Heating large enclosure

[Brently]

Okay so I have a homemade wooden enclosure 8x2x3 roughly. I have a 160 watt RBI heat panel. The heat panel seems to be having a harder time heating the enclosure than it used to. I am trying to find a economical method of supplementing heat to help. I am wondering if heat rope under the substrate would be adequate. I am currently using exo terra plantation soil. My thermostat is a herpstat 2. The enclosure is already built and I would prefer to not have to do any build mods to make this work. Here are some pictures to give an idea of what I am working with.

[Brently]

Couldn't attach all the pictures in one message for some reason.

[Brently]

And one more...

[Jim Smith]

Is there any way that you could put a heat pad under the substrate. You could cover the heat pad with a 1/2 inch piece of finished plywood to prevent you animal from coming in direct contact with the heat pad and potentially getting burned. Just a thought.

[Brently]

I could use a heat pad. The bottom of the tank is 3/4" plywood. How well does heat penetrate through that? It seems to me that it would be too thick. I have. Temp probe that I can put on the mat/tape/rope to keep it from getting too hot. Just trying to see what a good option is. If heat will penetrate the wood then I have a ceramic bulb that I can place under the enclosure in the storage compartment to heat the floor. Would this work?

[Mikoh4792]

How about another heat panel?

What are you housing in there? Maybe you just need to build a shelf or some sort to create a hotspot in an elevated area.

[Brently]

I'm housing a 6' RTB. Another heat panel isn't exactly economical. I have an elevated basking area. I am just having a hard time keeping ambient temps up on the floor. She doesn't really climb to bask much anyhow. I really think heating the floor would be the best method for me. Maybe not. I think the height of the inside space is the problem. My heat source is just so far away from the floor. My bad in the design. I will try the ceramic bulb from under the tank if you think it would heat the floor.

[Moreau]

I bet if you put a hide on that raised basking shelf she would use it. A ceramic heat bulb under the tank sounds dangerous to me. What is the current ambient on the floor?

[franks]

I think insulating foam boards on top and behind would help alot. In my opinion the best way to heat large enclosures is through putting heating elements on slate under the substrate. Slate hold heat well and will help warm the dirt up. As long as you foam board the top so it can't escape I think you will be able to raise temps a little. Don't underestimate slate man. I make the whole back wall out slate to heat enclosure s

[BobbyDD]

How about dropping the ceiling down about 18 inches just where the heat panel's mounted? That should help a lot. Nice looking enclosure.

[Brently]

I think insulating foam boards on top and behind would help alot. In my opinion the best way to heat large enclosures is through putting heating elements on slate under the substrate. Slate hold heat well and will help warm the dirt up. As long as you foam board the top so it can't escape I think you will be able to raise temps a little. Don't underestimate slate man. I make the whole back wall out slate to heat enclosure s

I have thought about insulating the inside but I am just not able to do that right now. I do plan on it though.

[Brently]

How about dropping the ceiling down about 18 inches just where the heat panel's mounted? That should help a lot. Nice looking enclosure.

How exactly should I drop the ceiling without making it look like garbage now that the tank is finished?

[BobbyDD]

How exactly should I drop the ceiling without making it look like garbage now that the tank is finished?

Just build a box the same size as the heater from the ceiling down 18 inches and finish it like you did the rest of it.

[sgtsnake]

Yea most enclosures are 6 x18 X2. You only want about 18 inches from the floor to the heat. I have a radient heat panel and it worked perfect at 18 inches. 2 feet is too high

[bigsnakegirl785]

I use a CHE on the opposite end myself. The CHE is actually less dying than the RHP is and heats way better. The RHP is 120 watts and the CHE is 75 watts. My enclosure is 3ft high and I'm still able to maintain an 88F hot side and 80-85F cool side.

[Brently]

I use a CHE on the opposite end myself. The CHE is actually less dying than the RHP is and heats way better. The RHP is 120 watts and the CHE is 75 watts. My enclosure is 3ft high and I'm still able to maintain an 88F hot side and 80-85F cool side.

How do you keep your snake from climbing up to the CHE and burning itself? Could you send a picture so I can get an idea of how it would look?

[bigsnakegirl785]

How do you keep your snake from climbing up to the CHE and burning itself? Could you send a picture so I can get an idea of how it would look?

I have the CHE bulb inside a metal cage to keep him from touching the bulb. The cage is cool to the touch, so he won't burn himself on it.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Cloud/IMG_2706_zpsfce05d8b.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Cloud/IMG_2706_zpsfce05d8b.jpg.html)

It's in front of a fluorescent light in case you're wondering. It doesn't produces heat, and I only turn it on when I work in his enclosure or I take him out. I let the sunlight that comes in dictate his day/night cycles.