Outdoor Housing

Wendy · 19-08-2011, 09:18 PM

Hi for the first time i have been keeping my tortoises out 24/7. With the cooler nights coming we have started insulating the shed using bubble wrap with ply wood over, its a small playhouse we are using as housing.

We now need to get some background heat for the colder nights as they will probably stay out until hibernation. What sort of wattage will i need and what do others here use, ceramic heat emitors, tubular heaters or both. I have already got the thermostat and a combined bulb for days when extra heat is needed.

Thanks

Wendy

RacingSnake · 19-08-2011, 09:21 PM

I've got a 250W ceramic heater in mine, and can tell you it is f*cking hot - as can be seen by the red mark on my hand today

I went for the bigger heater on the basis that I can turn the heat down, but if I had a smaller heater I can't turn it up.... if you know what I mean.

I used heat reflective thermal wrapping and reflective tape for my insulation

Wendy · 20-08-2011, 08:29 PM

Hi thanks for the reply what holder do you use for the bulb if it gets that hot.

PS hope your hand feels better

kkenny · 21-08-2011, 06:14 PM

Good question, I am thinking of the same idea from Spring next year

Ozric Jonathan · 22-08-2011, 12:15 PM

you need a ceramic holder fit for 250watts. There are a few on the market. I reckon best use a pulse proportional or intelligent thermostat with one of those to get the best out of it.

The ceramic heat emitters are quite cheap and they last a very long time. Its the electricity that can work out expensive depending how cold the weather gets.

Also as said above, take care if you are touching the CRE to see if it's on. I have also had that experience...........................

RacingSnake · 30-08-2011, 08:07 AM

sorry about the slow reply, I've been away - but it's been said above.
I've got a ceramic holder mounted on one of those 'arcadia' lamp brackets which I have bent at an angle.

Not sure on the type of thermostat I have, it's a "Thermocontrol Pro 2" I think.
Seems to work pretty well, checked it this morning and it was at 20 degrees

warmer than my house

Pussygalore · 30-08-2011, 10:14 AM

tubulars are best in a larger house such as a shed etc as you can get one the length of the shed and they are ok on a thermostat, a ceramic is ideal for smaller houses such as kennels etc but wouldn't be enough to heat a large house simply because of its small size. Tubulars aren't costly (ebay) and one 6ft one kept our shed at our last place lovely and warm at night, I now have low watt ceramics as we now have kennel size housing. We used to have two combined suspended bulbs in the shed for daytime use even though the torts had outside access, one tip is to make the exit doorway as small as poss (less drafts) and double glaze any windows with perpsex, also don't forget to insulate the floor, we used sheet polystyrene then a peice of ply on top. You can also hang thick plastic at the door the torts will soon learn to push through it as long as they can see through. Just noticed, you can't use a thermostat with a combined bulb you'll blow the bulb, don't worry about the house getting to warm though when its on, the torts will come out if it gets to hot.

Wendy · 30-08-2011, 07:09 PM

Cheers everyone for the ideas and suggestions been busy insulating again today have been using layers of bubble wrap toped with polystyrene backed heat reflective sheets and topped with plywood.

Hope this is ok and will retain some of the heat.

19-08-2011, 09:18 PM	#1
Wendy Member Hatched Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 443	Outdoor Housing Hi for the first time i have been keeping my tortoises out 24/7. With the cooler nights coming we have started insulating the shed using bubble wrap with ply wood over, its a small playhouse we are using as housing. We now need to get some background heat for the colder nights as they will probably stay out until hibernation. What sort of wattage will i need and what do others here use, ceramic heat emitors, tubular heaters or both. I have already got the thermostat and a combined bulb for days when extra heat is needed. Thanks Wendy

19-08-2011, 09:21 PM	#2
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	I've got a 250W ceramic heater in mine, and can tell you it is f*cking hot - as can be seen by the red mark on my hand today I went for the bigger heater on the basis that I can turn the heat down, but if I had a smaller heater I can't turn it up.... if you know what I mean. I used heat reflective thermal wrapping and reflective tape for my insulation __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

21-08-2011, 06:14 PM	#4
kkenny Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 1,303	Good question, I am thinking of the same idea from Spring next year __________________ Karin Spartacus, THB, March 2013 Henry, THB, July 2008

22-08-2011, 12:15 PM	#5
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	you need a ceramic holder fit for 250watts. There are a few on the market. I reckon best use a pulse proportional or intelligent thermostat with one of those to get the best out of it. The ceramic heat emitters are quite cheap and they last a very long time. Its the electricity that can work out expensive depending how cold the weather gets. Also as said above, take care if you are touching the CRE to see if it's on. I have also had that experience........................... __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises Last edited by Ozric Jonathan; 22-08-2011 at 12:18 PM.

30-08-2011, 08:07 AM	#6
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	sorry about the slow reply, I've been away - but it's been said above. I've got a ceramic holder mounted on one of those 'arcadia' lamp brackets which I have bent at an angle. Not sure on the type of thermostat I have, it's a "Thermocontrol Pro 2" I think. Seems to work pretty well, checked it this morning and it was at 20 degrees warmer than my house __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

20-08-2011, 08:29 PM	#3
Wendy Member Hatched Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 443	Hi thanks for the reply what holder do you use for the bulb if it gets that hot. PS hope your hand feels better

30-08-2011, 10:14 AM	#7
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	tubulars are best in a larger house such as a shed etc as you can get one the length of the shed and they are ok on a thermostat, a ceramic is ideal for smaller houses such as kennels etc but wouldn't be enough to heat a large house simply because of its small size. Tubulars aren't costly (ebay) and one 6ft one kept our shed at our last place lovely and warm at night, I now have low watt ceramics as we now have kennel size housing. We used to have two combined suspended bulbs in the shed for daytime use even though the torts had outside access, one tip is to make the exit doorway as small as poss (less drafts) and double glaze any windows with perpsex, also don't forget to insulate the floor, we used sheet polystyrene then a peice of ply on top. You can also hang thick plastic at the door the torts will soon learn to push through it as long as they can see through. Just noticed, you can't use a thermostat with a combined bulb you'll blow the bulb, don't worry about the house getting to warm though when its on, the torts will come out if it gets to hot.

30-08-2011, 07:09 PM	#8
Wendy Member Hatched Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 443	Cheers everyone for the ideas and suggestions been busy insulating again today have been using layers of bubble wrap toped with polystyrene backed heat reflective sheets and topped with plywood. Hope this is ok and will retain some of the heat.

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