Another heating cable question.

Blonc

Arachnoknight
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I have a 4.5m heating cable (2m of the cable doesn't heat up) that I was planning on using to provide some heat to a couple of terrariums (tarantulas). Is it feasable to fasten the cable to a styrofoam backing board put at the back of the shelves or would that melt the styrofoam? I was planning on using wire bent double to fasten the cable to the backing. How much heat can I expect from the cable?
 

KaroKoenig

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Pretty hard to tell without any information, really. How many watts? I suggest you plug it in, and you will feel how warm/hot it gets.
 

Blonc

Arachnoknight
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Ah sorry, it's a reptech cable of 25W/230volt. I'm thinking it can radiate a fair bit of heat.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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5.5 watts per meter isn't going to cook anything but I'd be concerned about the broken wire. Potentially a short circuit of the full load of the appliance that the fuse or circuit breaker permits. Say there's a 5 amp fuse: P=IxE = around 900 watts capable of being delivered before the fuse pops. Rule is never use a damaged electrical appliance anywhere near flammable materials if you have to use it at all.
 
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Blonc

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No broken wire as such, I have a spool of wire that I was planning on snipping into appropriate lengths and bending into U's that I was going to press into the styrofoam as staples holding the wire in place.
 

viper69

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What does Reptech think? whatever you do, test it out first to make sure bad things dont happen.
 

Dorifto

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No broken wire as such, I have a spool of wire that I was planning on snipping into appropriate lengths and bending into U's that I was going to press into the styrofoam as staples holding the wire in place.
Styrofoam acts like a heat barrier, that way you can overheat the cable.

It's much better option a heat mat.
 

Blonc

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Styrofoam acts like a heat barrier, that way you can overheat the cable.
You know, I was having second thoughts about using the cable in conjunction with the styrofoam. Heat mats it is then if needed. The cable should be quite handy for when I need to dry out overly moist substrate before using it.
 

Dorifto

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For drying substrate it will work fine, the cables are more suitable to reptiles that don't burrow. A T will dig directly to the cable and could die.

If you are going to use a heat mat, put it in one side, and use a thermostat to control the temperature. You have to choose the correct wattage for your enclosure and room temperature.
 

Blonc

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I hadn't planned on using it inside an enclosure, just as an external heat source for a number of smaller enclosures. Thanks for the tips.
 
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