what to do if you loose power

I live in central IL and we are suposed to get 20 inches of snow today and drop down to -4 deg i use a rack set up with tubs and flexwatt...also have a small eletric heater to get good temps...i was wondering if i loose power what should i do i have 3 ball pythons...get heat packs and put them under and on the lid of the tubs on 1 side or cover the bottom of the tub????

what would you do

If you can afford one, a portable generator would be an option. If not, and you don't have the ability\option to get the snakes to another house that has power. I guess heat packs would have to do. You may also want to cover the rack with a blanket or something to keep what heat there is in there.

Until I got my generator.....

I always just kept 40hr heat packs on hand as well as insulated boxes.

Just planned on packing them up like I was going to ship them.

should be able to get a generator...if not i will pack them with heat packs in boxes like i was going to ship them...thanks for you quick responce

I have a generator and indoor catalytic propane heater.

Generator runs the flexwatt and incubator while the propane heater keeps room in the 80s.

Propane heater used 16oz bottles or get adapter and it'll accept larger grill sized containers.

To Richsballpythons: I have a similar heater called the Big Buddy that runs off propane tanks but I have never used the darn thing yet - are they difficult to set up?? For some reason the thought of running propane inside - that scares me although I know they are designed for that. I also bought the adaptor to run to a larger gas grill propane tank.

Let me know how they work.

Thanks

I went and got a generator, got sick of losing power with the storms we where having in the summer and winter. But I also have heat packs just in case.

One i use is the Coleman Indoor/Outdoor Heater. The 1 16oz tank on low setting lasts about 9 straight hours keeping room at 83f. on high the room was kept at 89f but tank lasted about 4-5hours.

also mine is flameless, just glows red.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colem...id=3000&brand=

If your tight on cash and live near a Harbor Freight Tools, they have a small 800watt generator that should run a few racks.
Here is a link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/800-rat...tor-66619.html

Thanks for that info. I am ready in the event the power goes out.

Michigan is supposed to get hammered tonight.

Since you only have three, I would just pack all three up like you were shipping them. If you don't have a shipping box (I always save mine) then you can just put a bunch of shredded paper or cotton in them and tape some heat packs to the lid (put them in pillowcases). Another idea is put them in a cooler, in pillow cases and do the same thing. I use my incubator when the power goes out. I put them in pillowcases/bags put them in tubs so they don't fall, and fill the batter, an old fridge, with bottles of the hottest tap water I get. When I do that I can keep the temps at ~90 for 8-9 hours. It's perfect. I also keep a zillion hot packs around and put them under the water bottles if I'm going to be gone all day for work/etc. Whatever you do, make sure the snake cannot touch those heat packs, the big ones get to 150-160+ degrees.

I live in Iowa, and we are getting prepared for this hell storm as well. It's only been snowing for an hour and we already have a few inches of snow and you can't see very far! :(

If you do not have a generator or buddy heater to keep your room warm the next best option is to have a Styrofoam cooler or an insulated box (in which reptiles are shipped) and some heat pack, put the snake in a snake bag and put the bag in the box or cooler with the heat pack, the same way you would if you were shipping them.

It's a good temporary method, however if you have harsh winters having a generator or at least buddy heater (they are around $100) is an investment you will not regret.

We just got dumped on here last Friday. Seems like everywhere is getting crazy snow lately!! What's going on with our world???

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Originally Posted by yeroc1982

We just got dumped on here last Friday. Seems like everywhere is getting crazy snow lately!! What's going on with our world???

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Winter!:gj:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Winter!:gj:

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Lol ya but I don't remember -48c when I was a kid! Too cold to be at work!

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Originally Posted by yeroc1982

Lol ya but I don't remember -48c when I was a kid! Too cold to be at work!

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I love the cold. You wont catch me wearing pants unless its out at formal events or parties. Other wise i wear shorts all year, even when shoveling snow


also if you decide to get generator, be sure you keep up on it. When not use and stored away, be sure to let it run 10 mins once a month to keep it working.

I add in oil or change it every 50 hours, which ever needs be done

Just remember that a gas powered Generator is supposed to be run in a ventilated area. I put mine in the unheated garage and run power straight into the breaker box that is in the garage. Keep a door open in the garage to let out the fumes. Others may have to look into a weather proof penetration to get a cable into the house.

We have a generator at the vet clinic I work at so my snakes & tortoise would go there. The rest of us, kids, fiance, dogs & cats would head out to my mother in laws should we need to. She has a generator :) Hopefully we don't need to though.

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Originally Posted by Gloryhound

Just remember that a gas powered Generator is supposed to be run in a ventilated area. I put mine in the unheated garage and run power straight into the breaker box that is in the garage. Keep a door open in the garage to let out the fumes. Others may have to look into a weather proof penetration to get a cable into the house.

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Anything to just keep water from getting on it is fine. Covered porches are fine.

Also if your generator has a ground bolt USE IT. I use 8guage wire to a titanium rod i stick 2 ft into the ground. This helps the generator trip if overloaded and not blow your equipment.

Global warming sure is a pain in the butt, huh? I second, third, and fourth the notion that a generator is a good idea. Down here in the south too... when the power goes out after a hurricane you can run a window unit to make sure your snake room doesn't get TOO hot.

Good luck to you guys up there in the winter storm area.

thanks for all of your sugestions...i did not have to do anything thankfully we did not loose power

I am in Wheaton IL and I got smashed LOL! Don't forget your water heater. Power goes out the tank is still hot. A Styro cooler and a couple ziplocks with WARM water not hot lol and they should be happy. Tank of hot lasts for a while, check and change water.

Keep in mind with generators that some controllers (herpstats for example) can fail if the power is not pure seine wave. Check the specks on any you look at most are modified seine wave and it isn't the same at all. I know Hondas are, others... no idea. The inverter that does pure seine wave is über expensive so most 'bargain' generators are very unlikely to be. Something to keep in mind, it would be awful to have the power go out and run a generator that caused the snakes in the collection to overheat!

from the spyder robotics web site...

"All proportional thermsotats use a Triac to control the AC output. This component gets triggered and turns off on its own once the AC voltage reachs zero volts. Common UPS systems or power inverters using "modified" sinewaves do not recreate the smooth curve sinewave that comes from your home outlet. Instead they spike the voltage 120vac positive, then drop to zero, then spike to 120vac negative. Because of this there is no way to dim the power. Also in my testing the triac typically will not turn off properly and stays stuck ON once its triggered. In order to have a proportional thermostat work properly off a battery powered (or gas generator for that matter) device it has to output a "True" or "Pure" sine wave. These systems recreate the correct smooth arced sinewave just like your home power. Because of the extra components and technology they are usually double the price.

Dion Brewington
Owner, Spyder Robotics "

ref. http://www.spyderrobotics.com/support/ups.html

Luckily we haven't had any lost power here this winter. I use heat packs for short term outages, but once we were out for a week. I packed them in small boxes wired with the thermometers from their tubs and sat them around the kerosene heater an appropriate distance to maintain the proper temps. Must invest in a generator now that my cash flow has improved a bit. Glad your power stayed on.