Power outage heat help...

[thebolt]

A hurricane is coming to my area in a couple of days and I'm trying to figure out ways to keep my snake warm without his lights. My first thought was a battery operated outlet but I have no idea if that exists or where to pick one up. Anyone now where to get one or have any alternative solutions?

[TeaNinja]

there's always a generator, although that is a hassle.

[SSSSnakes]

I live where we loose electric in the winter all the time. I have a gas fired heater that does not require electric as back up heat. You can also use a kerosene heater as back up.

[Jay]

I have a propane heater.

[infernalis]

I have a propane heater as well.

for lights you can buy an RV battery at Wal Mart for about 60 bucks, a 200 watt power inverter for another 30, making a nice backup light power system for under $100. (Assuming you own a battery charger, otherwise figure in another $20-30 for a trickle charger.)

I use this, it's silent, I can run cage lighting for 2 days on one charge too.

Do not run heat lamps with this, it will drain the battery fast.

[Snakefood]

Motormaster has a battery pack that all you do is plug into the wall to charge it then plug whatever you want it to power. There are different sizes that store differenr amounts of power. The one we have was $140 and it has never run out of power for us. We used to have it permanently attached to the heating systems of our iguana for when power outages occur.

Hope you and your family get safe thru the storm!!

[Coffee Black]

Shipyourreptiles sells heat packs that will work. However, You will never get them in time. I got hand warmers at ****'s sporting goods yesterday. They are in the, hunting section and the guy will probably have to check the back room for them. I probably won't need them but I grabbed them just in case. I plan to put them in freezer bags and throw them in the normal hotspot if needed.

[infernalis]

Personally I am pumped about installing a full solar/wind system and can kiss the power company goodbye.

If we outfit the house with 12 volt LED and Fluorescent lighting, use only the bare minimum power, then the grid will be irrelevant.

[SpOoKy]

Personally I am pumped about installing a full solar/wind system and can kiss the power company goodbye.

If we outfit the house with 12 volt LED and Fluorescent lighting, use only the bare minimum power, then the grid will be irrelevant.

Sounds a lot like the plan we have going on here :)

[infernalis]

Sounds a lot like the plan we have going on here :)


I figure if we switch to only laptops & flat panel TV, power consumption will drop big time.

found a 12 volt fridge / freezer too.

[shaunyboy]

i use a little calor gas heater to heat the whole room to the required temperature

cheers shaun

[ladyjustice33]

I'm about and hour and a half from Galveston Island and have been hit by Hurricanes Rita, Humberto, Gustav, and Ike.......needless to say, I have two generators :)!!!

[Kiljosh]

Hey posting this from my phone, I'm currently blacked out with no power in Pennsylvania. What I have is just a tupperware container with holes punched in the top. I put a couple small towels down in it and have a temp probe inside. Using the hot hands heat packs underneath the container with it off to one side of it. My little guy seems cozy but be careful when you first open the heat pack they get reaaal hot. I had him out and just chillin on my wrist while I got the system all worked out and seeing what temp it would reach. Which ended up being 105+ with it in the container under the towels!

[SSSSnakes]

I'm in NY and we just got power back on after getting hit with IRENE. This time of year I don't worry to much about heating if the power goes out. The power was lost at 5:30 am and came back on at 11:30 pm. The snake room was 78 degrees. Snakes can take lower temps for short periods of time with no bad effects.

[Coffee Black]

Im in ny as well, albany. We lost power but the reptile room was in the 70s so I didnt worry either. Just the flooding now.... My fiance's sister had to evacuate so we took her three cats in. We currently have SIX cats in the house. Our three and her's. It is a mad house.

[Kiljosh]

I'm posting this for anyone in the future who may read it.

I just got my power back but I learned a lesson. The "air-activated" heat pads with iron in them work but only when exposed to air. If you don't want your snake to get burnt you need to put them under a towel and have it lay on the towel. They will harden instead of being a powder from lack of airflow and their efficiency really drops.

Before the power came on I found a heat pad at CVS pharmacy that is not air activated. It contains Sodium Acetate and Water, you fold the bag and it heats up. Much better for what we need it for.

So yea, little helpful advice there. If you don't wanna have to re-expose the packs every hour or 2 and break them back up into powder go with the sodium based ones.