DIY heat mat.

[DeadCricket]

Im guessing they probably use a variety. I purchased a sheet of the bunnings stuff, and sucessfully made a good heat spot for my geckos. I posted a thread in DIY because I couldn't find this one... Which was in general. Haha, can't see anything right in front of me, you have to hide it somewhere clever for me to find it

 

[starr9]

For sale signs for houses are made from this stuff!! We used to use this 2 slide down the sand dunes (back in the day when you could!) What a g8 idea!

 

[Shiresnakes]

Wow very interesting, I will keep it in mind.

I use heat cord for my incubator and it works well to distribute the heat.



For some of my enclosures I use the heat mats by lucky reptiles as the technology is great and they last ages. Basically if one cell fails then the rest of the heat mat still works and there is much less risk of your reptile being left cold for a period of time due to a failed heat mat.... Has worked great for me so far and I'm happy with them ....Im sure the are for sale in reptile shops, but I got mine online from Dalbarb Aquarium Products and Furniture .....been good for under my hatchie click clacks as well.

Thanks for sharing the YouTube.... Very creative!

 

[Snowman]

I have a few of questions...

What material is the interior of this board made of?
What sort of conductivity/insulation properties does it have?
Alternatively, is there air flow to offset heat build-up before it occurs?
What temperature does the cord reach?

Blue

It's made of thin plastic.
It's seems to distribute heat very well. I made one last night.
Id say the air flow is better than a tile over grouted wood.
In a 20 degree room I got a surface temp of 38 degrees with no thermostat. So I could hold my hand on it safely, but I'd use a thermostat in an actual application of this set up.
I'm very impressed with this method and will use it instead of a tile over routed wood now.
Mike I will bring a sample to the next WAHS meeting for all to see. Great invention/idea for a basking spot. 15w heat cord vs 100w ceramic is a massive electricity saving!

 

[t.Man]

I went to some sign shops around me yesterday, turns out that they don't tend to use 10mm fluteboard, one place I went to gave me an off-cut of some 10mm*5mm fluteboard, I had to cut slits down the flutes that I was using, but it's working well.

If any one finds out where to buy it in Melbourne in single sheets please let me know, found stacks of suppliers but you have to buy in either pallets or packs of 10.

Have you tried Corex in Dandenong?

 

[SamNabz]

While it's a clever idea, I can honestly think of no reasons where I would use something like this...

I only use heat cords, and 1 length heats multiple tubs. If I was to route the cord through the corflute, then realistically I'll be using a whole length of heat cord to make 1 heatmat used to heat 1 tub OR use a length to make 1 long/large heat mat to sit under multiple tubs. Meaning all it's doing is putting a cover over the heatcoard..

So really, what is the point? Not trying to be a jerk, but if you have genuine ideas of why this is a great idea, I'd love to hear them...

 

[Snowman]

Sam people often route grooves into the floor of their enclosures for the heat cord then place a tile over the top. One heat cord per enclosure. It creates a basking spot for adult bhp's, woma's, stimi,s etc. If you have a lot of snakes it's cheaper to run 25w per enclosure for adult snakes than a 100w ceramic or globe per enclosure. Cords are very versatile and can have more uses than just heating click clacks. I've made a basking shelf for my imbricata with heat cord and a tile and it works very well. it's a newer method than lights and ceramics. So not as popular. Heat mats seem to catch on fire a lot or burn out so again not as versatile as heat cord.

 

[RSPcrazy]

Does anyone know where to find 10mm corflute around the Windsor NSW area?

I've tried bunnings, but they only stocked up to 5mm and I got them to call the other stores close by and they didn't have 10mm either. I also tried miter10 and looked into some sign writing places with no luck. Everywhere I go only stocks up to 5mm.

 

[SamNabz]

Sam people often route grooves into the floor of their enclosures for the heat cord then place a tile over the top. One heat cord per enclosure. It creates a basking spot for adult bhp's, woma's, stimi,s etc. If you have a lot of snakes it's cheaper to run 25w per enclosure for adult snakes than a 100w ceramic or globe per enclosure. Cords are very versatile and can have more uses than just heating click clacks. I've made a basking shelf for my imbricata with heat cord and a tile and it works very well. it's a newer method than lights and ceramics. So not as popular. Heat mats seem to catch on fire a lot or burn out so again not as versatile as heat cord.

Thanks for that, Snow.

 

[saximus]

Does anyone know where to find 10mm corflute around the Windsor NSW area? I've tried bunnings, but they only stocked up to 5mm and I got them to call the other stores close by and they didn't have 10mm either. I also tried miter10 and looked into some sign writing places with no luck. Everywhere I go only stocks up to 5mm.

I'll be very interested to hear if you find a place that does it RSP. I emailed them to see if they could give me some names of places around here that stock it

 

[RSPcrazy]

I'll be very interested to hear if you find a place that does it RSP. I emailed them to see if they could give me some names of places around here that stock it

Let me know if anyone gets back to you as to where to get it. I'll just be driving around looking for places that might stock it, so if I find a place, I'll let you know.

 

[Tassie97]

yer this guy makes awesome vids!

 

[Dan40D]

Best heatcord mat i have seen yet! So simple yet effective, i'm going to try and make some radiators using this method.

Try plastics retailers, they usually keep it, for those in Newcastle Specialised wholesale in Lambton keep corflute, website lists 8mm which would probably suffice.

 

[KaotikJezta]

Have you tried Corex in Dandenong?

They only sell it by the pallet

 

[user 16324]

i've just sent out some quotes to a few sign making shops in adelaide to see what they have. will report back when i hear anything from them.

 

[saximus]

Haha the corrugated plastic industry is about to get an unexpected rise in sales thanks to this thread

 

[Dan40D]

They only sell it by the pallet

APS Group buy??

 

[DeadCricket]

If your confident with your ability to reinsulate the end then the smaller sheet from bunnings can work. I trimmed the insulation off the end, used another piece of wire to pull whilst I fed it through, reinsulated the end and pulled it back into the board for a little extra safety and mine is working fantastically.

 

[KaotikJezta]

APS Group buy??

I thought about that but we all live in different states, logistical nightmare maybe

If your confident with your ability to reinsulate the end then the smaller sheet from bunnings can work. I trimmed the insulation off the end, used another piece of wire to pull whilst I fed it through, reinsulated the end and pulled it back into the board for a little extra safety and mine is working fantastically.

I actually accidentally pulled the end off a heat cable once, put it back on and it's still going strong.

 

[Snowman]

I could only buy a full sheet from a sign printing place. A sheet is 3660x1220x10mm. Cost me $84.