Heating DIY Enclosure

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

Also, everybody talks about flexwatt. I have a couple of those UTH with a sticky side, is it pretty much the same thing or what?

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Flexwatt is super skinny. You wouldn't need much of a recessed area. It's also called heat tape because it's flat, like tape and comes bulk in a roll. You can order 3" wide, 4", 11", there could be other widths too that I don't know about or am forgetting.. Here's a link to see it/order it:

http://www.mgreptiles.com/flexwatt.html

Do you think it would not work well just sticking the UTH matts that I have under the wood on the bottom cages?

What about the top cage, could I stick one on the back? Although Im not sure it would provide enough heat.

I like the idea with recessed bottoms, but I think I might be too far along on the project to do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

Do you think it would not work well just sticking the UTH matts that I have under the wood on the bottom cages?

What about the top cage, could I stick one on the back? Although Im not sure it would provide enough heat.

I like the idea with recessed bottoms, but I think I might be too far along on the project to do it.

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Heating through wood can be a pain and unsafe. Putting the flexwatt or whatever heating element inside the cage is your best best with wood. Most home depots will cut the plexi to any size you need so all you will have to do is drop it in and seal it off. Just remember you will need differnt thermostats for different size heating elements.. Hope this helps,
-Matt

Ok, in that case I can just make the my whole floors out of plexi. I don't have a router or anything, so I'm not sure how I would make a wood/plexi floor with the heater in between...

I would just leave your floors as wood as it is easier to work with(cracking) and just cover the element with the plexi..

what about space between the heat pad wood and plexi?

Not needed as long as a thermostat is used:)

Ok, I've never used a thermostat. Would I then need a seperate thermostat for each enclosure?

Well no not really. You woudl need a themrostat for each size of cage or for each size of heating element.. Also if you will have different specie that require different temps than you will need seperate thermostats for that.. If you like email me your phone number and we can figure it out..

What width of flexwatt would you recommend for this set up? Its 20" front to back