26 replies to this topic

[Lillyrose]

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

[Miles]

The 25 watt cable can get dangerously warm. For this reason, I recommend you select the 15 watt cable: https://amzn.to/3iCMhx1

[AleeGuy]

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

Edited by AleeGuy, January 20 2021 - 11:56 AM.

[AleeGuy]

The 25 watt cable can get dangerously warm. For this reason, I recommend you select the 15 watt cable: https://amzn.to/3iCMhx1

True. 25 watt one should be few centimeters away from the ants

[Lillyrose]

Thank you!

[ANTdrew]

I recommend the ZooMed 15 watt cable.

[antsandmore]

 

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

 

I was looking at this one before... and it was more expensive than a heat mat so I got a heat mat... What do you know, its on sale

[Lillyrose]

Oh! It is on sale but after shipping it was 21

I bought it :-)

[Devi]

You know, I've been getting by with a heat mat, but I think I'm going to finally cave in and get a heating cable.  They can heat multiple colonies, and will heat at a higher temp...  

Edited by Devi, January 20 2021 - 6:21 PM.

[drtrmiller]

Overview:

 

I own both the 15 and 25 watt Zoo Med heating cable, and have tested both with thermal imaging equipment to understand the working properties.

 

Materials and Methods:

 

The 15 watt and 25 watt cables are 11.5 feet and 14.75 feet respectively, per the manufacturer website.  The manufacturer states that the first 6.5 feet of each cable is unheated.  This means that the 15 watt and 25 watt have a heated portion of 5 feet (1.5 m) and 8.25 feet (2.5 m) respectively.

 

Using an electronic energy measurement device, the 15 watt drew 17 watts and the 25 watt drew 27 watts.  The 2 W of excess power draw may be related to the accuracy or overhead power consumption of the measuring equipment.

 

I plugged both cables into 120 V receptacles and allowed them to pre-heat for over 1 hour.  The ambient temperature in the room was about 61 F.

 

Using a FLIR E8 thermal imaging camera and FLIR software, I drew two temperature boxes around the terminating 18 inches of each cable to record and display the Min, Max, and Average temperature of each box.  These 18 inches were representative of the remaining heated portion of the cable.

 

Results:

 

Each of the two heating cables heats to approximately the same maximum temperature and outputs an identical amount of heat energy over a given area.

 

In the photo below, the 15 W is on top, and the 25 W is on bottom:

 

 

The cables radiate heat to the surrounding material, increasing the temperature by about 20 F over ambient, and expanding outward about 10-12 mm in each direction.

 

 

Discussion:

 

Heating cables output a moderate amount of heat over a small and easily predictable area, making them great for creating zones from which ants may choose a preferred temperature. 

 

The difference in wattage appears to be directly correlated to the difference in length.  The longer cables require more power to produce an equivalent amount of heat output, and the relationship is non-linear.  Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that other lengths and wattages from the same manufacturer will operate in a similar manner.

 

Keep in mind, however, that overlapping the cables or spacing cable too closely can compound the heating effects and create potentially fatal conditions for ants as an excessive amount of heat energy is output over a given area.  Therefore, when using these cables, ensure that the cables do not overlap and sections of cable are spaced at least 1 inch apart.

Edited by drtrmiller, January 21 2021 - 1:52 AM.

[Lillyrose]

I wish I knew how to quote

Drtrmiller that was amazing

Thank you

[Chickalo]

 

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

 

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho

[Lillyrose]

Chickalo

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho



I don't know how to quote lol ... but why? Are the pads better because they cover more space?

For now one colony is in a test tube and the others are in acorns .. so they're small.. but later that's good to know

[AleeGuy]

I wish I knew how to quote

Drtrmiller that was amazing

Thank you

If you are on desktop, there should be a reply button on the bottom right. On mobile you tap the post and the reply button will pop up on the bottom right.

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho

Cable gives you more options to choose what part of the setup will be heated.

Edited by AleeGuy, January 22 2021 - 4:06 PM.

[Chickalo]

 

I wish I knew how to quote

Drtrmiller that was amazing

Thank you

If you are on desktop, there should be a reply on the bottom right. On mobile you tap the post and the reply button will pop up on the bottom right.

 

 

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho

Cable gives you more options to choose what part of the setup will be heated.

 

yeah cable is alot more flexible ig

[Lillyrose]

I wish I knew how to quote

Drtrmiller that was amazing

Thank you

If you are on desktop, there should be a reply on the bottom right. On mobile you tap the post and the reply button will pop up on the bottom right.

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B001OVBEEK

Is this the right kind of cable?

Yessir. You can get this https://www.amazon.c...ding=UTF8&psc=1 if the you don't have many colonies(the one I sended is shorter, little cooler, and safer).

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho

Cable gives you more options to choose what part of the setup will be heated.

Oh yay!! Thank you

[antsandmore]

Overview:

 

I own both the 15 and 25 watt Zoo Med heating cable, and have tested both with thermal imaging equipment to understand the working properties.

 

Materials and Methods:

 

The 15 watt and 25 watt cables are 11.5 feet and 14.75 feet respectively, per the manufacturer website.  The manufacturer states that the first 6.5 feet of each cable is unheated.  This means that the 15 watt and 25 watt have a heated portion of 5 feet (1.5 m) and 8.25 feet (2.5 m) respectively.

 

Using an electronic energy measurement device, the 15 watt drew 17 watts and the 25 watt drew 27 watts.  The 2 W of excess power draw may be related to the accuracy or overhead power consumption of the measuring equipment.

 

I plugged both cables into 120 V receptacles and allowed them to pre-heat for over 1 hour.  The ambient temperature in the room was about 61 F.

 

Using a FLIR E8 thermal imaging camera and FLIR software, I drew two temperature boxes around the terminating 18 inches of each cable to record and display the Min, Max, and Average temperature of each box.  These 18 inches were representative of the remaining heated portion of the cable.

 

Results:

 

Each of the two heating cables heats to approximately the same maximum temperature and outputs an identical amount of heat energy over a given area.

 

In the photo below, the 15 W is on top, and the 25 W is on bottom:

 

 

The cables radiate heat to the surrounding material, increasing the temperature by about 20 F over ambient, and expanding outward about 10-12 mm in each direction.

 

 

Discussion:

 

Heating cables output a moderate amount of heat over a small and easily predictable area, making them great for creating zones from which ants may choose a preferred temperature. 

 

The difference in wattage appears to be directly correlated to the difference in length.  The longer cables require more power to produce an equivalent amount of heat output, and the relationship is non-linear.  Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that other lengths and wattages from the same manufacturer will operate in a similar manner.

 

Keep in mind, however, that overlapping the cables or spacing cable too closely can compound the heating effects and create potentially fatal conditions for ants as an excessive amount of heat energy is output over a given area.  Therefore, when using these cables, ensure that the cables do not overlap and sections of cable are spaced at least 1 inch apart.

thank you for this detailed explanation!

[Chickalo]

Chickalo

for larger colonies, multiple nests, or multiple colonies id recommend heating pads tho



I don't know how to quote lol ... but why? Are the pads better because they cover more space?

For now one colony is in a test tube and the others are in acorns .. so they're small.. but later that's good to know

if you're on computer's of any kind (chromebook, windows, mac, etc) on the bottom right there should be a quote button.  For one colony use a heating cable, its easier to maneuver around the acorns and test tubes, to the test tube place it on the driest side, and if they move to it place it a bit closer, vice versa.  Heating pads are good for large, simple, formicaria.

[KitsAntVa]

I like using heating pads with my THA nests, its my go to source of good heat for my colonies-also all my colonies are either exotics that love high heat or regular ants like crematogaster that also will take the heat.

Heating mats are also super useful with pheidole-in my first month and a half of keeping a pheidole dentata queen she got 40 workers quite easily.

Edited by KitsAntVa, January 25 2021 - 7:06 AM.

[AleeGuy]

I like using heating pads with my THA nests, its my go to source of good heat for my colonies-also all my colonies are either exotics that love high heat or regular ants like crematogaster that also will take the heat.
Heating mats are also super useful with pheidole-in my first month and a half of keeping a pheidole dentata queen she got 40 workers quite easily.

Mats are good but I would prefer cable, because it helps to easier heat certain part of the formicarium and it is long so you can heat more formicariums at the same time rather than with a mat.