Day 6 - Cermic heat lamp?

[ethelandedna]

hahaha It's OK. All advice is very gratefully received - it's just the sorting and understanding of it that I have problems with.

So, in words of one syllable for an easily confused newbie, which is cheapest and most recommended option - mat or ceramic?

[Torterra]

In my main table I have a 15 heat strip attached to the side of a 'house' it keep night temps around 22C inside but now i guess time to switch it off, winter is over. Also i have 100W ceramic heat lamp and it did a great job. In my new table I also have 100W heat lamp in lampholder with shade, to spread heat over larger area. It is on all night, it never gets too hot. But my setups for Indian Stars, I dont know if this can be used for meds, they stay in cooler temps at night I heard.

[PAULMK]

Interesting about use of heatmats,i dont have my tort yet,im still in research planning stage.Im going to build my own tort table,if i make him or her a little flat top house for sleeping can i place a heatmat on the inside roof for night time temperature increase.

[16 shells]

Originally Posted by ethelandedna

hahaha It's OK. All advice is very gratefully received - it's just the sorting and understanding of it that I have problems with.

So, in words of one syllable for an easily confused newbie, which is cheapest and most recommended option - mat or ceramic?

I involved in this one . Going on fleabay prices new unused including post
Mat stat 100w £25 ish
Heat mat 35w £ 13

Ceramic's
Habistat temp stat upto 300w £30
Ceramic heat bulb 100w £10
Ceramic holder kit upto 1000w £5
Or Lamp shade type £20
Ceramic's are the most used on here. I think's
Hope this help's.

[Torterra]

Good thread. I just made one myself, here is a video how I did it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v26VeWCn-E0

[BeatBeat]

Thanks Torterra. I've just been to Maplins to look for a ceramic bulb holder but declined because I had no idea how I would wire it up ;-( Wished I'd have seen your post first.

[16 shells]

Originally Posted by PAULMK

Interesting about use of heatmats,i dont have my tort yet,im still in research planning stage.Im going to build my own tort table,if i make him or her a little flat top house for sleeping can i place a heatmat on the inside roof for night time temperature increase.

I f you get the right size mat and run it off a thermostat, there is a way of fixing between the cable in the mat carefully, though never done it. Around April May time usualy no night heat is needed for Med tort's, about 10-12c they should be ok. Night time good temp's are used for over wintering Med tort's mainly.

[Torterra]

Originally Posted by BeatBeat

Thanks Torterra. I've just been to Maplins to look for a ceramic bulb holder but declined because I had no idea how I would wire it up ;-( Wished I'd have seen your post first.

You need to get one that is closed at top, unless you will screw it to the beam overhead (not sure about heat) I used this termosocket http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ceramic-Heat-L...item3ca68311ae because It has a loop on top and can be hanged up.

[BeatBeat]

Cheers. Never thought when I bought my torts that I would be learning about electronics

[Torterra]

Originally Posted by BeatBeat

Cheers. Never thought when I bought my torts that I would be learning about electronics

Don't forget you must use 3A fuse in plug, here in UK. They sell a plug fitted with 3A fuse in Robert Dyas, but in Maplins their plugs are fitted with 13A. Too much for lamp.