At a dead end...............

[PitOnTheProwl]

I am in need of an idea PLEASE???????
I have my enclosures designed and all the electrical figured out.
I have even looked at a lot of the "custom" ones available on line.
The problem I see (or should I say dont see) is that nobody seems to cover their lighting inside the enclosure.
I know mine will only be using 25w bulbs just for my viewing pleasures but I still dont want any of my snakes to be able to get to the ceramic fixture.

What do any of ya'll do to cover the lighting?
I thought about florecent (sp) but I have a bunch of ceramics laying around that I need to use on something before the wife gets mad
I have an idea for screen but to me it seems like I am really starting to over think this project and the screen will take up A LOT of time to build the way I see it in my head.

[kitedemon]

Hey,
I have fluorescent fixtures inside some out side on others and I just used 'lightsticks' one bulb with a built in diffuser and such. I have been thinking of a design that would use ceramic with incandescent light fixtures but have not experimented with it yet.

I had thought to use a frosted tube personally I was looking at dust collector clear lengths and just sanding the inside to 'frost' it.

Ok lets see if I can make sense.

Run the tube from one side to the other completely through the enclosure. Leaving the ends open so you have a tube that is open to the outside but NOT to the inside. I had thought silicone and perhaps a glue (I tend to use hot melt as a I have a very good gun for it and b it cools very quickly and is non toxic.) To hold it in place. I had planned on mounting a light fixture with open bracket. Fixtures often have the screw down flange for a shade I was going to use that to hold it in place. Then use the tube would light up and be a gentle glow in the interior. I had thought that it would be a great way to lift the ambient temps. How much it would do so I guess would depend on the bulb wattage (I had thought something like 15w) but a CFL would work too if the heat was too much. I have not experimented at all so you will have to check that the light doesn't melt the tube, over heat the enclosure and the 50 other things I have not thought about yet. I think it would look good and give access for cables if needed and could also be a ventilation aid if the tube was perforated. All just thoughts I have yet to try it myself. If you do try it I'd love to see some photos!
Alex

[PitOnTheProwl]

Well, I really wanted to use 2 ceramics in one enclosure just in case they needed more heat at night. Could wire with a 2 way single gang switch to have exterior controls on both a day and night light.
My only problem is trying to figure out snake safety that would look great and not kill to much of the 12" of head space.
Plus it has to be easily removable so you can replace bulbs when needed.

I do like the floro-through idea too

For my first enclosure I will probably just mount the 14" mini floro that I just bought because I was bored and walking around home depot.