Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey folks,

I have read alot about these heat panels and from what i hear from ppl they are great investments. I was looking to put these in my 6' vision cages. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to do this. Does it require drilling holes , or is it something i can stick to the top? Any help or pics would be great.

Thanks

Derek Federico

You can't velcro these panels but they are incredibly easy to mount. Depending on the panel, you'll have 2 or 4 small holes to drill to allow the screws to pass through to bolt it down. You will then drill another small hole where the cord passes through and then you clamp the plug on once its through. It takes literally minutes to install and you are set. You'll love these panels.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Hey folks,
>>
>>I have read alot about these heat panels and from what i hear from ppl they are great investments. I was looking to put these in my 6' vision cages. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to do this. Does it require drilling holes , or is it something i can stick to the top? Any help or pics would be great.
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Derek Federico
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Hi Derek,

I'd like to offer you both my experience with radiant heat panels (RHP), and my opinion. I too have a 6' Vision cage, with a RHP installed. Before that I used a Kane heat matt.

The heat matt I used (18x18 inches) worked very, very well - my only reason for moving away from it was because I felt it was getting a bit small for my burm. I have that matt in my boa's cage now, and it is still working great.

Once I got the RHP I had some problems getting it to work well for me. Here's my old post outlining exactly what I had to do...

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=681357,681357&key=2005

Now, to be clear, I have since spoken with the manufacturer of the panel who recommended that I do not use the panel on a rheostat, as I was. He suggested that I either plug the unit directly into the outlet, or use a thermostat.

While using the rheostat (on max. setting) the panel was running about 45°F colder than it is supposed to. After plugging it directly into the outlet it got better, but only by about 10°F. It is now only running at about 175°F peak, while it should run at about 190-210°F (according to the manufacturer). I was also told by the manufacturer that the panels are quite unlikely to be partially functional - that is, they either work or they don't - no in between.

So, as it stands I'm somewhat dissapointed with RHP's as a heat source. My experience is that it is only marginally acceptable, being that I have to run it at 100% output, which leaves me with little flexibility.

Even with it's current functionality I still opt to get my burm closer to the heater by placing a small 'platform' in the cage for him, particularly after meals. This raises him up about an inch or two closer to the heater, which he seems to appreciate.

I've found that the minimum distance is somewhere around 6-8 inches to really feel any sensible heat from the panel. That's a long way off from the 17 inches that would be if I still had it mounted on the cieling of his cage.

I wish I had the same great experience with the RHP's that I hear from everyone else, but I'm sorry I can't say so.

Hope this was informative for you,
- Mark
.

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.
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My personal website: www.antegy.com
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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
-------------------------------------------------------------
My photography on modelmayhem.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
Me on myspace.com

With over 50 exhibits, many more off display and an entire home collection running on Pro Product Radiant Heat Panels, I just have a hard time understanding your difficulties with your one, single panel. Personally, I would just ask for a replacement. I haven't experienced a single problem with a single panel; all of our exhibits, breeding projects, off display, quarantine, have optimal heat/thermal gradients with these panels (which even include some rather tall enclosures). Quite a few of them are just plugged directly into the outlet w/no regulation (but they are checked two to three times a day)...this usually works for our large exhiibits. Our smaller exhibits run on thermostats and they are always right where they need to be. Even in the harsh wintery Midwest, we don't experience any RI problems or anything else associated with cages kept too cool. I just can't say enough good things about these devices. Just thought I would share my experiences in using these heat panels for the past 12 years.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Hi Derek,
>>
>>I'd like to offer you both my experience with radiant heat panels (RHP), and my opinion. I too have a 6' Vision cage, with a RHP installed. Before that I used a Kane heat matt.
>>
>>The heat matt I used (18x18 inches) worked very, very well - my only reason for moving away from it was because I felt it was getting a bit small for my burm. I have that matt in my boa's cage now, and it is still working great.
>>
>>Once I got the RHP I had some problems getting it to work well for me. Here's my old post outlining exactly what I had to do...
>>
>>http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=681357,681357&key=2005
>>
>>Now, to be clear, I have since spoken with the manufacturer of the panel who recommended that I do not use the panel on a rheostat, as I was. He suggested that I either plug the unit directly into the outlet, or use a thermostat.
>>
>>While using the rheostat (on max. setting) the panel was running about 45°F colder than it is supposed to. After plugging it directly into the outlet it got better, but only by about 10°F. It is now only running at about 175°F peak, while it should run at about 190-210°F (according to the manufacturer). I was also told by the manufacturer that the panels are quite unlikely to be partially functional - that is, they either work or they don't - no in between.
>>
>>So, as it stands I'm somewhat dissapointed with RHP's as a heat source. My experience is that it is only marginally acceptable, being that I have to run it at 100% output, which leaves me with little flexibility.
>>
>>Even with it's current functionality I still opt to get my burm closer to the heater by placing a small 'platform' in the cage for him, particularly after meals. This raises him up about an inch or two closer to the heater, which he seems to appreciate.
>>
>>I've found that the minimum distance is somewhere around 6-8 inches to really feel any sensible heat from the panel. That's a long way off from the 17 inches that would be if I still had it mounted on the cieling of his cage.
>>
>>I wish I had the same great experience with the RHP's that I hear from everyone else, but I'm sorry I can't say so.
>>
>>Hope this was informative for you,
>>- 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
>>-------------------------------------------------------------
>>My photography on modelmayhem.com
>>-------------------------------------------------------------
>>Me on myspace.com
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I have my RHP at about 24 inches from the floor. It's controlled by a common household thermostat. It gives me temps of low 90's on the hot side and low 80's on the cool side. The panel only covers the hot side (also where the light is) With the light the hot side can get to mid 90's. Maybe your losing heat due to an insulation problem?
-----
DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Hey ,

Thanks Mark and Rob for both of your responses. Mark , would the company replace if it it is not functioning right? I think they should. I plan on getting these after breeding season this year. I keep my room at about 74-76F and use flexwatt on some cages. I would have to say that flexwatt is not all it is made out to be and thats why i was looking into new ways of heating, but thats a whole different discussion. Rob , do you know of a place that has a chart i could look a for determining the correct size panels for my cages or something along those lines?
Thanks again to both of you.

Derek Federico

There isn't a chart because in order for Bob Pound to determine the correct size panel, he will ask for the following:

1) species you are keeping
2) size of cage
3) type of cage
4) ambient temperatures of the room that the cage will be in

There are many factors in determining which size to get. The nice thing is, once you give Bob the info, he will steer you in the right direction.

>>Hey ,
>>
>>Thanks Mark and Rob for both of your responses. Mark , would the company replace if it it is not functioning right? I think they should. I plan on getting these after breeding season this year. I keep my room at about 74-76F and use flexwatt on some cages. I would have to say that flexwatt is not all it is made out to be and thats why i was looking into new ways of heating, but thats a whole different discussion. Rob , do you know of a place that has a chart i could look a for determining the correct size panels for my cages or something along those lines?
>>Thanks again to both of you.
>>
>>
>>Derek Federico
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

n/p
-----
DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell