Lighting & UTH

[mecoat]

mecoat ~

Thanks for sharing these results of your LCD (?) test .

Is the strip you speak one of those Zoo Med (.75 inch x 5.25 inch) LCDs (liquid crystal displays)? As we speak I have a brand new Zoo Med LCD on the wall right next to my gecko room's Honeywell thermostat. It is NOT stuck to the wall with the adhesive which comes on it. The Honeywell reads 76 F; the LCD has the 75, 80, and 82 bars lit up. So how do you know what the temperature really is?

All 3 bars seem to stay lit. :-( The LCD thermometer has been on the wall a long time.

Something else concerns me. You mention your thermostat was set for 85-86 F, yet the LCD measured over 100 F? At that point was the thermostat still on...still heating?

Hi Elizabeth

Sounds like a similar if not identical product. I haven't stuck mine down either, as I can move it around then. For the most part I usually have only 1 or maybe 2 colours lit (in which case the temp is somewhere in between). Is it possible you've got a war water pipe (Central Heating?) running through the wall at the point you mention? That might affect the temperatures shown.

Yes, at the point the termometer read over 100 the thermostat was still on, although it switched off shortly afterwards. As I've said before the temperature rose so quickly the thermostat got confused (all digital probes take a while to read the current temperature, as you'll have noticed when you move your thermometer probe around hte viv (it takes a while to decide what the temp is). The thermostat does the same, so it takes a while to realise it's reached temperature. This is fine if the temperature is going up relatively slowly, but not if it's rising as quickly as it did with the 100W. Really, if you put your hand in the viv under the 100W you could feel how quickly it was rising.

Another thing to consider is that I have (like most Brits) a wooden viv, which is more sealed than the open top glass tanks that seem to be more prevalent in the States. It's possible that temps don't rise so quickly with the top open to vent all the hot/warm air straight out, isn't it? Which may be why you've not noticed this problem, different kinds of viv.

 

[ChiTea]

Those that use a CHE: do you use a thermostat with it, and if so, which one? The thermostat that I bought a few weeks ago says it's specifically for heat mats. I was just wondering if there was one that was better for controlling a CHE.

thanks!

 

[ChiTea]

I got my CHE yesterday, and it says that it's only supposed to be used with wire cage holders. Is this true? I only have one of the regular clamp light 'cages'. Not sure what they're called...

 

[ChiTea]

Hi daisy,

I do have both. I'm just trying to switch from a heat lamp bulb to a CHE, but the instructions say I can only use a wire lamp, but I'm trying to figure out if that's true, or if I can use the regular clamp lamp to hold my CHE. The thermostat I have for my UTH says it's best for heat mats, so I wasn't sure if there was a different thermostat that was better for a CHE.

-ChiTea

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Leopard geckos should be housed with both a heat mat and and bulb in their vivariums.
Although they r expensive it is well worth investing in a good thermometer. My thermometer
Makes sure that the vivarium is 28 degrees in the day and 20 at night, and an alarm goes off if the temperature is above or below this.

Hope this helped, Daisy

Daisy ~

Excellent to use both an UTH and an overhead dome so that a leo has a warm zone! :banana:

The temperatures you report above are a bit too cool for leos.

How about something like these \/?

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi daisy,

I do have both. I'm just trying to switch from a heat lamp bulb to a CHE, but the instructions say I can only use a wire lamp, but I'm trying to figure out if that's true, or if I can use the regular clamp lamp to hold my CHE. The thermostat I have for my UTH says it's best for heat mats, so I wasn't sure if there was a different thermostat that was better for a CHE.

-ChiTea

ChiTea ~

wire lamp ???

Does your metal clamp lamp have a ceramic socket rated to at least the wattage of your CHE? If so, the metal clamp lamp should be fine .

A separate thermostat (same kind as for your UTH) is best for your overhead dome since it will be set for a different temperature than the thermostat monitoring your UTH.

Does this make sense?

 

[ChiTea]

hi Elizabeth,

Here's a picture of the wire lamp device (?) that the CHE instructions recommend:

Here are the instructions on the inside of the metal clamp lamp:


Yes, I definitely wanted to get a separate thermostat for the CHE, I just wasn't sure if there was a difference between thermostats built for UTH's versus CHE's. I guess not.

Makes total sense. Thanks for your help!!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

hi Elizabeth,

Here's a picture of the wire lamp device (?) that the CHE instructions recommend: View attachment 25462

Here are the instructions on the inside of the metal clamp lamp:
View attachment 25463

Yes, I definitely wanted to get a separate thermostat for the CHE, I just wasn't sure if there was a difference between thermostats built for UTH's versus CHE's. I guess not.

Makes total sense. Thanks for your help!!

You are welcome, ChiTea .

What are the dimensions of your leo's habitat?

A couple things: Your metal clamp lamp (not a wire "fixture" like you pictured) will work much better. I recommend the same type metal clamp lamp, but a large one. The 10 inch diameter clamp lamp is much better if you have a 30 x 12 x 12 inch tank because it directs much more of the heat back into your leo's tank where you want it. A 5.5 inch metal clamp lamp is just not as effective :-(.

What wattage is your CHE? Some people find a 60 watt (or even 100 watt CHE--on a thermostat of course) is what they need for a 30 x 12 x 12 inch tank. Larger domes are compatible with higher wattage CHEs.

 

[cricket4u]

hi Elizabeth,

Here's a picture of the wire lamp device (?) that the CHE instructions recommend: View attachment 25462

Here are the instructions on the inside of the metal clamp lamp:
View attachment 25463

Yes, I definitely wanted to get a separate thermostat for the CHE, I just wasn't sure if there was a difference between thermostats built for UTH's versus CHE's. I guess not.

Makes total sense. Thanks for your help!!

I'm pretty sure that their main concern is not to use it in a plastic frame for the obvious reason (melting). You have a ceramic frame and the CHE is under 75 watts, therefore you should be fine. If you feel safer using the recommended wire lamp, go ahead, although I would think that a good amount of heat will be lost through the wire.

Also make sure that you have a window which allows a good amount of daylight in the room.

 

[ChiTea]

hi Cricket - that was my thought, as well; that heat would be lost. I'll just use my metal frame. I got a 40W CHE to start.

I actually have 2 metal clamp lamp frames - this one is the 5.5", but I do also have a 10", which is what I've been using for the heat lamp. I just took a picture of the instructions on the smaller one, since there was no bulb in it - easier to see.

Thanks again!! Everyone on this forum has been such a huge help. I haven't owned a pet since I was pretty young, but I just absolutely fell in love with my little leo, Reggie. I want to make sure that I do everything right for him

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

hi Elizabeth - that was my thought, as well; that heat would be lost. I'll just use my metal frame.

Thanks again!! You and everyone on this forum have been such a huge help. I haven't owned a pet since I was pretty young, but I just absolutely fell in love with my little leo, Reggie. I want to make sure that I do everything right for him

Yes, ChiTea ~

Much heat will be lost if not redirected back into the habitat. The wider the dome the better :biggrin:.

Glad you love leo Reggie. He's a lucky leo.