CHE fixture and feeding surface ??'s

[mousenut]

Hello, and thank you in advance...

1) Can a CHE (100w) be used in the "Zoo Med Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture" even though it says it shouldn't be used in there? Seems sort of silly that the merc lights can but the CHE can't. Fire-fighting isn't on my list of "things to do" anytime soon.

2) Is slate use specifically for beak wear properties or should any decent bigger flat rock suffice?

3) Is cherry (solid) ok to use un-coated as a sight block etc. in an enclosure? I have lots of it so I'm not worried about replacing it every so often.


Baby Russian coming soon, more questions may follow...

 

[coreyc]

Welcome to the forum

1) I would say no on the CHE like you said it says on the box do not use with a CHE why I dont know (I was going to get for a CHE till I read the box got two domes instead)

2) slate or any flat rock yea it is to help trim nail an beak

3) I think cherry is all right for a sight block

 

[mousenut]

1b) I don't so much mind buying another fixture but now I feel sort of stupid having a dual fixture with only one bulb in it. Not expensive enough to ship back so any suggestions as to what to put in the other half of the fixture?

2b) Great, I was hoping slate wasn't of a specific hardness or whatever

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Mousenut:

Welcome to the forum!! May we know your name and where you're from?

Does the light fixture you bought have a ceramic base? Then I would figure its ok to use with a CHE. If its a Bakelite base (brown plastic), then no, the CHE gets too hot for these.

 

[mousenut]

May we know your name and where you're from?

Does the light fixture you bought have a ceramic base? Then I would figure its ok to use with a CHE. If its a Bakelite base (brown plastic), then no, the CHE gets too hot for these.

Thank you, Scott and I (we) are south of Buffalo.

I is a ceramic base but i'm debating if they are saying it's isn't designed for the CHE because it doesn't have the wire cover over the opening or it can't handle the heat.
Shown here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003F6XW56/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[coreyc]

May we know your name and where you're from?

Does the light fixture you bought have a ceramic base? Then I would figure its ok to use with a CHE. If its a Bakelite base (brown plastic), then no, the CHE gets too hot for these.

Thank you, Scott and I (we) are south of Buffalo.

I is a ceramic base but i'm debating if they are saying it's isn't designed for the CHE because it doesn't have the wire cover over the opening or it can't handle the heat.
Shown here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003F6XW56/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I sent zoomed an email I'll let you know what they said when I hear back from them

 

[coreyc]

I just got this E-mail back from zoomed

Hello



Thank you for contacting us. the Mini Deep Dome fixture does not provide enough ventilation to be used with a Ceramic Heat Emitter. Heat Emitters can operate at 400 degrees or more and if that heat is not allowed to escape the dome, it can build up in the base and cause problems in the wires. Please let me know if you have any further questions.



Kind regards,



Ashley Rademacher

Customer Service

Zoo Med Labs, Inc.

3650 Sacramento Dr.

San Luis Obispo CA 93401

Toll Free 888-496-6633

Fax 805-542-9295

 

[mousenut]

I just got this E-mail back from zoomed
Hello
Thank you for contacting us. the Mini Deep Dome fixture does not provide enough ventilation to be used with a Ceramic Heat Emitter. Heat Emitters can operate at 400 degrees or more and if that heat is not allowed to escape the dome, it can build up in the base and cause problems in the wires. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thank you for looking into that for me

Now I'm still back to wondering what to do with the other half of the fixture...

 

[mattluck3]

I could be wrong here but depending on how much heat ya need doesnt reptileuv (mega ray bulb) make a low watt mega ray heat emitter that doesnt get as hot as a ceramic something like only 120 degrees to the touch. I was just looking at there website. just a thought

 

[Yvonne G]

Or drill some holes in the "bell" to allow the build-up of heat to escape.

 

[mousenut]

I could be wrong here but depending on how much heat ya need doesnt reptileuv (mega ray bulb) make a low watt mega ray heat emitter that doesnt get as hot as a ceramic something like only 120 degrees to the touch. I was just looking at there website. just a thought

Already have the 100w CHE, had that first. Could just dimming that CHE lower it's heat enough to make it safe? Where is a lawer/tortoise lover when you need one

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Or drill some holes in the "bell" to allow the build-up of heat to escape.

I thought the same thing but didn't want to say it out loud (type it out loud)

 

[mattluck3]

LOL very true

 

[tortoisenerd]

Thanks for posting this! I just bought three of these mini deep domes (with some snap on covers and lamp stands) to use for CHEs to match my large fixture for my MVB, and didn't see that note about not using them for CHEs (its not on the ZooMed or Amazon product pages). Anyone have an opinion on using 60 Watt CHEs in these mini deep domes? I assume its still bad. Any good options besides cage fixtures (I have one now and I don't like it)? Annoyed that I put so much planning into this and now I might have to change my plans (enclosure is getting done in a couple weeks).

---

...I like the idea of drilling holes. Seems like its only a problem using CHEs with the mini ones.

 

[mousenut]

...I like the idea of drilling holes. Seems like its only a problem using CHEs with the mini ones.

Now that I have it set up, there already are holes in it (3 big 1 small on each side of the dual). Not sure if adding more holes is the answer or not. I have a thermostat & timer coming already but I think I'm going to have to add a dimmer too to reduce the heat output.

 

[Tom]

I always look at the actual ceramic fixture. It will usually have a wattage rating on their. Most of mine say 660 watts. If its rated for a 660 watt light bulb, I just can't imagine a 100 watt CHE causing a problem.

I've been using 100 watt CHEs in regular domed ceramic fixtures and the fixtures stay cool enough to grab with my bare hand. They are also mounted on the underside of the lid of my 4x4' lizard boxes. There is only about two inches between the ceramic of the fixture and the painted plywood surface. I watched it very carefully for several days and the wood barely even gets warm.

I can't tell you what to do, but if it were me, I'd try it out and watch it very carefully. If you see that it isn't going to work, I'd take back the "double dome" fixture and just go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a couple of their ceramic fixtures to hang over you enclosure.

 

[DeanS]

I NEVER buy domes from specialists...always Home Depot or Lowe's. As long as they rate a high enough wattage rating...and you can't beat the price!

 

[John]

I'd be careful using a dimmer on a che its not a lite its a heating element,by reducing voltage u increase current draw causing a fire risk.

 

[Tom]

I completely forgot your other two questions. Duh!

2. Slate works fine, but I prefer something that will keep the food out of the substrate a little more. Everybody has their own way, but I like to use plastic butter tub lids turned upside down. The little lip holds the food in place, for the most part, but even little babies can get over it and eat. They are also very easy to take out and wash with hot soapy water. Very easy to disinfect too. That Mazuri gets messy.

3. Cherrywood should be fine for your purposes.

 

[Edna]

Thanks for posting this! I just bought three of these mini deep domes (with some snap on covers and lamp stands) to use for CHEs to match my large fixture for my MVB, and didn't see that note about not using them for CHEs (its not on the ZooMed or Amazon product pages). Anyone have an opinion on using 60 Watt CHEs in these mini deep domes? I assume its still bad. Any good options besides cage fixtures (I have one now and I don't like it)? Annoyed that I put so much planning into this and now I might have to change my plans (enclosure is getting done in a couple weeks).

---

...I like the idea of drilling holes. Seems like its only a problem using CHEs with the mini ones.

---

I've been using a 60 watt CHE in a mini deep dome for a couple of months now, and have not had any trouble with it. It gets hot to the touch, but I have temp-gunned it before and didn't find the reading to be unusually hot. I use it at night, when my MVB is off, but am heating it up right now so I can get a reading for you. OK, 145 degrees on the bell, compared to 165 on the bell of the big deep dome with the MVB in it.

 

[mousenut]

I've been using a 60 watt CHE in a mini deep dome for a couple of months now, and have not had any trouble with it. It gets hot to the touch, but I have temp-gunned it before and didn't find the reading to be unusually hot. I use it at night, when my MVB is off, but am heating it up right now so I can get a reading for you. OK, 145 degrees on the bell, compared to 165 on the bell of the big deep dome with the MVB in it.

I have a heat gun on it's way and I will do the same before I really fire it up for real.

Can someone else chime in on the dimming issue with a CHE? My thought was 100 watts is 100 watts and a CHE is essentialy an incandecant source just like a lightbulb just with the element burried in ceramics. Dimming with a 300 watt rated dimmer should be no sweat...yes or no?

I might be able to take pics later on today. Mixing dirt and washing rocks etc. right now.

---

I completely forgot your other two questions. Duh!

2. Slate works fine, but I prefer something that will keep the food out of the substrate a little more. Everybody has their own way, but I like to use plastic butter tub lids turned upside down. The little lip holds the food in place, for the most part, but even little babies can get over it and eat. They are also very easy to take out and wash with hot soapy water. Very easy to disinfect too. That Mazuri gets messy.

3. Cherrywood should be fine for your purposes.

Duh!

I didn't have slate which is why I asked the original question of varied rocks & tiles working out well for a wear surface. We (my wife with me watching=we) are gardeners all summer so we started a sprout/small pot rotation & planting array in our basement to hopefully allow us to have constant real edible plants burried in the substrate all the time. We are on our third planting already and he's not even here yet

The surface question was mostly for suplimental feedings or if (when) he catches up to us before we can fire up the greenhouse again in spring.