Taceas
USW = UB313
Since I'm a bit late to this lovely discussion, if a UTH is charring the top of a wood surface, then I'd have to say the UTH is defective. I've used them sitting directly on the table before with no air gaps made by the rubber feet the UTH's come with on the aquariums and I have yet to char a table top.
I don't like to stick them on the tanks, mainly because I swap tanks out a lot and once you stick them, you pretty much destroy the delicate wiring inside and I don't think they're safe from then on. But I've stuck them to ceramic tile before and simply set that below the tank (raised on the rubber feet) and it works perfectly.
Stick it on the un-glazed side, so that the glaze is on the tabletop and doesn't cause scratches, and you can just move it to wherever you go to next with a new cage or whatnot. Plus the ceramic absorbs the heat and transfers it over a larger area, and insulates the wood below from getting damaged. And since its not directly attached to the tank, there is very little chance for thermal burns on your snake, even without using a rheostat or thermostat. Even I have yet to buy one.
I also agree with Jynx, Zoomed's products are lesser quality than they charge for. So I just don't buy them if I can help it. The last UTH I got was a clear plastic one with the black ribbons running through it, and so far I love it. Its not hot to the touch like the others are and it seems to be working rather well.
I don't like to stick them on the tanks, mainly because I swap tanks out a lot and once you stick them, you pretty much destroy the delicate wiring inside and I don't think they're safe from then on. But I've stuck them to ceramic tile before and simply set that below the tank (raised on the rubber feet) and it works perfectly.
Stick it on the un-glazed side, so that the glaze is on the tabletop and doesn't cause scratches, and you can just move it to wherever you go to next with a new cage or whatnot. Plus the ceramic absorbs the heat and transfers it over a larger area, and insulates the wood below from getting damaged. And since its not directly attached to the tank, there is very little chance for thermal burns on your snake, even without using a rheostat or thermostat. Even I have yet to buy one.
I also agree with Jynx, Zoomed's products are lesser quality than they charge for. So I just don't buy them if I can help it. The last UTH I got was a clear plastic one with the black ribbons running through it, and so far I love it. Its not hot to the touch like the others are and it seems to be working rather well.
