Radiant Heat Panels

I have a 48"L x 18"D x 20" H enclosure on order from Animal Plastics for my beardie. I want to use a RHP as the source of heat. I have been researching and feel that Reptile Basics offers a quality RHP.

My question is: Is the 40 watt unit sufficient for heating this enclosure? I do not plan on using any other heating methods (UTH, heat cable, etc). The enclosure is going to be in a very climate controlled room where the temperature is a steady 70 degrees.

Thanks,
Lou

I think pro-products makes the best RHP's, personally. Rich (reptile basics) is awesome, especially his cages, however i would go with pro products for RHP's. Just a thought:gj:, good luck.

Pro-Products is widely known as the best maker for RHP.

www.pro-products.com/proheat.html

They have 200 sizes, and they probably have exactly the side you need. Give them the specs of the cage and your herp room, and they tell you what you need.

AP actually installs the RHPs for free, so if it's not too late you can have PP ship it to AP and they'll get it in the cage for you.

Don'T those go on the bottom of the cage? By heat source do you mean you will not provide a heat lamp? I'm saying that because in no way are any products that provide heat for a beardie useful, even at night seeing as they do not feel heat from below. Id just go ahead and get him a MVB bulb if his fluorescent tube uvb is too bright for you.- Matt

EDIT: I should ask, what are you planning to use it for?

Radiant heat panels are very efficient. They actually heat a very large part of the cage because they cover a large part of the TOP of the cage (they're mounted to the roof).

Quoted from Pro-Products:

Safest

Cannot catch on fire.
Pro HeatTM radiant panels pose no fire hazard to objects in your cage, nor will they cause plastic to become deformed or melted.
Unlike heat lamps and ceramic heat emitters, Pro HeatTM radiant panels are safe to the touch with no danger of burning and scarring your reptiles.
Panel distributes heat evenly over entire surface with no hot spots.
Operating Efficiency

Uses up to 80% less electricity than other heating systems, costing only pennies a day to operate.
Pro HeatTM is the only heat source your reptile's habitat will require.
Eliminates the need and expense to continually replace heat lamps or ceramic heat emitters.

Best Heat Source

Replicates the sun's direct radiant warmth from above that reptiles require for proper thermo-regulation.
Automatically creates the proper temperature gradient within the reptile enclosure.
In addition to providing the right type of heat, Pro HeatTM radiant panels also provide added physiological benefits by lowering stress and improving your reptile's circulation, digestion, immune system and overall health.

Longest Lasting

Tests performed by the University of Maryland showed that these heaters will last up to 35 years and beyond.

Here are a few pictures of one if my JCP cage:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_2963.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_2965.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_2973.jpg

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Originally Posted by lmartelli77

I have a 48"L x 18"D x 20" H enclosure on order from Animal Plastics for my beardie. I want to use a RHP as the source of heat. I have been researching and feel that Reptile Basics offers a quality RHP.

My question is: Is the 40 watt unit sufficient for heating this enclosure? I do not plan on using any other heating methods (UTH, heat cable, etc). The enclosure is going to be in a very climate controlled room where the temperature is a steady 70 degrees.

Thanks,
Lou

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I know nothing about bearded dragons............how hot of a basking spot do they need?

If it's higher than 90 to 100 degrees, and RHP may not be right for you.......

Oh so they heat from the top? Well, if you can get a small basking area to 105 then I cannot see why not. But DAM! they start out at $65! Why not just use a basking bulb? Beardies like the light in the day time!

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Oh so they heat from the top? Well, if you can get a small basking area to 105 then I cannot see why not. But DAM! they start out at $65! Why not just use a basking bulb? Beardies like the light in the day time!

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105 is doable but you'd have to get the panel fairly close to the basking site.

I just do not see why you would want a RHP for a Beardie, no matter what there has to be lights in the cage, so why not heat it with cheap ones?

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

I just do not see why you would want a RHP for a Beardie, no matter what there has to be lights in the cage, so why not heat it with cheap ones?

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Radiant Heat Panels are similar to ceramic heat emitters in how they put off heat. The difference is the RHP do not get scorching hot like a CHE or bulb. Also, the RHP will last 35 years +. Yes, they are expensive at first, but you don't have to worry about them burning out like a bulb. They are low profile and go inside of the cage, consequently there is no need for those dome lights. I plan on stacking a few cages, so this is a very good selling point.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

I just do not see why you would want a RHP for a Beardie, no matter what there has to be lights in the cage, so why not heat it with cheap ones?

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Define cheap - you spend $65 bucks on an RHP and that RHP is good for the life of your animal.

You don't have to worry about replacing them - and you don't have to worry about them cutting out, possibly burning the animal, breaking, etc.

Depends on how often you need to replace a heat bulb...........but factor in the life of the animal and the cost may be close to a wash.

Whenever a bulb burns out, you buy a new one. Add the price of the bulbs up for about 10-15 years and you'll have your RHP together :D

They're just a much better, gentler, and longer lasting heating element.

I have a 36x24x24 AP cage with an RHP, and w/o the thermostat, it heats the basking shelf (halfway down the cage) to about 110!

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Define cheap - you spend $65 bucks on an RHP and that RHP is good for the life of your animal.

You don't have to worry about replacing them - and you don't have to worry about them cutting out, possibly burning the animal, breaking, etc.

Depends on how often you need to replace a heat bulb...........but factor in the life of the animal and the cost may be close to a wash.

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So your telling the millions of people out there who use light bulbs... that they are dangerous and use RHPs? But hey... as long as it works and you have the proper uvb bulbs too, then go ahead.

Its not like they would help me any, my mvb bulbs that provide uvb adn heat have to be replaced once a year anyways.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Whenever a bulb burns out, you buy a new one. Add the price of the bulbs up for about 10-15 years and you'll have your RHP together :D

They're just a much better, gentler, and longer lasting heating element.

I have a 36x24x24 AP cage with an RHP, and w/o the thermostat, it heats the basking shelf (halfway down the cage) to about 110!

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I did a little math... When I use Reptisun 10.0s I buy my heat lamps from the dollar store for... well, a dollar... They last anywhere from 6 months to a year ( Lets say 6 months...) Thats $2 a year, beardies live on average 8-15 years... so lets say 15, thats $30 I would spend on bulbs its entire life, and so far ive no blow outs ( I like to replace them once they hit 8 months) SO... you could buy 30+ years worth of bulbs for the price of a RHP... cheaper? Yes...Safter? ?No problems so far! Beardies ( Who is an australian lizard, they like the sun...) love them! but again like my above post if it works why not? I just like to stick to the book and keep everything...ordinary.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

I did a little math... When I use Reptisun 10.0s I buy my heat lamps from the dollar store for... well, a dollar... They last anywhere from 6 months to a year ( Lets say 6 months...) Thats $2 a year, beardies live on average 8-15 years... so lets say 15, thats $30 I would spend on bulbs its entire life, and so far ive no blow outs ( I like to replace them once they hit 8 months) SO... you could buy 30+ years worth of bulbs for the price of a RHP... cheaper? Yes...Safter? ?No problems so far! Beardies ( Who is an australian lizard, they like the sun...) love them! but again like my above post if it works why not? I just like to stick to the book and keep everything...ordinary.

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WOW! I didn't know they were only $1! That's pretty cool.

I just like RHPs for their fire safety, reliability, and capability. They can create a 90F hot spot when the room is 65.

I also like them because they're the only heat source you'll ever need (for most animals, at least) and they heat a great area of the cage.

It comes down to personal preference... and as to keeping everything ordinary, I think RHPs are a great new addition to the heating elements. :banana:

If he can afford the rhp, and they are safer to use than bulbs then i think he should go for it! They are a superior product and RHP's are just sweet!:gj:

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

WOW! I didn't know they were only $1! That's pretty cool.

I just like RHPs for their fire safety, reliability, and capability. They can create a 90F hot spot when the room is 65.

I also like them because they're the only heat source you'll ever need (for most animals, at least) and they heat a great area of the cage.

It comes down to personal preference... and as to keeping everything ordinary, I think RHPs are a great new addition to the heating elements. :banana:

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Yup! People buy those $15 bulbs you get at petco:rolleyes:The only problem i still see is getting their basking platform up to 105

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Originally Posted by juddb

If he can afford the rhp, and they are safer to use than bulbs then i think he should go for it! They are a superior product and RHP's are just sweet!:gj:

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I agree!

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

So your telling the millions of people out there who use light bulbs... that they are dangerous and use RHPs? But hey... as long as it works and you have the proper uvb bulbs too, then go ahead.

Its not like they would help me any, my mvb bulbs that provide uvb adn heat have to be replaced once a year anyways.

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:confused:

Where did I say they were dangerous?

How about we stop worrying about defending our heat source of choice?

Radiant heat panels have significant safety advantages over light bulbs. DutchHerp and others have outlined them. If you want to infer from that that light bulbs are dangerous - well, go ahead - just don't attribute that view to me or anyone else on this thread who is rationally discussing the potential viability of using an RHP for a beardie set-up.

How many watts are those heat bulbs? Radiant heat panels can not only heat a spot, they can also raise the temperature of an entire enclosure.

So while we're factoring costs, we need to factor in the potential (if any) cost savings associated with using a more efficient product.

Well said, but let's not start fighting people. :)
I love this forum because of the friendly people, so let's not get crazy! :D

I dont think anyone has a problem with light bulbs but the RHP also provides heat at night if needed. I have one and dont use it for my beardies but I can see how it would work well. I use mine to control quarrantine temps for new snakes that are kept outside the snake room.

I have used ceramic heat emitters in beardie enclosures and have burned my arm, not fun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

You don't have to worry about replacing them - and you don't have to worry about them cutting out, possibly burning the animal, breaking, etc.

Depends on how often you need to replace a heat bulb...........but factor in the life of the animal and the cost may be close to a wash.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

:confused:

Where did I say they were dangerous?

.

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Sounds like it to me. Make sure when your giving a point, that you choose your words wisely.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Sounds like it to me. Make sure when your giving a point, that you choose your words wisely.

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What point are you trying to make? I stated that there is a possibility that a bulb could burn an animal. Why do you think they sell guards for them - aesthetic purposes?

One of the big selling points of a RHP is the added safety factor for the animal.

Does that make bulbs dangerous? I don't think so. A Volvo is significantly safer in a crash than a Miata, but that doesn't make a Miata dangerous - does it?

It just means that there are greater risks for injury if used irresponsibly. That chance is significantly lowered with a heat panel. DutchHerp and others have commented in the same vein on this and other threads.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

So your telling the millions of people out there who use light bulbs... that they are dangerous and use RHPs? But hey... as long as it works and you have the proper uvb bulbs too, then go ahead.
Its not like they would help me any, my mvb bulbs that provide uvb adn heat have to be replaced once a year anyways.

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See the difference between your confusingly worded quote and the actual point of the discussion?

No-one is telling millions of people that their light bulbs are dangerous. No one is advocating that everyone in the herp world switch to RHPs. All we were doing is discussing the advantages of heat panels.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I dont think anyone has a problem with light bulbs but the RHP also provides heat at night if needed. I have one and dont use it for my beardies but I can see how it would work well. I use mine to control quarrantine temps for new snakes that are kept outside the snake room.

I have used ceramic heat emitters in beardie enclosures and have burned my arm, not fun.

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Hmmmmm.


Sounds dangerous.