Light questions and issues

Oh man we don't have them here in the USA lol


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Originally Posted by Karl_Mcknight

a heat mat will never start a fire or burn anything if it's properly regulated with a thermostat.

Any Heat source should have a thermostat including heat lamps, bulbs, etc. They are more likely to start fires as most bulbs get hotter than the heat pads do.

A typical heat pad (unregulated) will hit 95 to 150 degrees depending on brand and size. A bulb on the otherhand gets so hot if you touch it, you get blistered instantly. (400 degrees or more).

Most corn snake owners frown on bulbs and opt for a heat pad with a thermostat. The fact your cage is made of wood makes no difference.

In the case of wooden vivs, there is a significantly greater risk of fire if there is not a sufficient air gap between the mat and either the underside of the viv or the surface it's placed on. This is because wood is a fair bit more insulating than glass or plastic and can trap heat much more quickly if not properly ventilated. In the (albeit unlikely) event of a thermostat failure, this becomes a significant risk.

Originally Posted by Dragonling

In the case of wooden vivs, there is a significantly greater risk of fire if there is not a sufficient air gap between the mat and either the underside of the viv or the surface it's placed on. This is because wood is a fair bit more insulating than glass or plastic and can trap heat much more quickly if not properly ventilated. In the (albeit unlikely) event of a thermostat failure, this becomes a significant risk.

I understand where you're coming from and agree in theory, but the physics still states that wood needs about 350 degrees to combust. Some of those heat pads get hot enough to be unsafe for an animal but I've never seen one reach 300 degrees even without a thermostat.

I have 2 of them in use right now and a third as a standby and I've checked all 3 by plugging them in for several hours and none of them hit over 127 degrees. In fact the smaller of the 3 only hit 106 degrees. (Of course I use a thermostat on any and all). Bulbs on the other hand will get hot enough to start a fire. I have been blistered before just by touching a bulb for a split second, but I have never been even slightly burned by a pad.

I use the vivexotic glass heat mat holders and Microclimate EVO Thermostat to control the mats and lights

20170809_204044 by Bryan OHara, on Flickr

20170809_204058 by Bryan OHara, on Flickr

I use the STC-1000 for a thermostat for my hatchlings and adults and lizards

heres a link LINK