Insulation between ceramic ES fitting and enclosure

[Choco]

For those using Ceramic heaters, does anyone use anything between their ceramic ES fitting and your enclosure to prevent the heat from the fitting discoloring the roof of the enclosure?

Cheers,

Choco.

 

[tonesanlainie]

Personally I use fire proof cement type sheet. It comes in large sheets (8ft x 4ft) but some resellers sell 1/4 sheets for around $80. Full sheets are around $160. I cannot remember the name of it however. It is 5 or 6mm fire proof sheet and is sold under a particular name that I cannot recall sorry. I have found no problems of heat build up, nor discolouration after using this.

 

[snakelady-viper]

I use the same I got mine from thornton timber free as it had broken off a sheet you might try at your local hardware store ask for fibro cement board its the sme stuff used for the fireproofing behind wood fires

 

[Choco]

Beautiful. Thanks will try that. I only want 3 pieces a bit bigger than a coaster so don't wanna buy a huge sheet. Any other ideas keep them coming.

Cheers.

 

[Flewy]

I use a ceramic fitting from URS (I think), it's supplied with a green/yellow high temp solid plastic-type disc about 2mm thick, over a plaster disc about 10mm thick. They are both circles which fit inside a light cage perfectly.

Unfortunately they were about $30 all up (expensive I know) but that includes the fitting, the 2 heat protection discs, and a power cable.

 

[Colin]

I have an extra melamine piece screwed into the roof that my ceramic fitting is screwed into but this is really more to run the elecrtic cord through to the back of the enclosure that anything else.

I use a few brands of ceramic heaters - HerpShop Black Nite brand and URS OZ Black Ceramic Infrared heat emitters and dont find a problem with discolouration of the roof. most of the heat is directed downwards. But you do need to use ceramic fittings and NOT plastic fittings for ceramics heaters
.
quote from URS webpage

It has a much longer life expectancy (around 25,000 hours) than incandescent bulbs and its extra thick ceramic means high insulation properties. The neck of the bulb is insulated and this means maximum heat distribution through the front surface. This surface is also large providing excellent downward heat.

 

[Slytherin]

I'm having problems with the electric cord cooking and discolouring over the 150watt ceramic heat emitter :shock:. I have a ES ceramic fitting but the cord is still discolouring and is now a lovely pinky-brown colour . Is anyone else have the same problems?

Luckily, at the moment, I don't seem to be having problems with the paint discolouring....yet.

 

[Colin]

I'm having problems with the electric cord cooking and discolouring over the 150watt ceramic heat emitter. I have a ES ceramic fitting but the cord is still discolouring. Is anyone else have the same problems

Luckily, at the moment, I don't seem to be having problems with the paint discolouring....yet.

got any pics of how you have it setup? Are you using a thermostat to keep the temperature at the desired level? what temp is that? and what sort of thermostat? do you monitor the temps with a thermometer to check its not too hot?

as I said my enclosures have an extra piece of melamine that runs from the front to the back attached to the roof that the cermaic fittings are screwed into and the electrical cords go through a drilled out hole in this extra piece and out the back of the enclosure. So the there no actual electrical cords showing inside the enclosure.

I have a ceramic fitting for the 150w ceramic heater and a plastic fitting for a fluro globe and all thats encased in a double light cage. All hooked up to timers and microclimate B2ME thermostats and never had any probs.

 

[Slytherin]

Here's a pic of the discoloured cord :shock: (sorry that the camera focussed on the wire in front)

I have a thermostat set for 28 but its so cold here that the heater is on 24/7 and the temp at the thermo is 24-25deg (Snakey seems to be happy though as he has good temp gradients ). This enclosure was set up for me and has no problems except for this discoloured cord which is a bit of a worry. The enclosure smelt of plastic for a while (I was periodically airing it off and getting Snakey out regulary), but it doesn't smell as much now.

 

[tonesanlainie]

I'm having problems with the electric cord cooking and discolouring over the 150watt ceramic heat emitter :shock:. I have a ES ceramic fitting but the cord is still discolouring and is now a lovely pinky-brown colour . Is anyone else have the same problems?

Luckily, at the moment, I don't seem to be having problems with the paint discolouring....yet.

Yes had the same problem when using MDF above a fitting. Insulation became cracked and brittle. Best fix for me was to use a large piece of the fireproof sheet and then add a border of same sheet. Turn it upside down and use the gap as a cavity to run cable (so looks like a shallow upside down box) and make it wide enough (mine is about 300mm) and it will shield the cable. I do not about ordinary fibro sheet, but what I have used has a fire rating. That is prob the main diff I am paying for.

Cheers

 

[Slytherin]

I have heard about a silicon coated electric cord that is apparently better with coping with heat, does anyone know anything about it? I'm not sure if the 'ordinary' person is able to get their hands on it and buy a length or its only available on a roll for the trade only.

 

[Colin]

Here's a pic of the discoloured cord :shock: (sorry that the camera focussed on the wire in front)

I have a thermostat set for 28 but its so cold here that the heater is on 24/7 and the temp at the thermo is 24-25deg (Snakey seems to be happy though as he has good temp gradients ). This enclosure was set up for me and has no problems except for this discoloured cord which is a bit of a worry. The enclosure smelt of plastic for a while (I was periodically airing it off and getting Snakey out regulary), but it doesn't smell as much now.

I cant seem to see the actual electric cord you mean? Thats a totally different ceramic fitting though to the ones I use and looks a really crappy fitting.. maybe thats your problem?

and I use these type of ceramic heaters (below) not the old pearlco style cone shaped ones.. I'd suggest changing that fitting for one like this type below and see if the problem still happens or maybe get an electrician to have a look at your setup. you dont want the enclosure catching on fire or anything.. sorry I cant offer any better suggestions.

maybe if theres a sparky member out there he can give some good advice?

 

[herptrader]

I use the Herp Shop flanged ceramic fitting

( $ 8 ) and 2 layers of cement sheeting from offcuts left over from a reno. The only real expense for the cement sheet was a cutter from Bunnings - just a cheapy which I think was a little over $10.

I have them on the Aussie Sun Mercury vapour bulbs. One is 100 watts and the other 150 watts. I am very happy with how the set up works.

 

[falconboy]

I have heard about a silicon coated electric cord that is apparently better with coping with heat, does anyone know anything about it? I'm not sure if the 'ordinary' person is able to get their hands on it and buy a length or its only available on a roll for the trade only.

Hey,

Yes, I have some in mine, just for safetys sake with a normal ES and bulb, better to be safe than sorry. I can't remember how much it was, but it wasn't cheap, and I got mine from an electrical wholesaler who was happy to sell it by the meter.

 

[Slytherin]

Thanx everone for your help.

Colin, the heat effected cord is that dark brown thing sticking out horizontally at the top of the ceramic fitting. :shock:

Thanx Falconboy, I think I will look into getting some of that silicon cord and get someone to install that for me. If I still get problems, I will look into getting another fitting. I was worried about things bursting into flame or smouldering away. :shock:

 

[tonesanlainie]

I do have some fire retardant cable avaliable if any one wants any. It is orange in color and is very heavy duty. I bought some and found it too chunky to use, it may be of use to someone else. It is the cable that is often used where a particular standard is required for say fire control panels for example. PM me if anyone is interested as I dont need it so going cheap.

Cheers

 

[falconboy]

Yes, anyone should be aware it is thicker.

 

[Slytherin]

I wasn't aware that the heat resistant cord was much thicker than the normal plastic coated one :?. I think that would cause too many problems setting up. Damn...and it seemed such a good solution!

I am still interested in ideas on how people have been able to minimise heat damage from ceramic heaters in their enclosure, especially to the power cord. Thanks to the choco, the original poster of this thread for bringing up this topic.

 

[cracksinthepitch]

If you go to an electrical supplier and ask for Kettle cable, its an old style cable same thickness as1.5mm2 3 core but its a rubber silica material and can withstand higher temps, it is stamped with its temp rating on the cord. i think its still availiable, if you use the larger ceramic bases it protects the wires or cable by deflecting the heat thru insulation, you can also seal the edge with industrial grade silicon (grey tube)translucent colour and is rated to 205oC and costs about $11 from Bunnings.

 

[falconboy]

Not sure you'd say 'much' thicker, but it is thicker.