heat panel question - Page 2

SnoopySnake · 03-10-17, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

Also bought a 3' x 18" x 20" boaphile cage at the same time. We currently have a UTH as the heating source, and the hot side gets around 88 F, cold gets around 75 F. We have our columbian rainbow in that one. it doesn't seem like it's heating well though. Any advice on that would be greatly appreciated.!

Are you using a thermostat for this? UTH can get very hot, 88 is even pushing it for a rainbow boa....I keep mine with a hot spot of 84 and the rest of the cage is ambient temp (around 75). Don't have anything to add about the heat panels, just don't want to see anything happen to your snake

Skipper7 · 03-10-17, 02:18 PM

Gybeetle-

I believe you mentioned that keeping cool is your issue. Not sure if you're talking about cages or yourself. If cages, a thermostat will help with this.

GyGbeetle · 03-10-17, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper7

Gybeetle-

I believe you mentioned that keeping cool is your issue. Not sure if you're talking about cages or yourself. If cages, a thermostat will help with this.

Myself. the snakes that aren't in quarantine stay in our bedroom. I overheat and get sick from heat, but the snake's temps all stay on par. I don't really care about my own needs if the animals are ok. I might have to change that sentiment sooner though. We're looking into building a snake room over the next 2 years, after we do everything else we need to do.

We are going to upgrade everything and it will all have thermostats.

GyGbeetle · 03-10-17, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

I prefer pro product panels because they are safety tested UL ULC CE listed. Which means they have to meet industry standards of safety. Up here the law requires that all products be tested. The USA does not have such a law as a result most US based companies might not test their products for the small Canadian market. That being said in the pet trade up here it's still easy to buy untested equipment locally in chain stores. BUT lets say in the terrible case something shorts and burns your house to the ground and the cause is what is essentially an illegal product your insurance company will be giving a wave goodbye (you can fill in the rest). There was a news story out west years ago about an aquarium heater that shorted and caught fire. Luckily the person was home at the time. It was purchased at a Big Als I believe which is a popular aquarium store chain.

So for my personal piece of mind and insurance reasons I stick with tested equipment. I know many members have used RBI for years without an issue.

As for their website that is done on purpose to prevent people ordering the wrong panels. Bob told me people kept ordering the wrong panels. They make such a range of sizes and wattage. Bob has told me this himself. I've talked to him many times. Email or call him, he'll ask you questions on what cage, material, animal it's for, ambient room temp etc and recommend the model number of the right panel and give you the cost no problem.

Is there any sort of sensor or power strip or plug in device that can prevent a short, and turn the product off if there's any arching or electrical issues? I'd care less about the insurance (yes, it would suck to have to rebuild a burnt down house), and more about the pets I'd be losing.

trailblazer295 · 03-10-17, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

Is there any sort of sensor or power strip or plug in device that can prevent a short, and turn the product off if there's any arching or electrical issues? I'd care less about the insurance (yes, it would suck to have to rebuild a burnt down house), and more about the pets I'd be losing.

Most power bars are designed to protect devices from power surges coming from the outside in not shorts in circuits. That's what the breakers/fuses in your power panel do. But circuit breakers aren't designed to save appliances they protect the wiring from overheating. Even a single arc could light something on fire in theory so even shutting power off after that it's like blowing out the match after your campfire is going. A good surge bar that will trip if over amped is the only product I'm aware of. That's really all you can do outside of not overloading circuits, too many plugs in one bar etc.

Big_V · 03-10-17, 03:00 PM

Pro Products (promist@comcast.net) That is Bobs contact, he will talk your ear off but is the man when it comes to these products. He came up with these after losing a cabin in a large fire years ago. Ive been using these since I a teenager and my first unit still looks brand new 15 years later.

There is no comparison in having peace of mind your investments are safe and secured with tested products. I do also believe Bob ramps up the power to extremely high levels to test each unit before it leaves his place.

Most good thermostats have fuses on them and you can by replacements.

Dont mess around with inferior products that use flexwatt, here in BC Canada there was a very large law suit against them.

Ryan

chairman · 03-10-17, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

to me, UTH means Under-the-Tank, which is exactly that; underneath the tank, on the outside. I do not trust having these mats inside the tanks, even the ones that specify being safe inside tanks.

None of the heat mats that I posted are UTH. (Although all of Zoo Med's repti therm products are UTH except for the one I linked.) The top two products were originally designed as heat sources for pigs/other livestock so they're tough and very water/filth resistant.

That said, I only use the mats for tortoises. They could be used within wood or PVC enclosures for larger snakes, but I'd go with the majority here recommending the use of RHP mounted on the ceiling of an enclosure. I've got a cage upgrade coming in the near future and I'll be going with UL (or similar) listed RHP.

GyGbeetle · 03-10-17, 08:11 PM

What do people think about the belly heat that you can get with AP cages? I was thinking of going with those when we're ready to upgrade. But I'm now completely freaking out about a fire.

trailblazer295 · 03-13-17, 01:24 PM

Sorry for the delay.

This is my snake pit, well really most of my basement. The exo terra far left is empty waiting to be sold and small PVC top right is empty awaiting new inhabitant.

This is my setup with probe and temp sensor. Now keep in mind this probe placement was when I had a smaller panel but found it couldn't heat my cage properly so I had to upgrade unfortunately the new panel was almost exactly 2' long and the cage is just under 2' with the PVC edges so I had no choice but mount it the other way. I will most likely need to remount the probes and play around with it.

This is the link I used to set my probes up. In my smaller cage it was perfect but the panel is this cage couldn't heat up enough so some playing around will be needed. Assuming your heater is powerful enough to achieve the temperatures you need this should work.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...snake-viv.html

GyGbeetle · 03-14-17, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Sorry for the delay.

This is my snake pit, well really most of my basement. The exo terra far left is empty waiting to be sold and small PVC top right is empty awaiting new inhabitant.

This is my setup with probe and temp sensor. Now keep in mind this probe placement was when I had a smaller panel but found it couldn't heat my cage properly so I had to upgrade unfortunately the new panel was almost exactly 2' long and the cage is just under 2' with the PVC edges so I had no choice but mount it the other way. I will most likely need to remount the probes and play around with it.

This is the link I used to set my probes up. In my smaller cage it was perfect but the panel is this cage couldn't heat up enough so some playing around will be needed. Assuming your heater is powerful enough to achieve the temperatures you need this should work.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...snake-viv.html

thank you Trail for the info! this is greatly appreciated.

So, are you Canadian? Hahaha. just kidding. that's a really great setup you have. Wish I had the space to have a room dedicated to the animals, but I have kids

trailblazer295 · 03-14-17, 11:17 AM

I have a needy cat that will moan and whine until she gets what she wants. Does that count?

GyGbeetle · 03-14-17, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

I have a needy cat that will moan and whine until she gets what she wants. Does that count?

It doesn't unless you've given her an entire room all to herself because she moans and whines and complained until you gave it to her. Then shame on you for caving into the cat overlord; this is why they are evil!

Scubadiver59 · 03-14-17, 01:25 PM

I had to look up your second flag...the England Flag...due to my lack of knowledge. Learn something new every day

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Sorry for the delay.

This is my snake pit, well really most of my basement. The exo terra far left is empty waiting to be sold and small PVC top right is empty awaiting new inhabitant.