design
Member
I am nearing completion and have to say a BIG thanks to @Johnkoch for his box design and others for input. Please feel free to alert or ask me things I may have forgotten...As you can see the load of lumber necessary for this size box.
All panels are insulated in the middle and double plywood as well as sealed. This makes it very easy to keep heat and especially humidity constant in the enclosure. It also makes this very heavy.
As you can see this box is going into a back room of my garage. You will see in the next picture I have an indoor play field and also an outdoor area he can freely move between.
This indoor area will connect to the night box and also connect to the outdoor access. As I was receiving the electronics and other item for the box I was putting them there for safe keeping.
In this picture you can see the hide withing the night box. It has a Kane Heat Mat with temp controller. Above that is a Humidifier that is also on a humidity controller on/off. I am catching the condensation (thanks @Johnkoch ) for that great suggestion. Without the bin the condensation would just drip on the substrate and quickly mold will take hold I fear. On the shelf is my alert device made by LaCrosse Alert. See next picture...
This is similar, but way cheaper, to the temp stick. I have it in the box itself and I can set alerts that check high/low temp, high/low humidity, and it has a probe so I can put one in the actual hide itself if I want. It also sends an alert if it loses power for longer then whatever period of time I set. I still may add a wifi night vision camera I just have to check to see if it can withstand the conditions.
In this picture you can see my RHP as well as my UVB light. UVB is tube style mounted on roof. He will have plenty of light in his indoor play yard and in the summer he will have access to outside. UVB is on a simple timer and the RHP has it's own thermostat with shut off.
That insulation is not there any longer I went with a foam style that doesn't gap the closure. You can also see I am using gas shocks to help lift the top. I have 2 hundred pound shocks and I have to add a 3rd. Also this entire box is on castors so I can move it. Best idea ever!
This was hastily done last night but I will tidy everything up. You can see the humidity and thermostat. What you cannot see is the Kane Mat controller as well as the light timer. Also there is a large battery back up (30 minute) so in case of short power outage I have time. I do not have the LaCrosse Alert on power back up because if the area loses power I want to get the alert BEFORE the back up goes out.
Questions:
#1. In the indoor play area I have a thermostat that does both heat and cool. I plan on using 4 CHE lamps and one fan. I plan to let the thermostat regulate the area. I know that CHE in general and unchecked could be dangerous to the carapace BUT with conjunction of a thermostat which will not allow the temperatures to get our of control do you think this would work?
#2. I plan to use Cyprus Mulch (plain) for the substrate. I looked for Orchid Bark but could only find it in small bags locally. I could not find the type of hay/grass people are using. What do you think of the mulch?
#3. There will be a hinged ramp with a lock so I can control his access and also make sure he gets into his home for night (still in the high 40's and low 50's here by the lake). Also be a hinged ramp from the indoor play yard to the outside fenced yard. How long do you think it will take for him to learn how to move between the 3?
Thanks
Joe
All panels are insulated in the middle and double plywood as well as sealed. This makes it very easy to keep heat and especially humidity constant in the enclosure. It also makes this very heavy.
As you can see this box is going into a back room of my garage. You will see in the next picture I have an indoor play field and also an outdoor area he can freely move between.
This indoor area will connect to the night box and also connect to the outdoor access. As I was receiving the electronics and other item for the box I was putting them there for safe keeping.
In this picture you can see the hide withing the night box. It has a Kane Heat Mat with temp controller. Above that is a Humidifier that is also on a humidity controller on/off. I am catching the condensation (thanks @Johnkoch ) for that great suggestion. Without the bin the condensation would just drip on the substrate and quickly mold will take hold I fear. On the shelf is my alert device made by LaCrosse Alert. See next picture...
This is similar, but way cheaper, to the temp stick. I have it in the box itself and I can set alerts that check high/low temp, high/low humidity, and it has a probe so I can put one in the actual hide itself if I want. It also sends an alert if it loses power for longer then whatever period of time I set. I still may add a wifi night vision camera I just have to check to see if it can withstand the conditions.
In this picture you can see my RHP as well as my UVB light. UVB is tube style mounted on roof. He will have plenty of light in his indoor play yard and in the summer he will have access to outside. UVB is on a simple timer and the RHP has it's own thermostat with shut off.
That insulation is not there any longer I went with a foam style that doesn't gap the closure. You can also see I am using gas shocks to help lift the top. I have 2 hundred pound shocks and I have to add a 3rd. Also this entire box is on castors so I can move it. Best idea ever!
This was hastily done last night but I will tidy everything up. You can see the humidity and thermostat. What you cannot see is the Kane Mat controller as well as the light timer. Also there is a large battery back up (30 minute) so in case of short power outage I have time. I do not have the LaCrosse Alert on power back up because if the area loses power I want to get the alert BEFORE the back up goes out.
Questions:
#1. In the indoor play area I have a thermostat that does both heat and cool. I plan on using 4 CHE lamps and one fan. I plan to let the thermostat regulate the area. I know that CHE in general and unchecked could be dangerous to the carapace BUT with conjunction of a thermostat which will not allow the temperatures to get our of control do you think this would work?
#2. I plan to use Cyprus Mulch (plain) for the substrate. I looked for Orchid Bark but could only find it in small bags locally. I could not find the type of hay/grass people are using. What do you think of the mulch?
#3. There will be a hinged ramp with a lock so I can control his access and also make sure he gets into his home for night (still in the high 40's and low 50's here by the lake). Also be a hinged ramp from the indoor play yard to the outside fenced yard. How long do you think it will take for him to learn how to move between the 3?
Thanks
Joe