Space Heater Question

I'm moving my BP's into the spare bedroom today and I'm going to be using a space heater to warm the cool side of the tanks. Does any one have an idea of a good cheap one that would work. Also should I put it on a timer or get one that has a thermostate and seit it for like 82 degrees. I'm thinking of getting one thathas a thermostate built in rather then put one on a timer, just want to here what you guys think. Thanks

Here's an example of an oil filled electric one similar to the one we use (I'm too lazy today to run take a pic of it LOL). They work very nicely, some have a digital setting to fine tune the heat output. You can generally find something similar at WalMart or the life for around $40.00 and they are safer and run more efficiently than your standard straight up electric spaceheater.


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...paceHeater.jpg

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Originally Posted by erk628

I'm moving my BP's into the spare bedroom today and I'm going to be using a space heater to warm the cool side of the tanks. Does any one have an idea of a good cheap one that would work. Also should I put it on a timer or get one that has a thermostate and seit it for like 82 degrees. I'm thinking of getting one thathas a thermostate built in rather then put one on a timer, just want to here what you guys think. Thanks

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i got a small one to heat one room from wal mart and it works good. it was for a 144 sq. ft. room but heats my 25x16 garage nicely as well and it can dip down to the 50's if i turn it off

So would you guys recommend a oil filled one over a electric one. Thanks

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Originally Posted by erk628

So would you guys recommend a oil filled one over a electric one. Thanks

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heck yeah!!!! Oil filled heaters ROCK MY SOCKS!!!!:rockon:

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Originally Posted by worldcupkeeper

heck yeah!!!! Oil filled heaters ROCK MY SOCKS!!!!:rockon:

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what are the pros of oil filled over electric? my 2 electric are heating my rooms no problem

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

what are the pros of oil filled over electric? my 2 electric are heating my rooms no problem

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from my experience, oil filled heaters heat the room more constantly then the space heaters. Space heaters blow hot air, so when I used them I had to get several to get to my desired temp.

Im just speaking from my personal experience.

I used an electric for years and recently went to an oil filled. I believe the oil filled to be both more efficient, heat the room as a whole more evenly, and dry out the room less. I had been using a electric fan based heater and the room got really dry which made it more work to keep the snakes humidity where it should be. Also for whatever reason I feel "safer" using the oil filled.

Thanks guys I'm going to get a oil filled one today.

does anyone know where i could get an oil filled space heater on the internet??

i like ordering online :D

YOu can actually order off Walmart.com
My vote goes to oil-filled too. I love the things. Be certain you keep an eye on the plug getting hot. We had two that melted the plugs. Since those two I've had 5 additonal ones with no issues.
They are safe to use, don't dry the air, and the heat differently. No hot spot near the thing really. So you can't put your hands out to it and feel the wonderful basking heat.. but it heats the room better.
I've dried towels and shirts on them before. Great things!
Wolfy

gotta say i'd not recommend putting anything ON the heater itself, especially something flammable like fabric...

would a space heater be able to heat the whole room to a constant temp??

like lets say 80 F throught the entire volume of the room??

I can definately vouch for elec. fan heaters DRYing out the air! We have one in our bedroom (no central-heat vent in that room only.. ) I have been waking up to nosebleeds and we really need to get something new.. I think we'll be looking into the oil heater for ourselves! Luckily the snakes' room is nice and toasty and not dry like this.. they live better than we do it seems.. :)

I use an oil-filled heater controlled by a ranco. Set it and forget about.

I also feel better because I trust the Ranco over the thermostat that the heater comes with.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

I use an oil-filled heater controlled by a ranco. Set it and forget about.

I also feel better because I trust the Ranco over the thermostat that the heater comes with.

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I do the same thing in a spare bedroom, can maintain about 82* and with the ranco dont have to worry about overheating. :gj:

To clarify... I only dry towels and shirts on the oil filled heater at my shop, when I'm right there during the day. And, it's in a concrete room, nothing flamable(except the fabric itself). Just using that as an example of how very safe they seem to be, not reccomending that practice to anyone. It's not a very bright thing to do, but then, I do a lot of stuff that is described as 'not very bright'.
Thanks for pointing that out for me. I think I need a disclaimer in my signature some days.
Wolfy

can i get a yes or a no to my question above??

Not sure but it probaly depends on the size of the room and the size of the heater. If the room is small then probaly, I suggest starting a new topic on this, because people will only see it if they come in this one.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

would a space heater be able to heat the whole room to a constant temp??

like lets say 80 F throught the entire volume of the room??

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electric space heaters do not provide constant, consistent temps. an oil filled heater does a much better job of providing consistent temps throughout a room.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

can i get a yes or a no to my question above??

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yes they can! what wattage you need and how much it will cost to run depends. where you live(climate), how hot you want it, temps in rest of house, how big of room?


vaughn

I have a quick question.
I see a few have oiled filled heaters w/ rancos on them.
Does anyone have them set up and working w/o rancos added and if so how long have you been using them?

I currently have a small mini-tower elec heater but running during the day I don't feel as safe as I would w/ a oiled filled. I was going to buy one and juse wanted to know if I indeed needed to hook a ranco on it?


If so which do you use and how do you set it up?

Thanks

I have an oil-filled heater controlled with a Ranco. Basically, you set your Ranco up just like you would to control flexwatt. Then, on your space heater, you turn the thermostat 1/2-3/4 all the way up. Plug your space heater into the ranco, and set your ranco at the temp you want.

You have to set the space heater's thermostat high enough so it won't cut off before the ranco does. Doing that allows the Ranco to turn it on and off instead.

Hope that helps.

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Originally Posted by jotay

I have a quick question.
I see a few have oiled filled heaters w/ rancos on them.
Does anyone have them set up and working w/o rancos added and if so how long have you been using them?

I currently have a small mini-tower elec heater but running during the day I don't feel as safe as I would w/ a oiled filled. I was going to buy one and juse wanted to know if I indeed needed to hook a ranco on it?


If so which do you use and how do you set it up?

Thanks

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In my rodent room where precise temperatures aren't important, I run an oil filled heater usually on "low" ... and then depending on the temps outside, I adjust it as necessary.

Since oil-filled heaters don't have precise thermostats that actually measure and respond to air temperatures, and since ball pythons need precision when it comes to temps ... using an oil filled heater to regulate your ball pythons ambient temps should be done (in my opinion) with some type of thermostat (ranco, helix, etc).

-adam

Thanks guys for your help!

So if I am understanding what your saying Adam then I could hook my Helix ( my extra one ) up to the oil filled heater as opposed to an off-on like a Ranco?

So where do you guys place the temp probe? One place better than another?

I have the probe against the wall at about waist level. Everyone's room is diffferent so you might have to do some trial and error to get it right.

And I'm sure a helix would control it better than a Ranco, so don't go out and buy a ranco if you have a helix just sitting around ;)

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Originally Posted by jotay

Thanks guys for your help!

So if I am understanding what your saying Adam then I could hook my Helix ( my extra one ) up to the oil filled heater as opposed to an off-on like a Ranco?

So where do you guys place the temp probe? One place better than another?

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The DBS-1000 units are only rated for 500 watts ... for a oil filled heater running at 1500 watts you'll need either a Helix 1500 watt unti or a Ranco/Johnsons which are both rated to run a 1500 watt max unit.

-adam

Thanks Brad !
Guess I have some shopping and set up work to do tomorrow :)

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

The DBS-1000 units are only rated for 500 watts ... for a oil filled heater running at 1500 watts you'll need either a Helix 1500 watt unti or a Ranco/Johnsons which are both rated to run a 1500 watt max unit.

-adam

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Oh snap...didn't even think about that. Guess that's why Vaughn recommended the Ranco when I was setting that up...I think the Rancos are rated up to 1500 watts.

I only run the space heater on the 600w setting anyway....but that would still be enough to max out a helix.

Oh man thanks Adam!
I knew that in the back of my head and would have figured that one out as I was trying to set up and then been unhappy.

Thanks for pointing that out in advance :)

I am using a herpstat pro to run racks and my oil filled heater. The herpstat can't go over 400 watts per output (Has 4 outputs) so I use a 400 watt oil filled heater to control room temps. Here is a picture of my vision rack that I am using for my breeding BP's. It is not in my snake room which I keep a little warmer. You can see the 400 watt oil filled at the bottom of the picture and the herpstat on top of the rack. The 400 watts are great because they wont trip breakers as easily as the 1500 watts. Last year I had problems with the 1500 watt guys tripping breakers. One 1500 watt heater will use up a whole 15 amp breaker itself!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...eedingrack.JPG