Horizontal CHE

[Anyfoot]

Ive noticed a lot of people sit there lamps on top of mesh or wood because the enclosures are too low to get the lamps inside. I've done it a few times and a lot of heat is wasted through the air hole in the lamps.
One way to solve this issue would be to use a CHE horizontally with a uvb strip light.

Is it safe to mount CHE's horizontal?

 

[Maro2Bear]

I’d say they are safe to operate horizontally, but are designed to radiate the heat outward in concentric circles. When mounted sideways, only a very thin edge of the heating element is facing downward. I’m guessing not the most efficient application nor how the manufacturer intends for its use. All of the How to Pictures that I looked at show the CHE hanging in a vertical position.

• I’m sure more will comment. Happy Holidays to you and your tortoises!

 

[Bambam1989]

I agree with @Maro2Bear
The heat would be a lot less distributed and just less effective.

 

[Tom]

I think it could work in a closed chamber if you made sure the surface above the CHE was fireproof, and if you used a fan to circulate the heat around since the heat isn't being projected downward.

 

[Anyfoot]

I understand the concerns for heat projection but that also maybe an advantage. The ambient in a closed system would still get to what ever we set it to with a thermostat and there would be no hot spot because we are projecting heat across the enclosure instead of directly down onto torts.
Yes directly above needs to be heat resistant.

What about the actual socket that the CHE screws into, would it make this hotter and cause problems.

 

[Maro2Bear]

I understand the concerns for heat projection but that also maybe an advantage. The ambient in a closed system would still get to what ever we set it to with a thermostat and there would be no hot spot because we are projecting heat across the enclosure instead of directly down onto torts.
Yes directly above needs to be heat resistant.

What about the actual socket that the CHE screws into, would it make this hotter and cause problems.

I doubt it, if you are using a porcelain socket, as recommended, should be fine. One still has to be careful on the upper enclosure’s proximity to the CHE. Still going to have to mount it many inches below....depending on the lid’s composition.

 

[baldegale]

Ive noticed a lot of people sit there lamps on top of mesh or wood because the enclosures are too low to get the lamps inside. I've done it a few times and a lot of heat is wasted through the air hole in the lamps.
One way to solve this issue would be to use a CHE horizontally with a uvb strip light.

Is it safe to mount CHE's horizontal?

im gonna do the same thing, mainly because i need to stack tanks to save room and can only fit one CHE on top but im going to use this type of bulb to see if it disperses heat better, according to what it says it should, but regardless the tank is gonna be mainly ran off one but im gonna have the second on pre installed just in case its not enough.

 

[Anyfoot]

Cool. I'll have to look at those.

 

[baldegale]

Cool. I'll have to look at those.

mine is going to be in a closed chamber 5’x2’x2’ its my winter tank because due to moving i can no longer have a 8’x4’x3’ closed chamber. but im in a house now so i can do an outdoor tortoise pen

 

[Anyfoot]

I don't think the heat not spreading is an issue. It will always be warmer nearer the CHE than at the furthest point away within an enclosure.

I put a shield under this CHE so I can't dry the torts out. It's in a 6ft viv. 32deg c around CHE and 28deg c at each end. It's a crude idea but works. Point is I've blocked off the direct path for heat under the CHE and it still works fine.

 

[baldegale]

I don't think the heat not spreading is an issue. It will always be warmer nearer the CHE than at the furthest point away within an enclosure.

I put a shield under this CHE so I can't dry the torts out. It's in a 6ft viv. 32deg c around CHE and 28deg c at each end. It's a crude idea but works. Point is I've blocked off the direct path for heat under the CHE and it still works fine.
View attachment 225959

i think i just decided that im going to hang mine like i did in the old enclosure i had, initially i was gonna have my ches in a fixture like this but, that requires drilling a large hole with a jigsaw which id really rather not do because its gonna be wasted heat and they dont need to be that high considering my tort is fairly small still and they were like 6-8 inches from the substrate in my old tank and he loved it

 

[Anyfoot]

That holder looks plastic. CHE's get very hot and can melt plastic holders, ceramic holders are advised with CHE's.

 

[baldegale]

That holder looks plastic. CHE's get very hot and can melt plastic holders, ceramic holders are advised with CHE's.

its porcelain, i use one for my beardie with a CHE and its worked fine!