Vivarium Electronics / Reptile Basics Radiant Heat Panel warning

[Tsquare]

Hi all,
I wanted to share my experience in the interests of the safety of your animals and not wanting you to waste your money like I have.

After only one year this radiant heat panel started failing on me, and was no longer able to consistently hold the needed temperature. I contacted them thinking it would be a simple matter of replacement since they state they have a lifetime warranty, but their customer service was exceedingly unhelpful. I spent many emails trying to explain to them the dropping temperatures, and they simply refused to acknowledge it, reminding me that their warranty is "at their discretion". It is a very expensive device and now I have to replace it after only one year at my cost.

I have since learned that this device is not UL or CE certified for safety, which means if melts or catches on fire (google it, it has happened) and burns down your house, not only will you loose your reptile and house, your insurance may not cover it. They advertise that they use a thermo fuse for safety. While fuses help reduce the risk of fire, all fuses degrade and fail eventually, and once it fails on this unit, shorting of the element, melting of the housing and fires are possible.

My temp readings indicate that the device is overheating at times and the "safety fuse" seems to be tripping, and then grossly under-heating for 15 hours. So with the constant tripping, it is likely to fail very badly soon, and I am not going to wait for it to burn us to death.

I will definitely not be buying this product one again, most likely will go with Pro Heat as my replacement. If you have had negative or positive experiences with Pro Heat, please share.

[Bogertophis]

I don't use this kind of heat at all so I'm not that familiar with them, but I'm just wondering- is it possible to simply change the fuse in it after 6-12 months, just as a safety precaution & "disaster-prevention"? Or is it inaccessible unless you destroy the unit?

Thank you for bringing this issue to the attention of others here in the interest of safety.

[Mr. Misha]

I'm going to take this post with a grain of salt as I've seen these "warning" posts before for VE/RB panels and they always end with the person going to pro panels. For some reason, the OPs only post once or a few times and disappear...

With that being said, I've had my Reptile Basics panels for literally years and never had any issues. Maybe VE or RB can chime in on this.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[plateOfFlan]

I'm going to take this post with a grain of salt as I've seen these "warning" posts before for VE/RB panels and they always end with the person going to pro panels. For some reason, the OPs only post once or a few times and disappear...

With that being said, I've had my Reptile Basics panels for literally years and never had any issues. Maybe VE or RB can chime in on this.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I was going to say, the "UL or CE certified" thing made me realize I've seen this exact same post before

[Bogertophis]

I'm going to take this post with a grain of salt as I've seen these "warning" posts before for VE/RB panels and they always end with the person going to pro panels. For some reason, the OPs only post once or a few times and disappear...

I was going to say, the "UL or CE certified" thing made me realize I've seen this exact same post before

Yep. Always a first time post and we never hear from the OP again...

I hate to think this is a sales tactic by a rival brand (or by a friend of-), but I agree, that IS rather suspicious... Time will tell if it's a one-off post.

[WrongPython]

Any sort of heating element has some sort of safety issue associated with it. That's just how electronics and heat roll.

RHPs? Make sure they've properly outgassed, don't let too much heat reflect back at the unit, maybe get them serviced every few years to replace fuses and the like. Heat bulbs? Don't spray them with water when they're hot, don't let your herps touch them, watch for electrical shorts. CHEs? Definitely don't let anything touch them. Heat tape? Don't get me started.

My point is that any heating element can fail, like the others have said. Avoid obvious junk and untested technology, follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, remember your safety regulators and relays, maintain and check your equipment, and you should be good.

For what it's worth, the only consistent, widespread scuttlebutt I've heard in the VE versus ProProducts RHP debate is that the VE panels seem to be a bit stinkier when offgassing. Since offgassing smells seemed to be tied to the type of plastic used in the unit's shell, which does appear to be different between the two companies... yeah, I could potentially see that. People who have used both brands can chime in on this front. I'm curious.

[jmcrook]

Any sort of heating element has some sort of safety issue associated with it. That's just how electronics and heat roll.

RHPs? Make sure they've properly outgassed, don't let too much heat reflect back at the unit, maybe get them serviced every few years to replace fuses and the like. Heat bulbs? Don't spray them with water when they're hot, don't let your herps touch them, watch for electrical shorts. CHEs? Definitely don't let anything touch them. Heat tape? Don't get me started.

My point is that any heating element can fail, like the others have said. Avoid obvious junk and untested technology, follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, remember your safety regulators and relays, maintain and check your equipment, and you should be good.

For what it's worth, the only consistent, widespread scuttlebutt I've heard in the VE versus ProProducts RHP debate is that the VE panels seem to be a bit stinkier when offgassing. Since offgassing smells seemed to be tied to the type of plastic used in the unit's shell, which does appear to be different between the two companies... yeah, I could potentially see that. People who have used both brands can chime in on this front. I'm curious.

Both definitely stink when off gassing. Can't recall offhand which was the worse offender at my place to be honest though. Pro Heat claims no off gassing but they definitely stink for a bit when brand new and fired up.

[WhompingWillow]

I'm going to take this post with a grain of salt as I've seen these "warning" posts before for VE/RB panels and they always end with the person going to pro panels. For some reason, the OPs only post once or a few times and disappear...

With that being said, I've had my Reptile Basics panels for literally years and never had any issues. Maybe VE or RB can chime in on this.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

While I can't speak for the OP's experience, and while I haven't been nearly as active on this site as I once was (due to kids, home projects, etc.) I can speak to my experience with the older style Vivarium Electronics heat panels - I recently replied to a post about it but will mention it here and include photos.

Of the heat panels we were running, 2 were the older style VE kind with the plug that could be removed from the panel itself, 2 are newer VE ones where the wire cannot come out of the panel, and 1 is from ProProducts. I liked the ease of ordering VE panels, which is why we initially went with them.

A few weeks ago while checking on snakes and turning on lights, I noticed that our BCL had partially unplugged the wire from the panel and it was literally smoking. Part of the plug had melted. I hate to think of what could have happened to my animals and house if I hadn't gone down to that snake room when I did. All RHPs were/are controlled by Herpstats.

Needless to say, we stopped using those panels immediately and have replaced them with ones from ProProducts. We still have the 2 newer style VE panels but will also be replacing those as they look like they have warped.

Buy whichever products you prefer and feel comfortable with, but there are safety issues with VE RHPs.

[ReptiJ]

I'm going to take this post with a grain of salt as I've seen these "warning" posts before for VE/RB panels and they always end with the person going to pro panels. For some reason, the OPs only post once or a few times and disappear...

With that being said, I've had my Reptile Basics panels for literally years and never had any issues. Maybe VE or RB can chime in on this.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I am going to take this comment with a grain of salt as I bought a reptile basics 120m watt panel and it only lasted 40 days before it died. Now I have to fork over more money to have it shipped for repair. People go to pro panels because they are far superior quality then the junk reptile basics sells.

[promist]

I try not to post on any sites for the exact reasons some are stating here, that either we or someone we know was asked to place this type of post. I have never or asked anyone else to place such a post. Our Pro Heat panels stand on their own merits and everyone can make their own decision as to what they want to purchase. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should do their own due diligence to determine the benefit or risk of a specific product. This and any other post had nothing to do with us and is the experience or opinion of that person which I have no control over, whether good or bad.

Bob @ Pro Products