CHE trouble

Sir Sully

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Hey gang. Got my humidity under control, got my UV light working. Basking bulb is perfect.

CHE though. 100w is 10 inches from enclosure bottom, but only heating tank to around 75 at night. Is this too cold for my sulcata hatchling?

He seems a bit sluggish in the morning, but warms up quickly under the basking lamp. And eats a bundle, then he doesn't slow down!

Are these ok signs?
 

wellington

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Yes too cold. If you bought an off brand che then that's why you are not getting good heat. If it is a name brand then it may be defective or you losing heat if open top enclosure. Also make sure the che is in a big dome light fixture.
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings. As Barb already said, yes, 75 is too cold.

How large of a “tank” are you trying to heat up with just the one CHE? Is the enclosure covered with a lid thst will help keep the heat inside? There’s nothing wrong with using more than one CHE or with using a larger wattage CHE.

Zoomed has 150 watt CHEs - https://www.lllreptile.com/products/36-zoo-med-150-watt-ceramic-heater

Just make sure you use a thermostat with your CHEs & make sure the heat probe is at tortoise level. What are using to determine temps? Digital, IR or analog gauges? Where is the sensor located?

Good luck
 

Sir Sully

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Yes too cold. If you bought an off brand che then that's why you are not getting good heat. If it is a name brand then it may be defective or you losing heat if open top enclosure. Also make sure the che is in a big dome light fixture.
Closed enclosure. Using a zoo med 100w and it is in a dome. I just bought it about 3 days ago and this morning the "bulb" is barely warm. I'll return it.

Recommend another brand?
 

Sir Sully

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Greetings. As Barb already said, yes, 75 is too cold.

How large of a “tank” are you trying to heat up with just the one CHE? Is the enclosure covered with a lid thst will help keep the heat inside? There’s nothing wrong with using more than one CHE or with using a larger wattage CHE.

Zoomed has 150 watt CHEs - https://www.lllreptile.com/products/36-zoo-med-150-watt-ceramic-heater

Just make sure you use a thermostat with your CHEs & make sure the heat probe is at tortoise level. What are using to determine temps? Digital, IR or analog gauges? Where is the sensor located?

Good luck
I'll give the 150 a try, and if that fails, maybe 2. Running a 40 gallon. Closed lid. 4 digital temp/humidity sensors, plus an IR thermometer.

100w may just be too small it seems.
 

Sir Sully

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UPDATE:

100W held at 81-87 tonight. Humidity died a bit to 76%, bad CHE maybe?
 

Tom

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Closed enclosure. Using a zoo med 100w and it is in a dome. I just bought it about 3 days ago and this morning the "bulb" is barely warm. I'll return it.

Recommend another brand?
Are you running the CHE on a thermostat?

Even a 100 watt CHE should be running at several hundred degrees when it is on. They will literally singe your skin if touched, so "barely warm" means something is wrong somewhere. If the bulb were hot but just not creating enough heat for your enclosure, I'd say get a second bulb or go higher wattage, but your CHE doesn't seem to be working correctly for some reason.

I recently discovered bad wiring in one of my domes. It could be that, or it could be a faulty CHE, which is possible but very unusual.
 

Sir Sully

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Are you running the CHE on a thermostat?

I recently discovered bad wiring in one of my domes. It could be that, or it could be a faulty CHE, which is possible but very unusual.

Have a recommendation for a decent thermostat?

I hadn't thought of wiring. I'll check the dome today.
 

Tom

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Have a recommendation for a decent thermostat?

I hadn't thought of wiring. I'll check the dome today.
Just do a search. Lots of them available and I don't know of any that don't work. I've been buying the Inkbird ones most recently.
 

Warren

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Have a recommendation for a decent thermostat?

I hadn't thought of wiring. I'll check the dome today.
This is the one Tom recommended, received mine the other day. Working very well.
 

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wellington

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Closed enclosure. Using a zoo med 100w and it is in a dome. I just bought it about 3 days ago and this morning the "bulb" is barely warm. I'll return it.

Recommend another brand?
I would get the same brand. It's more likely just a bad bulb not a bad company. Usually they are good ones.
 
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