Ceramic heat emitter in wood terrarium

I recently built a wood terrarium with dimensions approximately 3 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft and am looking for advice on installation of a CHE. I understand I need to use a porcelain base and install a guard around the bulb. This is what I need assistance with:

1. Should I use a specific type of wire to protect against the heat?
2. Do you recommend a pendant style base or full sized base like you might find used for lights in an unfinished basement?
3. Can the base be at the top of the enclosure or should it suspend below to prevent overheating the wood?

I don't know that is put it inside the enclosure. I'd cut a hole on the top, add a screen and put the CHE above the tank.
But thats just me. My King is in a wooden enclosure with the CHE above on a screen, works great

Have you looked into radiant heat panels. Just installed my first ones in cages 3 x 2 x 16 inches. So far works great. I do have a che in a 4x2x2 bearded dragon cage with no cage around it as there is no way for the animal to get near it. I would imagine you could get the wire cage online fairly easily.

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I have looked into RHP but cannot justify the expense. Any words of wisdom from your CHE installation?

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Originally Posted by Jack Hammer

I have looked into RHP but cannot justify the expense. Any words of wisdom from your CHE installation?

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For that size enclosure you need a smaller radiant heat panel $60-$80 is nothing, they last 20 years


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I have a wooden enclosure as well and I am currently using a 150 watt and a 70 watt heat bulb. They are both inside of the enclosure. Now I am not sure if it is the same in the US but in Germany the protective grid (don‘t know the specific English term) needs to be able to turn itself off in case overheats or too much electricity is used. This is the case for most heat bulbs starty with 70 watt. At least for the 150 watt heat bulb I can really recommend using the heat protection from JBL. It keeps the heat source a few inches under the wood and will turn itself off in case it overheats to prevent fires. BUT the JBL protective grid needs to be at least 20 inches above the animal to prevent any possible damages. If you cannot put it that high, then maybe try more heat bulbs with less watt or go with what the others have already suggested.

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Originally Posted by Jack Hammer

I have looked into RHP but cannot justify the expense. Any words of wisdom from your CHE installation?

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Unfortunately I don't have any other than what you stated already. My bearded dragon can't get anywhere near it so it's just in a ceramic outlet screwed to the ceiling inside the cage with nothing protecting it. Been fine for 4 or 5 years so far. But I have gone through a couple CHE. I plan to switch to an RHP after I get a feel for then with my BP enclosures.

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Also my justification for the increase in price to the RHP is that it is only 1.75" tall, spreads the heat out over a much bigger area, I can touch it briefly with no burns (though it can get over 200F surface temp read from my temp gun)so no need for very eye soar cage around it, only 3 screws and its installed and reported longevity of it. Add up the price of 7 or 8 CHE bulbs, the cage, the fixture and the shear giant ugly eye soar hanging like an old insane asylum movie light in the middle of your cage. I have always hated the one in my Dragons cage but not sure RHP's were around when I built it or at least I didn't know about them.

My porcelain fitment is screwed straight to the top of my 5*2*2 with a 250w che... I didn't consider the risk in doing this, there is no damage to my laminate bit I'm curious as to what others have done.... Maybe it should be hung down? Not sure.
Thanks for this, what have the other members done?

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Originally Posted by Justin83

My porcelain fitment is screwed straight to the top of my 5*2*2 with a 250w che... I didn't consider the risk in doing this, there is no damage to my laminate bit I'm curious as to what others have done.... Maybe it should be hung down? Not sure.
Thanks for this, what have the other members done?

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If your nervous you could check the wood around it with an temp gun and see what it is.