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Heat mat went up in smoke.

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  • 01-01-2010 9:31pm
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    I was warming up my reptile aquarium when I smelt something burning. The new "Heat Wave" mat I bought yesterday melted about an inch in from where the power cable joins. Could have been a disaster or fire hazard. Has anyone else had this problem? Ill be returning it tomorrow. The model is a "Desert Medium Exo Terra". 16 Watt. 10"x11"


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    #2
    Satyr_The_Great
    Registered Users Posts: 261 ✭✭Satyr_The_Great


    Probably just a faulty mat, but heatmats are known to overheat, so buying a matstat and run theheat ma off that would be a good idea, yeah they are expensive but well worth it. ya should get one for about 40 euro id say.


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    #3
    SCI
    Closed Accounts Posts: 266 ✭✭SCI


    They do need a thermostat but I've never heard of one going on fire.. I'd get in contact with the manufacture.


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    #4
    dbrock
    Registered Users Posts: 333 ✭✭dbrock


    more then likely a loose conection where the main cord connects to the mat, bring it back to the shop you bought it, they will change it im sure,
    as the lads said a stat is also good to have to but this fault is 99 % of the time caused by (arking) in a loose conection i see it a bit in work


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    #5
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    dbrock wrote: »
    more then likely a loose connection where the main cord connects to the mat, bring it back to the shop you bought it, they will change it im sure,
    as the lads said a stat is also good to have to but this fault is 99 % of the time caused by (arking) in a loose conection i see it a bit in work

    Nope this fault was an inch in to where the connection was inside the laminate with a neat black mark about 3/8 of an inch long. I returned it to the pet shop today and they were extremely helpful and admitted that it was a manufactures flaw. They didn't have that particular one in stock but offered me another one twice the size from a different manufacturer at no extra cost.


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    #6
    Satyr_The_Great
    Registered Users Posts: 261 ✭✭Satyr_The_Great


    good you got it sorted, Thinking bacvk on it, i had the same thing happen to one of my mats a year and a half ago...turned out to be a damaged wire. But do pick up a matstat, they are a good investment...


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    #7
    dbrock
    Registered Users Posts: 333 ✭✭dbrock


    cool at least ya got it sorted, but make sure if its bigger than 11 by 11 that you must use a state on it esp, if its lying on the ground as as they get bigger they really heat up alot,
    if its on the back wall where nothing can lie on it its not to bad but still recomend a stat.


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    #8
    Satyr_The_Great
    Registered Users Posts: 261 ✭✭Satyr_The_Great


    dbrock wrote: »
    cool at least ya got it sorted, but make sure if its bigger than 11 by 11 that you must use a state on it esp, if its lying on the ground as as they get bigger they really heat up alot,
    if its on the back wall where nothing can lie on it its not to bad but still recomend a stat.


    regardless of the size of the heatmat, a stat should be used...it can still overheat whether its 5 x 5 or 11 x 11 or bigger.


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