Soil warming cables for extra heat

[TheraMygale]

After doing some research, i realized that cables used for warming the soil, could be used for tarantula enclosures.

they don’t go as high as heat cables used for snow melting.

i got the idea from Daves little beasties.

since i have three shelves of enclosures, buying matts will be to costly in the long term and require more then one thermostat.

unfortunately, i only seem to find one kind of warming cable in my locality. Its a jump start soil warming cable. It comes with an intergrated thermostat, so not a pulse thermostat. I want to get a pulse thermsotat so the heat is constant and not always going up and down.

For all you tech geeks out there, would this cable, with intergrated thermsotat, still work if plugged into a pulse thermsotat? I tried to find this answer online, but i don’t think i knew how to word it and did not get the right answers.

Yes i will try space heater, but the room is an opened room. It will cost more in the long run because it will be heating the equivalent of 3 rooms.

the cables seemed a perfect option for me because its low heat, and can be installed to my liking on all three shelves. Its also way cheaper then reptile marketed cables, and i have a feeling they are heavier duty.

for keepers in the uk, you seem to have a lot of greater options when it comes to soil warming cables. You can get top quality cables without intergrated thermostat. This is great.

i also emailed the company with my question. For some reason, i don’t think i will get the answer i am looking for.

Jump Start Soil Heating Cable, 12'

Jump Start Soil Heating Cable 12'

www.hydrofarm.com

 

[viper69]

You’d have to mount vertical not directly under the cage. EU peeps use Ultratherm among others mounted vertically

 

[TheraMygale]

You’d have to mount vertical not directly under the cage. EU peeps use Ultratherm among others mounted vertically

Yep. I had no intentions of putting this under the enclosures. I was thinking of lining it in the back, with styrofoam on the outside. But i dont know if styrofoam will keep the heat in or not.

the goal is just to keep a nice little ambient warmth. 70-75 average.

its going to get really cold and i like to see my tarantulas. Our main heating system is blown air. And we keep the house around 69-70. If it gets wild cold outdoors we up it because its uncomfortable indoors and kids dont like it.

when you say vertical, do you just mean up in one straight line?

I was thinking of doing a long horizontal in the back, not necessarily on the enclosure itself. Then run it up the shelf and horizontal again. Doing a big S in the end that covers all three shelves.



Or do you mean this

 

[viper69]

Yes one straight line- one rectangle after another, that’s due to the product they used

 

[TheraMygale]

Yes one straight line- one rectangle after another, that’s due to the product they used

I also heard of those heat flexitape things. Also saw them in old posts. They are rectangle of course, and require a bit more work with connecting the wiring etc. I don’t want that simply because i am not comfortable with playing with wires. Even if its very simple. I like the idea of buying on long flexible cable and thats it thats all.

plug it in the thermostat and you have full control without cutting or rewiring. I like it simple as simplicity goes.

 

[viper69]

I also heard of those heat flexitape things. Also saw them in old posts. They are rectangle of course, and require a bit more work with connecting the wiring etc. I don’t want that simply because i am not comfortable with playing with wires. Even if its very simple. I like the idea of buying on long flexible cable and thats it thats all.

plug it in the thermostat and you have full control without cutting or rewiring. I like it simple as simplicity goes. View attachment 485609

Don’t get flexwatt. Ultratherm is a product that is flexwatt put together for you.Been using the ones for decades!!!

 

[TheraMygale]

Don’t get flexwatt. Ultratherm is a product that is flexwatt put together for you.Been using the ones for decades!!!

i wouls never get that. Its not for me. I really appreciate your reccomandation and will try to source this product. This is the kind if feed back i want.

i will have a dedicated room one day, but its not on the map because of the children. Unless i convince someone of my plan. Then i would not need most of this.

but until then, i find this suits my needs and goals.

for anyone else reading this, everyone has different objectives. Not everyone needs this.

@viper69 is this what you mean when you say ultratherm? Or do you mean the waterbed cables?

 

[A guy]

My shelves are in the living room, during winter I use a small space heater and put those outdoor thermal reflectors at the back of my shelves. The whole shelves get warmed up pretty nicely with the reflectors.

 

[Brewser]

Fan of Solar Space Heaters

 

[Nocturnalnature]

i wouls never get that. Its not for me. I really appreciate your reccomandation and will try to source this product. This is the kind if feed back i want.

i will have a dedicated room one day, but its not on the map because of the children. Unless i convince someone of my plan. Then i would not need most of this.

but until then, i find this suits my needs and goals.

for anyone else reading this, everyone has different objectives. Not everyone needs this.

@viper69 is this what you mean when you say ultratherm? Or do you mean the waterbed cables? View attachment 485616

Ultratherm heat mats are of the highest quality. I have ran well over 100 of them (some for over 15 years) and never have had one fail in any way.
I obviously use at least one high quality thermostat on each rack system, but they don’t get as hot as Flexwatt, which I personally feel helps with the longevity of the product.

 

[TheraMygale]

My shelves are in the living room, during winter I use a small space heater and put those outdoor thermal reflectors at the back of my shelves. The whole shelves get warmed up pretty nicely with the reflectors.

What “type” of space heater do you use? Ceramic? Infrared? Oil radiator? Plain old heat fan?

Just curious. I take notes of what people prefer. I had misconception oil heaters were the one you hook up gaz to. But its really just “oil” inside the machine. So it doesnt seem as hazardous as i previously thought.

My goal is to get the most effecient system, at the best price, without running a high hydro bill. Plus, with hopefully, getting more activity from my tarantulas by having them as close as possible to average optimal temps.

 

[A guy]

What “type” of space heater do you use? Ceramic? Infrared? Oil radiator? Plain old heat fan?

Just curious. I take notes of what people prefer. I had misconception oil heaters were the one you hook up gaz to. But its really just “oil” inside the machine. So it doesnt seem as hazardous as i previously thought.

My goal is to get the most effecient system, at the best price, without running a high hydro bill. Plus, with hopefully, getting more activity from my tarantulas by having them as close as possible to average optimal temps.

Just a plain heat fan that has a high and low setting. Does the job just fine, the outdoor reflector at the back of the shelves doesn't wonders in sustaining heat.

I also thought about oil powered ones but with those I've read that you would still need some type of ventilation because it is still gas burning. Canadian winter does not allow an open window enough to have good ventilation for that

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I used the heat tape on the back of my nursery. Bought the prewired one from Pangea, but split it into two and bought an extra set of wires to cover the full back. Super simple to hook up. I found a video from a guy using them for chick heating. Plugged both into a thermostat controller.

 

[TheraMygale]

I also thought about oil powered ones but with those I've read that you would still need some type of ventilation because it is still gas burning. Canadian winter does not allow an open window enough to have good ventilation for that

Really? Ventilation? I looked them up today and ot doesnt mention that. I also spent a winter in a room a with that a while back. Well, now i guess i need to back and search this aspect.

 

[A guy]

Really? Ventilation? I looked them up today and ot doesnt mention that. I also spent a winter in a room a with that a while back. Well, now i guess i need to back and search this aspect.

Yeah, not sure where I saw it or where I heard it from

 

[viper69]

Ultratherm heat mats are of the highest quality. I have ran well over 100 of them (some for over 15 years) and never have had one fail in any way.
I obviously use at least one high quality thermostat on each rack system, but they don’t get as hot as Flexwatt, which I personally feel helps with the longevity of the product.

Same, been using them for 25 years, I checked. The heat was the other reason I bought them. I didn't flexwatt heat levels.

One of the best herp products ever bought!!

What “type” of space heater do you use? Ceramic? Infrared? Oil radiator? Plain old heat fan?

Just curious. I take notes of what people prefer. I had misconception oil heaters were the one you hook up gaz to. But its really just “oil” inside the machine. So it doesnt seem as hazardous as i previously thought.

My goal is to get the most effecient system, at the best price, without running a high hydro bill. Plus, with hopefully, getting more activity from my tarantulas by having them as close as possible to average optimal temps.

@cold blood has a great one.

 

[TheraMygale]

Yeah, not sure where I saw it or where I heard it from

I think its related to the first uses.

After doing research last night, i came to conclusion that oil radiator makers, reccomend ventilation the first uses because of smell. Of course, should smell persist in a very bad way for more then a few days, then that relates to a possible leak.

But in general, its like when we get a new stove, or get our cars rust proofed. Theres a smell in the begining.

So, in conclusion, what i gathered is, its ok. And its made for indoor use.

Its also less of a dust maker because its not pushing air around.

However, the myth of it being more efficient cost ways, relates to how it actualy works. And it seems to be debateable.

If you need heat asap: not a good choice.
If you need nice equal warmth long time: good choice.
Even when turned off, heat will persist for a while.

All this being said, i will go see what @coldblood uses as a machine for my own curiousity.

I use an oil filled space heater...every year from october through may my heater is on all the time with zero worries.

So i guess that covers it. Oil filled. Just need to figure out if its delonghi, noma or some other brand. Delonghi is in general very well rated and have been produced for many years. They used to make them in italy, but have been having them made in china too now. So i guess that might change a few things. But their reputation is established, and Daves from little beasties uses the dragon from delonghi.

I think i might still get cables. The price of exoterra 50watt cable + thermostat, is far less then the delonghi dragon radiator. By almost 50%.

 

[Mike41793]

Reptile Basics sells flex watt that comes pre wired and setup in whatever length you need. It comes in 3 different widths too. You could buy exact lengths, use aluminum tape to tape it to the back of each shelf, and plug them into a surge protector that you'd plug into the thermostat. The thermostat probe can be taped to the flex watt. The key is you need a thermostat to regulate the temps. Reptile basics sells everything you'd need and their customer service is good if you have questions.

 

[TheraMygale]

Reptile Basics sells flex watt that comes pre wired and setup in whatever length you need. It comes in 3 different widths too. You could buy exact lengths, use aluminum tape to tape it to the back of each shelf, and plug them into a surge protector that you'd plug into the thermostat. The thermostat probe can be taped to the flex watt. The key is you need a thermostat to regulate the temps. Reptile basics sells everything you'd need and their customer service is good if you have questions.

I am in Canada. Which is why my options are different; accessibility. I did read about the flex watt. We dont have access to everything and i dont plan on ordering in usa.

 

[Mike41793]

I am in Canada. Which is why my options are different; accessibility. I did read about the flex watt. We dont have access to everything and i dont plan on ordering in usa.

Is there a law against ordering it from the US or something? I'm sure RB would ship to Canada. Shipping wouldn't cost a ton.