Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

This is just an update on my most recent efforts to get my new radiant heat panel working up to par.

When I first installed the RHP I mounted it flush to the cieling inside my burm's cage, like so:

This didn't work very well - that is, it just wasn't able to get my burm warm enough. So I installed a layer of foil insulation above the panel and lined the underside of the cage with the insulation. That helped, but only slightly.

So I took on the task of modifying the installation such that I could get the panel itself closer to my burm, while at the same time getting away from the cieling (where I felt it was loosing a significant amount of heat via conduction).

My objective was simple - lower the RHP. My only concern: keep my burm from getting on top of the panel and ripping down.

Here's what I came up with:

I got some 6" 1/4-20 bolts, with nuts and 1" diameter washers for weight distribution, to hang the panel. I then got some black aluminum grill to fence of the perimeter of the panel - thereby keeping him being able to get on top of the panel. Using fencing also allows for rising heat to escape into the cage instead of conducting away through the cieling.

And the results:

See that the heat panel is now just about as low as the light shroud. This setup brings the RHP to about seven inches from my burm when he is directly below it. And the border fencing is quite sturdy (though I admit, I could have done a much better job at making it look good...).

Maybe a different angle shows my handywork better?:

So far I've measuring him as being as warm as 98 degrees (F). That's much better, I'd say. But I'm still not satisfied. That 98 is the absolute warmest spot I could find on him. I think I'd be more comfortable if I could get the max temp up to an even 100-102F.

I'm going to try and think of what else I could do to bump the peak temperature another few degrees. If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions, please share.

Thanks,
- Mark

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NICE JOB!! Very ingenious design and a great way to modify an existing cage (I might follow your lead). Personally, I don't thing you want your temps to go any higher. With those temps, you'll have a nice, gradual thermal gradient for your snake to choose from.

>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>This is just an update on my most recent efforts to get my new radiant heat panel working up to par.
>>
>>When I first installed the RHP I mounted it flush to the cieling inside my burm's cage, like so:
>>
>>This didn't work very well - that is, it just wasn't able to get my burm warm enough. So I installed a layer of foil insulation above the panel and lined the underside of the cage with the insulation. That helped, but only slightly.
>>
>>So I took on the task of modifying the installation such that I could get the panel itself closer to my burm, while at the same time getting away from the cieling (where I felt it was loosing a significant amount of heat via conduction).
>>
>>My objective was simple - lower the RHP. My only concern: keep my burm from getting on top of the panel and ripping down.
>>
>>Here's what I came up with:
>>
>>I got some 6" 1/4-20 bolts, with nuts and 1" diameter washers for weight distribution, to hang the panel. I then got some black aluminum grill to fence of the perimeter of the panel - thereby keeping him being able to get on top of the panel. Using fencing also allows for rising heat to escape into the cage instead of conducting away through the cieling.
>>
>>And the results:
>>
>>
>>See that the heat panel is now just about as low as the light shroud. This setup brings the RHP to about seven inches from my burm when he is directly below it. And the border fencing is quite sturdy (though I admit, I could have done a much better job at making it look good...).
>>
>>Maybe a different angle shows my handywork better?:
>>
>>
>>So far I've measuring him as being as warm as 98 degrees (F). That's much better, I'd say. But I'm still not satisfied. That 98 is the absolute warmest spot I could find on him. I think I'd be more comfortable if I could get the max temp up to an even 100-102F.
>>
>>I'm going to try and think of what else I could do to bump the peak temperature another few degrees. If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions, please share.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>- Mark
>>
>>.
>>-----
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My personal website: www.antegy.com
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My Kingsnake.com Picture Galleries
>>
>> - 1.0.0 Labyrinth Burmese Python Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Suriname Boa Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake Gallery
>> - 1.0.0 Pueblan Milksnake Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Trinket Ratsnake Gallery
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My photography on photo.net
>>----------------------------------------------
>>Me on myspace.com
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I am just about to install mine and it looks really good.
-----
0.1 Rott
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python

I just installed a 15x24 110w PP RHP in my Vision 632 today. I too want to boost basking surface temp by about 10-15 degrees. I was thinking of something similar in effect to what you accomplished. Perhaps building a wide box for him to lay on which would bring him up closer to the RHP to get him warmer. But you bring up a good point in stating that you would lose alot of conductive heat if the panel is flush to the ceiling. I will look into a similar design to the one you stated. I think its a great idea. What did you use to cover the huge vent on the light shroud?

>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>This is just an update on my most recent efforts to get my new radiant heat panel working up to par.
>>
>>When I first installed the RHP I mounted it flush to the cieling inside my burm's cage, like so:
>>
>>This didn't work very well - that is, it just wasn't able to get my burm warm enough. So I installed a layer of foil insulation above the panel and lined the underside of the cage with the insulation. That helped, but only slightly.
>>
>>So I took on the task of modifying the installation such that I could get the panel itself closer to my burm, while at the same time getting away from the cieling (where I felt it was loosing a significant amount of heat via conduction).
>>
>>My objective was simple - lower the RHP. My only concern: keep my burm from getting on top of the panel and ripping down.
>>
>>Here's what I came up with:
>>
>>I got some 6" 1/4-20 bolts, with nuts and 1" diameter washers for weight distribution, to hang the panel. I then got some black aluminum grill to fence of the perimeter of the panel - thereby keeping him being able to get on top of the panel. Using fencing also allows for rising heat to escape into the cage instead of conducting away through the cieling.
>>
>>And the results:
>>
>>
>>See that the heat panel is now just about as low as the light shroud. This setup brings the RHP to about seven inches from my burm when he is directly below it. And the border fencing is quite sturdy (though I admit, I could have done a much better job at making it look good...).
>>
>>Maybe a different angle shows my handywork better?:
>>
>>
>>So far I've measuring him as being as warm as 98 degrees (F). That's much better, I'd say. But I'm still not satisfied. That 98 is the absolute warmest spot I could find on him. I think I'd be more comfortable if I could get the max temp up to an even 100-102F.
>>
>>I'm going to try and think of what else I could do to bump the peak temperature another few degrees. If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions, please share.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>- Mark
>>
>>.
>>-----
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My personal website: www.antegy.com
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My Kingsnake.com Picture Galleries
>>
>> - 1.0.0 Labyrinth Burmese Python Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Suriname Boa Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake Gallery
>> - 1.0.0 Pueblan Milksnake Gallery
>> - 0.1.0 Trinket Ratsnake Gallery
>>----------------------------------------------
>>My photography on photo.net
>>----------------------------------------------
>>Me on myspace.com

looks good...super nice looking snake too...i am wishing for a lab...probobly gonna just keep wishing though..LOL...at least i can look at yours

I just have a layer of aluminum foil covering the light shroud vent. I'm glad you brought that up to me - now that I think about it, it would probably be a good idea to cover that vent with a layer of that foil insulation I have instead (the foil insulation is kind of like a sheet of bubble wrap, with a thick layer of aluminum foil on each side - works very well).

How is it that you got a 15x24, 110W panel for your Vision 632? When I called and gave the guy my information he recommended a 12x24", 88W panel. Do you have your cage in a particularly cooler room or something?

Thanks for the idea,
- Mark

>>I just installed a 15x24 110w PP RHP in my Vision 632 today. I too want to boost basking surface temp by about 10-15 degrees. I was thinking of something similar in effect to what you accomplished. Perhaps building a wide box for him to lay on which would bring him up closer to the RHP to get him warmer. But you bring up a good point in stating that you would lose alot of conductive heat if the panel is flush to the ceiling. I will look into a similar design to the one you stated. I think its a great idea. What did you use to cover the huge vent on the light shroud?

Yes I spoke to Bob Pound from Pro Products (great customer service might I add) and I mentioned that I wanted something that gave off more heat than the previous RHP's that he reccommended for my 422's. So he reccommended getting the 15x24 110w rather than the 12x24 88w. My cages are located in my basement. The temp drops to about 60 down there overnight. Day is like 65 so I needed something with a higher wattage. I couldve even gone higher he said for that particular cage. Mounting might have been more difficult though.

>>I just have a layer of aluminum foil covering the light shroud vent. I'm glad you brought that up to me - now that I think about it, it would probably be a good idea to cover that vent with a layer of that foil insulation I have instead (the foil insulation is kind of like a sheet of bubble wrap, with a thick layer of aluminum foil on each side - works very well).
>>
>>How is it that you got a 15x24, 110W panel for your Vision 632? When I called and gave the guy my information he recommended a 12x24", 88W panel. Do you have your cage in a particularly cooler room or something?
>>
>>Thanks for the idea,
>>- Mark
>>
>>
>>>>I just installed a 15x24 110w PP RHP in my Vision 632 today. I too want to boost basking surface temp by about 10-15 degrees. I was thinking of something similar in effect to what you accomplished. Perhaps building a wide box for him to lay on which would bring him up closer to the RHP to get him warmer. But you bring up a good point in stating that you would lose alot of conductive heat if the panel is flush to the ceiling. I will look into a similar design to the one you stated. I think its a great idea. What did you use to cover the huge vent on the light shroud?