Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can you please tell me the differences between the heat panels sold by LLL Reptiles and Pro Products, and which you prefer?

Here with me in Misery:
2 ball pythons (Sly & Gryff)
2 leopard geckos (Ripley & Leila)
1 hedgehog (Puck)

Left behind in Cali:
2 horses (Jack & Chex)
1 dog (Dolly)
1 cat (Maddy)
Lots of cows!

I believe LLL only sells Helix RHP's, so I think that's the actuall comparison you're asking for.

I prefer the ProProducts for a few reasons:

1) The exceptional customer support when picking out a product for a particular application.

2) The exceptional customer support in general. You'll get useful advice you did not ask for or even know existed when you order their product.

3) The don't have a lip/rim around the panel for animals to climb up on.

4) I prefer their more solid/direct mounting onto the top of cages.

I also prefer that they don't offgass when you first get them, but I've never experienced this first hand with a Helix RHP. I'm going by word of mouth on that.
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

What exactly does "offgass" mean???

I was told (by LLL, mind you) that ProProducts would degrade from humidity. Which lasts longer and is safer?

>>What exactly does "offgass" mean???

Helix uses a fiberglass-based plastic covering that tends to release a lot of solvent fumes when heated. While I have not experienced this with a Helix RHP, I have smelled it from the same plastic material used in other applications. I believe the plastic to be safe once these fumes are fully released, just understand you might not be able to use a Helix RHP right away.

>>I was told (by LLL, mind you) that ProProducts would degrade from humidity. Which lasts longer and is safer?

I don't know about that. ProProducts are very popular with the Green Tree Python crowd and those are high humidity cages.

But I hate to answer the safety/longevity question when I have no long-term experience with either product, much less a significant enough sample to say for sure.
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Helix panels are completely sealed, so even direct water spray does not do any harm. Pro-Products (or was it Enerjoy, which are very similar to PPs in construction) does not recommend theirs in high humidity areas, but in reality, if the panel is warm, moisture really doesn't soak into the panel (it evaporates fairly quickly.) I think there had to have some disclaimer so people don't soak down the panel then plug it in.

I've used both in relatively humid cages. IMO Helix surface temps can get much warmer, probably due to the harder surface on the panel. Honestly, both worked fine for me. Same results as far as heating the cage.

Mark

>>>>What exactly does "offgass" mean???
>>
>>Helix uses a fiberglass-based plastic covering that tends to release a lot of solvent fumes when heated. While I have not experienced this with a Helix RHP, I have smelled it from the same plastic material used in other applications. I believe the plastic to be safe once these fumes are fully released, just understand you might not be able to use a Helix RHP right away.
>>
>>>>I was told (by LLL, mind you) that ProProducts would degrade from humidity. Which lasts longer and is safer?
>>
>>I don't know about that. ProProducts are very popular with the Green Tree Python crowd and those are high humidity cages.
>>
>>But I hate to answer the safety/longevity question when I have no long-term experience with either product, much less a significant enough sample to say for sure.
>>-----
>>Current snakes:
>>
>>0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)
>>
>>1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)
>>
>>7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)
>>
>>0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

i have a helix and it works awesome for me and the only thing is the offgas time wich for mine was about a week other than that its great

I have both Pro panels and Helix panels. Personally, I like the pro panel much better. Many reasons

When I got my helix, I had to offgas for about 4 and a half weeks, full power hanging out in my garage. PAIN IN THE BUTT!!! (Also, they didn't tell me they had to outgas. So it took me more than a month before I could even use 'em!)

Helix panels are completely sealed, but they use a latex/silicone blend caulk. This doesn't have but maybe a 15 year life. Pro panels are warranteed for 10 years, vs 3 on helix.

I have never heard of a pro panel deteriorating. It's made out of a plastic sheet surrounded with sheet metal! Tell me how sheet metal (aluminum i think), when painted and sealed with a high gloss paint, can deteriorate? Or how plastic can. From water and heat, mind you.

I have only had my panels in for about 4-5 months now, but they both work equally well. The helix panels really piss me off with the lip, however.

And as chris said, you get much better support with the pro panels. along with good tips for building your cage.
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-Chris

0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat
1.0 Black Rat
0.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauty
1.0 Green Tree Python
0.1 Texas Bairds Rat

The educated are the few. The uneducated are the masses.

North American Rat / Corn Snake Care Sheet

Where can you get the ProProduct heat panel? I can't get a website anywhere and I never see it in the classifieds or anything?
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Tim W.
http://tsw.f2g.net

http://www.pro-products.com/

I went with Pro Products; thanks for all the help!

You made a great choice with Pro Products. I've been using their heat panels for over 10 years with no problems, and my original ones are still in use today.

The customer service is great. If you have any questions about using the panel in a high humidity application, just give Bob a call and he'll advise you.

Bill