to taking it apart to see what makes it tick.

[metalcopper]

That's cool LarryS, I'm curious to hear what you find. I looked at your build on an rhp you did yourself, I thought about trying it myself sometime. Once you take the Cozy Legs apart, do you think you'll be able to put back together to see how it performs in a cage?

[LarryS]

That's cool LarryS, I'm curious to hear what you find. I looked at your build on an rhp you did yourself, I thought about trying it myself sometime. Once you take the Cozy Legs apart, do you think you'll be able to put back together to see how it performs in a cage?

Hope to be able to put it back together and come up with an easy mounting solution.
I will run it a bit and see how it performs but I don't have a similar sized panel in a different brand to compare it to. Maybe someone that does can volunteer to do the comparison testing once I'm done.

I'm guessing for this price it is going to have an all plastic body. The question is what kind of plastic is it and how safe will it be for reptiles.

[Sharlynn93]

curious to see how this pans out...I want to move to RHP's for all of my snakes, but the price is intimidating!

[sharthun]

curious to see how this pans out...I want to move to RHP's for all of my snakes, but the price is intimidating!

It's worth the intimidation!!! ;) love my RBI rhp's!

[Sharlynn93]

I have one, just haven't put it to use yet...all my enclosures are tanks until we get income tax...building a stockpile! LOL

[sharthun]

I have one, just haven't put it to use yet...all my enclosures are tanks until we get income tax...building a stockpile! LOL

Great isn't it? :D

[LarryS]

My Cozy Legs unit arrived yesterday.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-15.jpg~320x480

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-14.jpg~320x480

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-16.jpg~320x480
I am surprised, it is a metal body, not plastic. Not sure how well this would hold up in a wet environment, but it should be ok in a moderately humid location.

The label says to operate in vertical position only so naturally the first thing I did was set it up and ran it in a horizontal position.
It warmed up quickly to about 120 degrees and then fluctuated between 120 and 140. The thermal break is doing its job, unfortunately 140 degrees is not hot enough to do much in most vivs. I'd like to see 180.

Next I will drill the rivets and see what is inside.

[LarryS]

No surprises.

A layer of insulation, great it's fiberglass, should be non flammable.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-18.jpg~320x480

And then what I was hoping NOT to find. Heat tape.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-19.jpg~320x480

I'll look into the tape and see if I can find any specs on it but this is a deal breaker for me. I do not like heat tape for these applications. The thermal break keeps the element from overheating, but if it fails it is going to burn up the tape.
I quit using heat tape after burning a few up in some testing.
I will only use heat elements that can run at full power and stay well within their maximum operating range.

This things going in the can.

[sharthun]

Thanks for the review!

No surprises.

A layer of insulation, great it's fiberglass, should be non flammable.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-18.jpg~320x480

And then what I was hoping NOT to find. Heat tape.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-19.jpg~320x480

I'll look into the tape and see if I can find any specs on it but this is a deal breaker for me. I do not like heat tape for these applications. The thermal break keeps the element from overheating, but if it fails it is going to burn up the tape.
I quit using heat tape after burning a few up in some testing.
I will only use heat elements that can run at full power and stay well within their maximum operating range.

This things going in the can.

[Mikoh4792]

No surprises.

A layer of insulation, great it's fiberglass, should be non flammable.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-18.jpg~320x480

And then what I was hoping NOT to find. Heat tape.

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v393/inkahootz/Mobile%20Uploads/image-19.jpg~320x480

I'll look into the tape and see if I can find any specs on it but this is a deal breaker for me. I do not like heat tape for these applications. The thermal break keeps the element from overheating, but if it fails it is going to burn up the tape.
I quit using heat tape after burning a few up in some testing.
I will only use heat elements that can run at full power and stay well within their maximum operating range.

This things going in the can.

Awesome, thanks for the review.

So since the actual heat comes from the heat tape, is it still considered "radiant heat"? And would it still be able to heat 6" to a foot of distance as efficiently as other rhps?(those made for reptiles)

[metalcopper]

Thanks for the review, a lot of us were curious about this product and it's good to know that it's not going to work for our purposes.

[LarryS]

Yes, it's still radiant heat no matter what the element is. Almost all heating in the reptile world is radiant heat. Bulbs, mats, panels and CHE's all make radiant heat. Even your cage furniture radiates heat once it is warmed by your primary source.

The efficiency I have no idea. We see claims from one munufacturer claiming to heat with more efficiency than another but really the only way for us to know would be to have both in identical setups and monitor the temps and power consumption on both. The variable here is the way the hearing element is constructed and the surface of the panel. I can say that a rough surface like Pro Panel MAY be more efficient because the bumps create more surface area. On the other hand the rough coating may also create a slight insulating layer hindering emissivity.

The home made panels I made did perform better than the Pro Panels but I did not measure for energy use compared to heat production.

I think this panel would work ok in a low viv, maybe 16" or less in height. My concern would be if the thermal breaker ever failed the thing could overheat and fail. I don't think it could cause a fire or anything because of the metal housing, you would just lose heat. Maybe some smoke too.

I can ship it at your cost if you want to run some trials with it.

[KORBIN5895]

Can I get a link to the thread where you showed how to make one?

[LarryS]

Can I get a link to the thread where you showed how to make one?

I've never actually made a "how to" thread. I did share a link to my photobucket file showing only some pics I took of the project. I do plan on doing a DIY on a simplified version when I get some free time though.

RHP Photos by inkahootz | Photobucket (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/inkahootz/library/RHP?sort=2&page=1)

[KORBIN5895]

Get some free time ;)

Cost per?

[LarryS]

Get some free time ;)

Cost per?

Lol

I really do want to do a DIY on this soon.

As far as the Cozy panel, if anyone can use it, they can have it for the cost of shipping. It was a quick fun little project for me, I just had to know what made it tick.

[pdomensis]

Hey thanks for all the input here. Good information.