Hello,
I think i have most of the plans I need for a wood cage that I am planning on building... My only question is about the lighting. How do I fix the lighting inside? Do I somehow attach the dome lights to the top? Are dimmer switches easy to figure out? Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Kate
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cage lighting question
desaix
Nov 26, 2003 10:59 AM
Replies (3)
markg
Nov 26, 2003 03:16 PM
One method is to install round metal outlet boxes (the outdoor type) and attach ceramic lamp bases to those. Then, use spotlights or heaters that direct heat down. The wiring takes a little know-how but isn't hard with the available wire nuts and wire you can get from Home Cheapo or wherever. You can buy wire bulb guards from Big Apple or Creative Pet Supply. See the suppliers section on kingsnake.com.
drdoolittle
Nov 26, 2003 04:13 PM
If you intend to harness the heat from the light and have it inside the cage, you can follow the advice in the other post...especially the part about the guard so your animal doesn't get burned.
If you just want light, you can get a flourescent fixture that's totally encased at Home Depot and it screws right into the top of your wooden cage.
Good luck!!
boscoman76
Nov 28, 2003 08:16 PM
with lighting I usually cut holes in the top of the cage put screen on the inside of the whole and mount the lights to the hole. This works if you do not want to stack. If you want to stack build a wood box with the top and bottom open that will hold the light. Mount the box to the inside of the cage and install a screen over the open end of the box.
Dimmer switches are easy. Every 120 volt product ie lights, heat lamp, and heat tape has at least two wires, some have a third green wire for ground, but most do not. Take one of the two wires and cut it. Seperate it from the other wire both toward the plug and away from the plug about 8". Strip off 1/4" off each end of the cut wire.
The dimmer switch will have 3 wires. Usually two black and one green. Don't worry about the green (unless the device you are connecting has a green) if so then you will connect green to green. Connect one of the black wires to one end of the cut wire and connect the other end to the other black wire. You should be up and running. Feel free to email with questions.
tom
xtremeherps@yahoo.com
