Snake_Whisperer
Very Well-Known Member
I use wall thermostats in my enclosures in conjunction with heat mats, not a problem. Setup is: 1) Tile on the floor, underneath the enclosure. 2) Heatmat in contact with the underside of the floor of enclosure. 3) Thermostat inside enclosure, about 65mm above the hot spot on floor. Set at 28 degrees, it gives the floor and hide at that location a comfy 32 degrees.
It can be done, you have to experiment with placements and settings. Polystyrene? Every heat mat I have ever seen has said no contact AT ALL with combustible materials. How strange they'd say that! They must want to get sued!
*edit*
A good point by adz, low wattage is the go, lower the better! I use 7w heat matts for my primary heat source with never a problem. In the winter I may flick on a 40-60w lamp as supplemental heat but that is it!
It can be done, you have to experiment with placements and settings. Polystyrene? Every heat mat I have ever seen has said no contact AT ALL with combustible materials. How strange they'd say that! They must want to get sued!
*edit*
A good point by adz, low wattage is the go, lower the better! I use 7w heat matts for my primary heat source with never a problem. In the winter I may flick on a 40-60w lamp as supplemental heat but that is it!