Home made heat mats?

[Firedrake]

Ok so everyone knows how to explain making a heat 'panel' out of heat cord, but has anyone got pics of the process? I don't want to get it wrong, and it seems like the better option than the bought, plastic covered heat mats. The pictures I get in my head trying to imagine the process when reading how to do it just don't really make much sense.

 

[longqi]

Read a thread called heat mat hell omg
Then throw thermostats and heat mats/cords in the rubbish

 

[saximus]

I don't think I've every heard of anyone having those issues with heat cord Longqi. Heat mats are notorious for it but yeah never seen a "heat cord hell" thread.
Firedrake I saw one a while ago but can't seem to find it. I'll keep looking though. It might be on another forum

 

[Dan40D]

This was my idea using a heat cord http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/general-reptile-discussion-42/burn-house-ok-160347/, works well so far keeps a nice constant 31.5c. The only thing i would do differntly is to use a thicker piece of board (at least 25mm thick), with the saw cuts and only applying heat to one side it has made the board curl up a little, no big deal though.

 

[Ramsayi]

Read a thread called heat mat hell omg
Then throw thermostats and heat mats/cords in the rubbish

I took your advice and threw away my thermostat.While I was at work the room that the cages are in got a bit warm and with the globe in the cage my GTPs overheated and died.Will you replace my GTPs?

 

[longqi]

So you didnt read the thread??
If you had read the thread and read the FACT that I said you dont use this in a room that has massive temperature swings
then your snake would not have died

No worry about your GTP
I only have about 160 here now
Come and pick one out

 

[hnn17]

keep the stat, throw the mat

picking out one is easy, what about taking it back home?

 

[cadwallader]

I took your advice and threw away my thermostat.While I was at work the room that the cages are in got a bit warm and with the globe in the cage my GTPs overheated and died.Will you replace my GTPs?

i dont see why you would take a thermostat out any way if its going to turn the heat off at the desired temp? doesn't make sense to me...

 

[saximus]

People argue that they fail quite often and will not turn the heat off. So it will just be on full until someone notices. You can imagine in summer this could be a problem.
Hnn17 I don't really understand your post. Picking out one what is easy? The OP was asking for instructions on how to make something like a heat mat using a heat cord...

 

[Chris1]

picking out a new GTP i think Sax,...

Pythonmum had a good thread on a cabinet conversion, making a heat panel using mesh and cup hooks,....

 

[cadwallader]

lol but why not use the same wattage that you use with out the thermostat with the thermostat and that it can turn on and off... i think i have just confused myself

 

[saximus]

lol yeah that seems to be what the "experienced" guys say. Even if you are going to use a thermo you should pick a wattage that won't cook the enclosure if something goes wrong and it happens to be on full blast for a couple of hours

By the way I just got a picture of this in my head when you said that:
YouTube - ‪Austin Powers on Time Travel‬‏

 

[Red-Ink]

Ok so everyone knows how to explain making a heat 'panel' out of heat cord, but has anyone got pics of the process? I don't want to get it wrong, and it seems like the better option than the bought, plastic covered heat mats. The pictures I get in my head trying to imagine the process when reading how to do it just don't really make much sense.

PM dickyknee.. He'll point you to some instructions on how to make them.

 

[pythonmum]

I used dickyknee's method to make a heat cord panel in a strangely-shaped cabinet conversion. Here are some pics.

Step 1: put cup hooks in the roof of the enclosure where you want to put the heat cord.

Step 2: wind heat cord through the cup hooks

Step 3: Make a frame out of timber or the material of your choice and cover with aluminium flyscreen. (I stapled it on.)

Step 4: Screw the frame to the roof of the enclosure to protect the heat panel.

It's very simple and I'm using a 50W cord to heat a Darwin enclosure. His basking spot is on top of the heat panel and keeps a cozy temp despite being in a VERY cold room.

 

[saximus]

Could you put aluminium foil above it to help reflect even more of the heat downwards?

BTW that looks really nice Pythonmum

 

[pythonmum]

Yes, if you are not putting a shelf above, you need to reflect the heat downward with something. Others have used the method with a reflective surface. I've found that heaters under basking shelves are very popular with the big carpets and increase the heat efficiency of my enclosures. Now that it is really cold in that room, my boy stays right above that panel - and so does his girlfriend when she comes to visit. He's a bit shy, so we do better with conjugal visits at his place

 

[longqi]

Really good way to reflect heat down is mirror tiles
Still get your radiant heat going up but also more going down

 

[pythonmum]

Really good way to reflect heat down is mirror tiles
Still get your radiant heat going up but also more going down

Yes, but hard to scew in the cup hooks! Super glue would be an option...

 

[longqi]

Yes, but hard to scew in the cup hooks! Super glue would be an option...

Last time I did it I used the stick on picture hooks from some hardware store

 

[solar 17]

Hey Saximus, this is my heat panel that l make and it maybe what you were thinking of with aluminium foil behind but for the pic l have removed the mouse wire (6mm squares) covering.....solar 17 (Baden)