OliveW
Well-Known Member
Any thoughts on this heater for a night box? Assume it's free, so don't consider the cost vs. oil filled. Thanks.
I've never seen anyone use one of those so I cannot comment on how effective, safe, or efficient it would be, but it will not be any where near as efficient as an oil heater. When an oil heater is "on", it is heating up all that oil. When the thermostat kicks it "off", that hot oil keeps on giving off heat for a long time. When the one in your link kicks off, it cools immediately. It will have to run a lot more over the course of a night to maintain temperatures.Any thoughts on this heater for a night box? Assume it's free, so don't consider the cost vs. oil filled. Thanks.
I've never seen anyone use one of those so I cannot comment on how effective, safe, or efficient it would be, but it will not be any where near as efficient as an oil heater. When an oil heater is "on", it is heating up all that oil. When the thermostat kicks it "off", that hot oil keeps on giving off heat for a long time. When the one in your link kicks off, it cools immediately. It will have to run a lot more over the course of a night to maintain temperatures.
I am a fan of redundant heating systems in case of failure. You could always get a second thermostat, set it a few degrees lower than the primary, and run that other heater on it. If ever the primary heater or thermostat failed, it could save your tortoise's life on a cold winter night. You guys get a few below freezing nights there each year.Thank you, @Tom. I appreciate your opinion very much. You've been a huge help to me since the first day I landed here. I'll stick with the oil one that I already have anyway. Free is not great if it will cost me more in electricity.
We've been working on our/your night box this weekend and I was trying to take a short cut. lol
I always run two heaters. Both on seperate thermostats. One is set lower then the main one, just incase the main one stops working, eventually as the temp drops, the back up will kick in.Thank you, @Tom. I appreciate your opinion very much. You've been a huge help to me since the first day I landed here. I'll stick with the oil one that I already have anyway. Free is not great if it will cost me more in electricity.
We've been working on our/your night box this weekend and I was trying to take a short cut. lol
I am a fan of redundant heating systems in case of failure. You could always get a second thermostat, set it a few degrees lower than the primary, and run that other heater on it. If ever the primary heater or thermostat failed, it could save your tortoise's life on a cold winter night. You guys get a few below freezing nights there each year.
I would run that other type and see how it works and how hot it gets wherever the heat comes out. Also, make sure that the circuit and any cords you are using can handle both heaters. I always use 12 gauge extension cords, even though 14 or 16 guage can handle the loads I put on them.
I always run two heaters. Both on seperate thermostats. One is set lower then the main one, just incase the main one stops working, eventually as the temp drops, the back up will kick in.
As long as it's free, I wouldn't pass it up. Even if you just keep it for a back up.