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Is there considered to be a maximum safe temperature of a heat element surface when in use for snakes?

>>Is there considered to be a maximum safe temperature of a heat element surface when in use for snakes?

Anything above basking surface temps....

My 2 Cents
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

>>Anything above basking surface temps....

I don't think I understand your answer.

I am referring to the surface of an radiant heat panel used in an arboreal cage. I am seeing over 30 degrees in temp drop in a 5 inch distance. I can of course reduce this drop by increasing my room temps, but then I lose my gradient.

I read surface temps of about 120 degrees in order to achieve a basking temp of 85. Room temp is 78. This seems really hot, and it gets hotter if the room temp drops.

Q: Is there considered to be a maximum safe temperature of a heat element surface when in use for snakes?

A: Anything above basking surface temps....

Meaning anything above what the snake would bask on should be considered potentially dangerous. A snake basking on a rock in the middle of the day won't be lying on a surface with temps exceeding 150°. As an example if the basking spot for a snake is acceptable in the range from 95° - 105° anything above 105° becomes potentially hazardous.

Who makes your RHP? Homemade? If so your seeing on of the biggest reason's many homemade setups don't work as well. It's hard getting a panel that heats good but is safe to the touch like Pro Products. Of course there is the efficiency aspect as well.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

An RHP surface temp of 120 deg is not dangerous. I think a person can easily touch 180 deg for 10 seconds and not get tissue damage at all.

And, since RHP's are on the ceiling, a snake can't rest on them. The most it can do is a tongue flick and a nose bump, and even 180 deg won't do damage in those scenarios.

Measure the surface of a light bulb on a dimmer. I did this. 120 deg was nothing. I could lay my hand on that for a long time. Even 140 deg was no problem. When it hurt bad was over 240 deg. The stuff I do for fun.
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Mark

Thanks Mark and Jeremy.

I had to laugh when I read your reply Mark, I was doing the same thing with a light bulb the other day.