Reptile & Amphibian Forums

okay so after planning, getting material, construction, heating and wiring, final touches, and set up, my new enclosures are ready to go and my girls are all moved in!!

here are a few pictures during construction...

this is the wiring process... i have two switches, an on/off for the rope light inside and a dimmer for the heat tape. i when with the suggested power cords as it saved money instead of having to buy romex wire plus all the ends... so the male end of the cord plugs into the wall outlet and feeds both switches.

and here are a few getting them all set up

here is the switch box mounted on the side of each box

and last all moved in!!! the top and bottom are empty, for now that is, and here is what it looks like

ohhh and here is one before picture so you all can see the vast improvement!!!!!!

thats all i have for now let me know what you all think, thanks for looking!
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-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (hopefully)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer-wifey's pooch)
1.0 norm corn (Jake aka grumpy old terdhead)
0.1 col redtail boa (Dixie-my baby girl)
0.1 ball python (Bella- wifey's baby girl)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Saphira)

hopeful for not to distant future:
--Brazilian rainbow boas
2 or 3 more? maybe a breeding trio or two pair
-- something for the wifey... my list got to big...

large buck and/or fishing knives?
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Jeff Kearney
Orlando, FL

1.0.0 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dino)
2.7.0 Bearded Dragons (Too many to name)
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Rex)
2.2.0 Ball Python (Ali, Gator, Para, Medic)
0.1.1 Leopard Gecko (Layla, Nubbs, Iggy)
0.2.0 Fat-Tailed Gecko (Penelope, Brownie)
0.0.1 Corn Snake (Not sure yet)
0.0.2 Blue Phase Dumpys Tree Frog (Sticky, Squishy)

lol yeah left the utility knife at work... i have there my Kersha (thats the black one) and the other yes is a Buck.... the Buck knife gets kinda beat up and it hasn't much of an edge so i had to whip out the nice Kershaw
-----
-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (hopefully)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer-wifey's pooch)
1.0 norm corn (Jake aka grumpy old terdhead)
0.1 col redtail boa (Dixie-my baby girl)
0.1 ball python (Bella- wifey's baby girl)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Saphira)

hopeful for not to distant future:
--Brazilian rainbow boas
2 or 3 more? maybe a breeding trio or two pair
-- something for the wifey... my list got to big...

So uh, how are you grounding your switches?

>>So uh, how are you grounding your switches?

Its not actually required in many applications.

Most Neutral and ground lines are tied together anyways, and most appliances aren't grounded now a day's....
-----
Jeremy Payne
Owner
JB Reptile
www.jbreptile.com **Coming Sooner or Later**

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Motley Het Anery **In aquisition**
1.0 Snow "Khal"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Khal" **coming Soon**
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost **coming soon**
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.2 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
2.0 Child

Huh? First, the wire used was used in the wrong application. Code states those switches are to be grounded. You have metal in a non-metallic box, which needs to be grounded. Also, all appliances are grounded, whether through a ground or neutral, depending on whether your looking at 110, or 240 volts with a three or four wire system. If they are not grounded, it was through improper application and ignorance. Point blank, don't let a fire start in that room, because your homeowners will not cover the damage. Even the Fire Marshall can tell that what was done, was done in the wrong application. I'm not trying to be condescending, but I see stuff like this and can't help to think about the fire damage I've seen and had to fix, or the homeowners that were laid up in the hospital for a few days because they touched metal that wasn't grounded. I can find the code references if needed.

Your looking at this from a hardwired structure point of view...

Should he have tied the neutral (polarized) to the grounds of the switch for the small appliance cord Yes. Should he have used 3 prong appliance cord Yes. Are my switches grounded Yes (except old construction prior to 1962) Does NEC aply in this circumstance NO.

Article 380 clearly states Switches used in an Appliance are not required to meet this standard. However switches used in an appliance are required to meet UL 1054.

If your house burns down because the toaster was wired poorly they don't say to bad you bought a bum toaster better luck next time. Its an appliance so long as the house is wired properly your still relativly safe.

Its not a fight I would ever want to be in, but NEC doesn't apply to appliances. Reptile enclosure applications would never meet UL requirements anyways.

Cheers
-----
Jeremy Payne
Owner
JB Reptile
www.jbreptile.com **Coming Sooner or Later**

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Motley Het Anery **In aquisition**
1.0 Snow "Khal"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Khal" **coming Soon**
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost **coming soon**
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.2 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
2.0 Child

the way i see it is the wire i used is recommended for use with heat tape all i did was cut in a switch, same thing with the lighting. there are plenty of dome lights and lamps and other tings around the house with inline switches that arnt grounded. yeah the switch i used was different but it doing the same thing. i dont know about all the codes but i have a hard time imagining that the way i did it is that horrible wrong....
-----
-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (hopefully)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer-wifey's pooch)
1.0 norm corn (Jake aka grumpy old terdhead)
0.1 col redtail boa (Dixie-my baby girl)
0.1 ball python (Bella- wifey's baby girl)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Saphira)

hopeful for not to distant future:
--Brazilian rainbow boas
2 or 3 more? maybe a breeding trio or two pair
-- something for the wifey... my list got to big...

Should he have tied the neutral (polarized) to the grounds of the switch for the small appliance cord Yes. Should he have used 3 prong appliance cord Yes. Are my switches grounded Yes (except old construction prior to 1962) Does NEC aply in this circumstance NO.

so the ground on the switch should be tied in with the neutral? thats something the i could do easy enough... other wise i could even get the 3 wire cord and pull the other one out, i would rather not because its more work and would be a pain but i can do that if need be
-----
-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (hopefully)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer-wifey's pooch)
1.0 norm corn (Jake aka grumpy old terdhead)
0.1 col redtail boa (Dixie-my baby girl)
0.1 ball python (Bella- wifey's baby girl)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Saphira)

hopeful for not to distant future:
--Brazilian rainbow boas
2 or 3 more? maybe a breeding trio or two pair
-- something for the wifey... my list got to big...

>>so the ground on the switch should be tied in with the neutral? thats something the i could do easy enough... other wise i could even get the 3 wire cord and pull the other one out, i would rather not because its more work and would be a pain but i can do that if need be

Its all how you see things...if you consider the enclosure as an appliance you really don't have to do anything.

Appliance manufactures have been encouraged to build appliances to the same code. UL has recommended that the use of a polarized plug be paramount. The polarized plug does nothing more than orient the "Hot" and "Neutral" so that no matter what configuration the electrical system the appliance will operate. For example some appliance only work one direction if you reverese the current the appliance may be damaged or not operate at all by isolating a dedicated "Hot" prong on 2 wire cords they eliminated this danger. Also some appliances don't allow the case to float and one of the wires may be bonded to the case, in the event the plug was reversed you would get a shocking experiance.

In many updated 2 wire systems where no 3 wire ground is provided many electricians have wired the neutral to the outlet or switch ground. No this isn't the best way and its like running a garden hose to a fire truck. Yeah it does a job just not well. The danger is that you eliminate the 3 wire which is inplace for safety.

We ground the outlet so in the event the "Hot" wire comes in contact with the outlet itself, the user doesn't create the path to ground.

Again I see this as an appliance not a hardwired facility, so NEC doesn't apply. In regards to the switches, they are being used outside their intent, had you used appliance switches or dimmers there would be no ground.

In the future I would run a three wire cord and ground my switches.

Cheers
-----
Jeremy Payne
Owner
JB Reptile
www.jbreptile.com **Coming Sooner or Later**

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Motley Het Anery **In aquisition**
1.0 Snow "Khal"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Khal" **coming Soon**
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost **coming soon**
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.2 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
2.0 Child

Come on people, 9 replys and not 1 " hey cages look great" Alot of time must have gone into the planning, cutting and assembly. On a seperate note. Are those cages built seperate and just stacked. What are the dimensions and what kind of wood did you use? I ask because im looking for ideas to build my own....oh and hey, cages look great.

ohhh hey THANKS!! sorry for a late response havent been around in a while. and yes allot of time has gone into planning, months actually... i had the idea to finally build back in, i dont know, december.

to answer your questions they are 5 separate boxes stacked. the exterior dimensions are the ever so popular 4'long by 2' deep and i went with 16" tall

the material i used is MDF (medium density fiberboard) it has a melamine veneer with maple wood grain, similar to what you see in most inexpensive furniture like desks and entertainment cabinets.

i used this for a few reasons, one being i work at a cabinet shop and could have it ordered through work. but mostly because the MDF doesnt warp like plywood. i also hate painting and staining, and the melamine doesnt need anything, plus it is waterproof, very durable, and easy to clean... not to mention pretty cheap... really the only negitive i have to say is that yes it is pretty heavy, 93lbs for a 4'x8' sheet, and it take a sheet for one box. so my 5 box stack is close to 500lbs.

so if your looking to build yourself there are allot of great ideas floating around here. when it comes down to it yes i did spend more than i planned on, but even still to buy the same thing from boamaster for example would have been a couple hundred more, then worry about shipping. and anything in plastic is much more than that still, so i always say to those who have the tools available and to skills just go for it!
-----
-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (hopefully)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer-wifey's pooch)
1.0 norm corn (Jake aka grumpy old terdhead)
0.1 col redtail boa (Dixie-my baby girl)
0.1 ball python (Bella- wifey's baby girl)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Saphira)

hopeful for not to distant future:
--Brazilian rainbow boas
2 or 3 more? maybe a breeding trio or two pair
-- something for the wifey... my list got to big...