heating

[deanie]

If you use a heat emitte,r like a 250 watt, for your enclosure what kind of fixture are you using. I know that you have to use one with a ceramic socket, but for the size of the 250 do you use one of the large cage types that they sell for them, and if so how do you direct your heat or isn't that important?

[Merlin]

I use a 250 watt myself. It is in a porcelin socket and a 10 inch metal reflector. Check out hardware stores and farm supply for chicken brooder lamp fixtures. They are rated to 250 wattts.
In my cage there is a false top of 1x1/2 welded wire that the CHE sits on. It is pointed straight down at the basking shelf.
I also have it hooked up to a thermostat.

[IguanaKing]

I use a 250W heat lamp also and I got my dome fixture at Lowes. They have always had a ceramic socket, but the latest one I bought is rated to 500W, so I've got plenty of headroom for safety's sake. Like Merlin said, search in hardware stores for the fixture. If you buy one in a pet store, or on-line pet retailer, you'll end up paying WAY too much for something that isn't as good.

[startparsley]

are the heat emitter and heat lamp the same? do they produce light or just heat? i find the temps in my cage getting low at nite, but i would like to find something that doesnt put off any or as much light as the one i have now. i think they could be a bit higher during the day as well.

[Merlin]

A heat emitter puts out heat only, no light.
And they last for years!

[startparsley]

any recommendations on a good one?

[prism_wolf]

I don't use a CHE, but I do use the Mega Ray HP. It takes a little getting used to becasue it doesn't swath the area in heat, but rather it gets directed into a focal point keeping the heat from being wasted. Don't get me wrong...the CHEs are very effective, but set close enough to the ig and it will get badly burned. Just make sure the CHE is out of reach. The HP gets hot, but not nearly as hot as the CHE. Any CHE is a good choice.There are several makers of this product. They all last a very long time...years. I can't tell you how long the HP will last. These haven't been out but for a couple of years and I don't need mine that often. I beieve it's T-Rex that also has a heat source just like the HP.

www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=30_70
www.reptileuv.com/megaray-hp-60-watt-heat-projector.php

The wattage all depends on the different variables. Is there a vent nearby? How big is the enclosure? Is a window close? Is the enclosure near a drafty door? Zok and IKs green kids have rather large enclosures. For a smaller enclosure you might not want something as strong as a 250W.

[Merlin]

startparsley said:

any recommendations on a good one?

I use the T-Rex. On a whim I tried a Pearlco brand and it didn't last a month!

V is right, the CHEs do get very hot!
With my set up there is no way for Zok to come in contact with it unless she manages to get hold of a pair of bolt cutters!

[IguanaKing]

My IR lamp gets extremely hot on its surface too, so I have it in a place my igs cannot get to. I elected to not use a screen over it because a screen would actually make it possible for a leap to end in my ig getting stuck on the screen and getting burned.