Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Dracowoman2 · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: Heat Cable Wattage?

Anyone give me an idea of what wattage of heat cable I need to get for my hatchling rack given that there will only be one length of it going through each shelf, although at a push I can put 2 lengths through, probably with knots everywhere Laughing

It will house both Royals (when we get some) and geckos (leos & fatties etc) and does the length of the cable determine the number of stats or do I just need to work on wattage?

Thanks peeps Very Happy

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DrAdam · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:06 am Post subject:

Hi Claire

The wattage is determined by the length of the cable, a 12m cable is 100w.
I've found that cable works better in a warmer room, I think I've read that your room is 25C ?? In that case you'll easily be able to heat them on 1 run Smile

Obviously you'll need two runs to heat the royal and geckos seperately, so that will be 2 stats... but you can work on 1 stat per species if you like.
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Jas · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:55 am Post subject:

Hiya Claire, i use heat cable on my racks, i use 40 foot length and its routed into each shelf of the rack and i have three lengths on each shelf spaced 2 inches apart from each other so it gives a basking area of about 6 inches wide. I think if you only have 1 length per shelf it wont give much width to the basking area.
I also use a pulse stat for the 40 foot length that does 9 trays.
hope that helps Very Happy

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DrAdam · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

Hi Jas

With regards to the basking spot, I use aluminium tape to go over the cable, this effectively widens the strip to about 4 inch along the back of the tub... I've heard quite a lot of people do it this way... When I went and looked at my mates he also told me that heat from the tub above also contributes Smile

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Dracowoman2 · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks both most helpful, I've never worked with heat cable before, and I'm also really glad we have an electrician in the family in case of any tricky issues Very Happy

I'd better get on and order some cable from somewhere then as I'm predicting hatchlings of the gecko variety shortlyish so want everything ready. Yes the room is between 24C to 26C and when the humidifier is on as well I like to goa nd hide out in there Very Happy

I just need to work out the length of cable I need now as each hatchling rack is 4 cadbury tubs wide by 23 shelves high, so a fiarly big unit. I'll get my tape measure out later on and work it all out x2 Wink

thanks for the help, where is good to get the cable from? I have seen it on ebay but it seemed a little pricey.
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Jas · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:59 am Post subject:

This is where i have allways bought mine from, not sure sure if they are still the cheapest but they was when i first started using them. Very Happy

http://www.taylorsgardenbuildings.co.uk/store/customer/product.php?productid=17113
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Dracowoman2 · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

Thanks for that Jas Very Happy

I'll go have a look, we calculated that we need 2 24metre cables Shocked

How are things with you? Very Happy

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H.S. · Key Member Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 481 Location: Kent

I am looking into Heating cable too. I haven't used this company yet, but they appear to have a good range.
http://www.garden4less.co.uk/soil-warming-cable.asp
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Dracowoman2 · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:29 am Post subject:

I looked at that one earlier funnily enough, I didn't understand why they were adding £30.00 to the price of the 24 metre cable when it got to the checkout, why can't they just give a total price Confused

Tis very confusing when they do it like that Very Happy

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"Life without animals isn't life, they give much and take little"

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Dracowoman2 · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:33 am Post subject:

I've just had another look at that site and found this one

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=HK-25.0

Anyone used this? I like the idea of it being water tight and it says it's completely ready to use, so I'm guessing I have to do other stuff to the other type?
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www.draco2.co.uk

"Life without animals isn't life, they give much and take little"

Claire