RHP Sizing for T8

So I managed to get a decent bonus at work this quarter, and I am planning to go ahead and upgrade Sushi to a PVC enclosure, since the glass one seems to have too many weird temperature issues. I am seriously considering the idea of going RHP only, so I am wondering:

For those of you that use RHPs as the only source of heat, what size would you recommend for a T8, or similar sized enclosure? I am considering the T8 or same sized Reptile Basics enclosure, with a VE RHP, but I am not sure what size to use. I read their FAQ, and knowing that my house tends to stay at 74, I'm thinking the 80w, but I wanted to gather some feedback before making a decision.

As always, thanks in advance!

80W


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Call Bob at Pro-Products: https://pro-products.com/.

Tell him what you have, and he'll sell you exactly the right thing.

You're buying a T8 from AP? He can ship the panel directly to AP and they will install the panel. It looks nice and professionally done that way. I did this a few times before I got frustrated with AP's lead times.

If it helps any, my house gets down to 70-72 in the winter (up to 78 summer), and Bob recommended their 65W panel for housing snake needing a 90 degree hot spot in a T8.

Sounds like the 80W would be plenty, though I much prefer the Pro Products brand for the reputation and safety. I've had mine for a year and a half and it has worked great.

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80 watt would be perfect. I have 3 Reptile Basics RHPs and am happy with them. Running 80 watts in 4x2x15" cages. They had no trouble at all in our room, which is usually around 74 ambient. They're running more frequently down in the living room, which is 70, but not all the time and not at full power. The only real issue I have with RB RHP's is the plug style. Two of mine have a clip on plug that has an extended piece (kind of like some cell chargers) that partially blocks other outlets on my Herpstat. The third one is just a normal plug. Right now it works because the two longer ones are in spots 1 and 6 on the Herpstat, but it definitely won't work if I get more of the clip-on plug style.

With that being said, now that we are upgrading enclosures, I am going to try a Pro Products heat panel next to see which I like better. I hear great things about their reliability and safety. And I want to see what the plugs look like, lol.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

I am going to try a Pro Products heat panel next to see which I like better. I hear great things about their reliability and safety. And I want to see what the plugs look like, lol.

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This is important, I'm running a Herpstat 2, so I don't want to lose an outlet. Can anyone fill us in on the plug style that Pro Products uses?

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

This is important, I'm running a Herpstat 2, so I don't want to lose an outlet. Can anyone fill us in on the plug style that Pro Products uses?

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With Reptile Basics you can switch the plug either to the left or right, so you shouldn't lose a plug with a Herpstat 2. Only becomes an issue if there are outlets in the middle. :) But I am curious to know what the plugs look like on Pro Products. I'll attach a photo in a sec of what RB looks like.

White ones are the plugs for two of my RB heat panels. I'm not handy, so I have no idea if there's a way to change the plug style safely.

Does ProProducts use a similar design? (I hope not).https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...f0ac885aac.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

With that being said, now that we are upgrading enclosures, I am going to try a Pro Products heat panel next to see which I like better. I hear great things about their reliability and safety. And I want to see what the plugs look like, lol.

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Pro-Products uses exactly the same design pictured. Sucks.

I'm looking for something better.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

White ones are the plugs for two of my RB heat panels. I'm not handy, so I have no idea if there's a way to change the plug style safely.

Does ProProducts use a similar design? (I hope not).https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...f0ac885aac.jpg

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Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to put that picture up there. That is definitely important. I'm sure it could be changed, but I'm not good with electrical stuff. I suppose it wouldn't be an issue with the HS2, but it is good to know ahead of time what I am getting myself into.

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

Exactly the same design pictured. Sucks.

I'm looking for something better.

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Thanks for the heads up. I really don't want anything that could cover one of my outlets.

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

Pro-Products uses exactly the same design pictured. Sucks.

I'm looking for something better.

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OK, I just called Reptile Basics because I was curious as to why two of mine have the white clip on plug and one of them has a standard. It's to do with the updates they made to their panel and the design. On the newer heat panels the cord is NOT fused directly into the panel. It's a plug you can detach and reattach to the panel itself. So the newer panels have a normal plug. The old style required a clip on plug to be able to route the cords out since they were fused directly into the panel.

Does that make sense? I'm horrible with terminology, so apologies about that. But basically any new style Reptile Basics heat panel with have a normal plug, so there will be no problems with multiple outlet Herpstats. :)

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

OK, I just called Reptile Basics because I was curious as to why two of mine have the white clip on plug and one of them has a standard. It's to do with the updates they made to their panel and the design. On the newer heat panels the cord is NOT fused directly into the panel. It's a plug you can detach and reattach to the panel itself. So the newer panels have a normal plug. The old style required a clip on plug to be able to route the cords out since they were fused directly into the panel.

Does that make sense? I'm horrible with terminology, so apologies about that. But basically any new style Reptile Basics heat panel with have a normal plug, so there will be no problems with multiple outlet Herpstats. :)

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Yep, makes perfect sense. Thank you, seriously. That is very helpful. I think I will go ahead with the 80w RBI panel.

You can also just use really short extension cords plugged into your herpstat for the clip style plugs so you don’t block any outlets[emoji106]


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Which actually leads to another question, where do you mount the probe with an RHP?

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

You can also just use really short extension cords plugged into your herpstat for the clip style plugs so you don’t block any outlets[emoji106]


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Good call, I didn't even stop to consider that.

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

Which actually leads to another question, where do you mount the probe with an RHP?

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I dangle mine on the cool side and set the T-stat to the required low temp. With the appropriate sized RHP, mounted in the right place, it works like a charm.

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

Which actually leads to another question, where do you mount the probe with an RHP?

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Different people do different things. Personally I have a small hole drilled on the same side as the heat panel towards the bottom of the cage, maybe 3-4 inches off the floor. The probe goes through that, sticking out about 2 inches) and I set my thermostat accordingly. Some people dangle their cord down the wall so it's close to the floor.

With the probe towards the bottom of the cage your thermostat will likely need to be set for LOWER than the desired hot spot. (ie, in my living room with ambient temps of 70 degrees, my Herpstat is set to approximately 81.5 degrees to reach a hot spot of 88-90).

Other put the probe very close to the heat panel (this is actually what Reptile Basics recommends). With this method you will likely need to set the thermostat HIGHER than your desired floor temp, or very close to it, as the probe will heat up faster than the floor of the cage.

Edited to say that all of this is if you are putting the probe on the hot side, not the cool side. :)

those plugs are super easy to change. All you have to do is cut off the old plug, strip the wires and reattach to the new one by wrapping it around a screw inside and tightening down. You just have to make sure the hot wire goes to the hot prong, but there are several youtube videos showing which wire to put where. I just did a couple plugs like this for my new enclosure. I didn't want to cut holes big enough to feed plugs through so I cut them off, fed the wires, and put a new one one.

I recently upgraded all 6 of my cages to Pro Products RHP's and absolutely love them. I really like their quality and they keep my cages spot on with the temps I set.

I use the 80Watt for my T8's.

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Originally Posted by reptilemom25

those plugs are super easy to change. All you have to do is cut off the old plug, strip the wires and reattach to the new one by wrapping it around a screw inside and tightening down. You just have to make sure the hot wire goes to the hot prong, but there are several youtube videos showing which wire to put where. I just did a couple plugs like this for my new enclosure. I didn't want to cut holes big enough to feed plugs through so I cut them off, fed the wires, and put a new one one.

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You can do like he said with the screw terminals or use other types. If you want a less bulky plug then you can get one that's molded into the cord and just crimp/ splice the wires. I do that all the time.

Wall Mount Surge Protector.

Cheap, will double or triple your outlets, and is probably overall better than just plugging into the wall.

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Originally Posted by Andiamo

Wall Mount Surge Protector.

Cheap, will double or triple your outlets, and is probably overall better than just plugging into the wall.

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I plan on plugging it directly into the thermostat, to ensure that it is properly regulated.


Thank you to everyone for all of the useful suggestions and info. I ended up going with the RB 4x2x1 enclosure and the RB 80W RHP. Now to wait patiently by the mailbox for a month or so...

Your gonna love that RB 4x2x1. I have one of those and like it better than my AP T8s in every aspect. Plus you're not going to need to wait for months for it to arrive!

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

Your gonna love that RB 4x2x1. I have one of those and like it better than my AP T8s in every aspect. Plus you're not going to need to wait for months for it to arrive!

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Yep, looking forward to that. I'm about fed up with this Exo Terra already, and I remembered you telling me that the RB enclosures were just as good if not better than the APs, so I am willing to spend the few extra bucks to get it in 4 weeks instead of 4 months.

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Originally Posted by fadingdaylight

Yep, looking forward to that. I'm about fed up with this Exo Terra already, and I remembered you telling me that the RB enclosures were just as good if not better than the APs, so I am willing to spend the few extra bucks to get it in 4 weeks instead of 4 months.

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After shipping it works out to be a small amount more. AP's prices are less shipping, which usually ran me $50. Plus you'd want door locks, add $20. Consider all that and the RB is only like $20 more or so.

Let me know what you think. I feel partly responsible since I talked them up a bit, but I'm sure you'll be happy.

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

After shipping it works out to be a small amount more. AP's prices are less shipping, which usually ran me $50. Plus you'd want door locks, add $20. Consider all that and the RB is only like $20 more or so.

Let me know what you think. I feel partly responsible since I talked them up a bit, but I'm sure you'll be happy.

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Yeah, the cost difference was slight, plus I threw in the LED lighting. And there's the stacking disks, which I hope to be able to put to use in the next year or so...

I will definitely keep you posted, but I'm pretty certain it is going to be a major improvement over what I have now.

I think you will be happy with the new enclosure and heat panel!

For those of you discussing the plug style of the pro products panels, I also did not like the plugs they are shipped with. It's literally the only thing I wasn't satisfied with when I purchased my panels. Apparently they have to ship with those because of something to do with their UL listing (has to be a plug that is super simple to install I guess). For about $3 each I bought and installed heavy duty plugs that don't take up the space next to them.

For those who say they don't know electrical, that's alright! You don't need to know for this operation. You just need to follow the incredibly easy instructions and have a set of basic wire strippers and a flathead screw driver. You just strip 1/2" of the wire insulation off, put it in the terminal (making sure hot vs. neutral are on the right terminals) and screw it down. It was easier than brushing my teeth!

But that's just what I did, and I really like the heavy duty plugs better. They feel more secure in my herpstat anyway. Overall, as I've said in other posts, I am super satisfied with pro products heat panels. I wouldn't use anything else at this point.

I will say this. I have tried 3 of the Top brands of PVC enclosures and they varied drastically as far as how a RHP heated them. AP was the best holding heat, their 1/2” PVC is EXCELLENT for insulating. The other was Boaphile. For a very expensive enclosure, my Panel ran 50% more under the same temps and same conditions as when in the AP. Measuring the PVC on the boaphile was hard, looked like 1/8th inch and its flimsy as a sheet of that cheap shower enclosure crap at lowes. Also is brittle without flex and i cracked a corner easily.
The other one I tried was Vision. This is much sturdier that Boaphile, as a matter of fact no comparison. It also held heat more like my AP. Measuring the thickness it was a bit less than the AP, but not brittle like the Boaphile I cracked.
The RHP still ran about 20% more than when in the AP.
The reason I mention all this is the Watt of the RHP has 1/2 to do with it, but the other 1/2 depends on the enclosure quality. The PVC and items inside is what absorbs heat and in return gives you your ambient temp, without a good thick PVC enclosure, reaching that can be hard no matter how many watts your RHP is if your loosing it like a Siv. Hope this helps.
Ohh and In my T-12’s I run 150 watts. They are double the size of a T-8. Because we keep our home cool all year around, we need a higher watt Rhp even for a 4’ enclosure... if your home is 70 plus degrees 24/7 a smaller RHP like 80 watts will do for you.



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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

The other was Boaphile. For a very expensive enclosure, my Panel ran 50% more under the same temps and same conditions as when in the AP. Measuring the PVC on the boaphile was hard, looked like 1/8th inch and its flimsy as a sheet of that cheap shower enclosure crap at lowes. Also is brittle without flex and i cracked a corner easily.

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I've heard very little good about Boaphile. There are people who's opinions I respect that use and like them. That said, for the price they charge, I wouldn't bother. There are so many other options and it looks like Boaphile has had a lot of issues in the past, and sometimes continues to.