led

[sickvenom]

has anyone used led lights in their snake cages? i thought about using led lights in the cages i'm getting ready to build - they're cheap, low profile, energy efficient and easy to install. this would be for daytime lighting.

[infernalis]

Yes Matt, I have and do use LED. lamps.

I only use the ones that have a plastic shell and 24-48 white T5 lamps in them, they produce nearly no heat.

Also if you purchase the 12 volt ones commonly sold all over ebay and China distributors, I use a 12 volt pack transformer like an answering machine comes with, or like sold at radio shack, or even electronics at wal mart, then you can mount the socket openly inside the cage, if the snake wraps around it, no big deal, it cannot burn the snake, low voltage cannot shock the snake, so even if the fool climbs right out of the water bowl wet and goes immediately to the light, no harm done.

like this place where I get mine.

12V DC LED Lights

Don't go by their catalogue prices either.. They operate under a dozen names on ebay and oddly compete with themselves, several "buy it now sites" with various prices, all leading to the same POS warehouse.

look at some of the cool offers on the cheap..

12 volt e27 | eBay

[sickvenom]

no issues using 12v in your home?

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by sickvenom

no issues using 12v in your home?

I'm confused by that question??

I just cut the end off this cord and strip the leads back, then hook it up to the light socket.



Here is a pic from inside my arboreal cage.. with low voltage lighting, my snake is perfectly safe up there. (I turned off the light to take the picture, the glare from the bulb otherwise made it look like crap)

[sickvenom]

Originally Posted by infernalis

I'm confused by that question??

houses are wired for 110v current. 12v is for vehicles. i'm guessing your power adapter has a transformer in it that converts the current to 110v? i'm not an electrician, so i'm not 100% sure. i just know that if you plug in a 12v light to your house outlet, your light will blow or your outlet fuse will blow.

[infernalis]

My house is wired for standard 110/120, plug in the adapter and 12 volts DC comes out the small wire.

Just the same as any small electronic device, like say a laptop computer, a cell phone charger or answering machine.

the bulb gets it's 12 volts, no modifications to my house wiring at all.

[sickvenom]

Never mind. I had thing backwards.

Have you tried wiring it without the ac adapter?

[infernalis]

Like you said, it would blow up the bulb.

Those same bulbs are offered as 110 household current models, but then I would follow standard electrical safety procedures.

The high power CREE lamps get really hot, so if you chose them, guard the bulb from contact with the animals.

I caught a snake wrapped around the light (like in the picture) and the 12 volt idea instantly came to mind after that.

[sickvenom]

Cool. I might try led strips in my next cages.

[infernalis]

Oh that possibility is way cool, get those "groundFX" LED strips that mount under cars and hook them up with the power pack.