Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I received my Kane heat mat today, unfortunately I can't finish setting everything up due to a "snag"...

The warning tag says you are not to cover the heat pad with wood chips, debris etc. for risk of fire and voiding the warranty.

Well it would have been A LOT NICER TO KNOW THIS BEFORE I ORDERED IT! Obviously this warning is to cover Kane from any legalities should a fire ever start due to irresponsible use of their mat.

The pad I bought is 18x18" and is 42 watts (the less powerful of the eighteen inch models). So it really shouldn't get too hot. I can always purchase a rheostat should over-heating become a concern.

Who else is using a Kane mat? Have you ever covered it with aspen mulch and had any problems?

Thanks guys!

As soon as this is figured out I can set the enclosure up and post some pics. Freshly built furniture style cabinet for a ball python.

Kane heatmats are already encased in plastic as you know. Further insulation (like under wood chips) adds to the internal heat.

This is not a "Kane" problem persay, it is just physics. And they have to protect themselves as you stated.

I also have an 18x18 Kane which I have used and abused for years. Awesome heat mats. Perfect for big snakes that pass alot of urates, because you don't worry about moisture around the heat mat. You made a great choice!

#1 - Use a dimmer. My advice is to get one right now, not later.

#2 - Although I've never had mine start a fire when under newspaper substrate or on wood chips, I never really buried the heater more than just barely below the surface of chips. I mean, where the red was still showing in some places.

#3 - The design and plastic covering lends itself to being used on the surface, and on the surface you can use a dimmer to control it. If you do want to bury it, then you will need to get a thermostat and attach the probe securely to the heater center. This way, you can keep the temperature of the heater under the wood chips to a safe level.

IMO, it takes quite high temps to ignite even dry pine chips, way higher than herp-related temps. So, if you use the tools to keep the heat pad at herp-related temps well below the ignition point of wood, then no problem. That is up to you to decide and implement. My advice remains to keep it on the surface.
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Mark

Hey Mark.

How easy is the mat to clean? What if a large snake relieves itself right on the mat?

B.

I had a large kane heat mat under a large sulcata for 6-8 years in his cold spot. If a sulcata can't wreck it, a snake can't either. He peed on it, trampled it, slept on it, it was constantly covered with dry grass hay, etc. No problems.

Replied to my own message, don't bury it on purpose. You can't regulate the temp then, as the heat can build up, and the snake can push away the insulation and burn himself. Get a dimmer and don't bury it, and it will work famously.