how to use flexwatt in a 3/4" melamine enclosure?

[bigballs]

im getting a few 3/4" thick melamine enclosures measuring 4'x2'x2' for my dumerils. they were previously heated with radiant heat panels but nobody gets rid of those things so i need a new way of heating them. i was thinking of using flexwatt for the basking area but the only way i can see it working is by putting it inside the enclosure...

my question is how can i use flexwatt safely and effectively to create a hot spot within this enclosure? the room they are going in is heated so ambient temps are not an issue. also if anyone is using another effective method please let me know.

thanks guys! please keep the ideas comin!

[littleindiangirl]

Oi... Um... well, we have 11" flexwatt foil taped to the underside of our AP cage, they too are in a heated room. The thing is though, that cage is on the bottom, with about 8 inches are air space being created by the stand the cage sits on.

Our other cage on top has heat cable smooshed into the groove cut into the plastic. I have no clue what to do for a stack of them if there is no air space for the flexwatt.

[Blue Apple Herps]

You can put it in the cage just fine. Seal the connections on the flexwatt with silicone very well. Put it in the cage and tack it down (foil tape works great!). Then cover it with a piece of plexiglass, acrylic, glass, etc and seal that very well, so that the entire flexwatt is waterproof in case of a water spill or something. This way you don't fry your snake.

[bigballs]

You can put it in the cage just fine. Seal the connections on the flexwatt with silicone very well. Put it in the cage and tack it down (foil tape works great!). Then cover it with a piece of plexiglass, acrylic, glass, etc and seal that very well, so that the entire flexwatt is waterproof in case of a water spill or something. This way you don't fry your snake.

ya thats exactly what i was thinking of doing but is that what most people with custom enclosures do??





oh an thanks connie...

[littleindiangirl]

See now, I've always read that the flex needs to breathe, or you risk hot spots and possibly overheating (melt) your flexwatt...

[dr del]

Hi,

If you wanted to keep airflow couldn't you cut slots in the side and back and make sure the plexi or whatever is above that level when you seal it?

You need a hole to get the wire out anyway so as long as you plan it when designing/ building the enclosure it shouldn't be that difficult I think.


dr del

[Blue Apple Herps]

See now, I've always read that the flex needs to breathe, or you risk hot spots and possibly overheating (melt) your flexwatt...

I may be completely wrong on this, but here is my understanding.

I believe that Flexwatt doesn't need to breathe. I think I remember reading somewhere that its actually used under tile and wood to heat floors and that air circulation (or lack thereof isn't an issue with flexwatt)

My understanding is that its the UTH that need to breathe.