CHE question - are wire domes really necessary?

[Bobbijo2u]

Every CHE I have seen state only to be used with a wire dome. Of course most of the time this info is not on the outside of the package but it is on the paper work inside. I only have aluminum domes with ceramic fixtures. I don't particularly want to use wire as I need the heat directed down and not out and in the room.
I have the zoo med deep dome fixtures rated 100 w. the CHE I have is all living things 100 w. is the cage dome necessary or are we safe to use the fixtures I have?

 

[jovamabob]

Its entirely up to you I don't use a dome with my CHE because i don't want a localised basking spot and the domes seem to direct the heat to a local spot - i want it to heat the tank as a whole with it being winter. You do have to use a ceramic/porcelain socket with heat resistant wire as they get very very hot and melt plastic fittings. I also make sure my BD can't reach the bulb.

Here is mine, in a ceramic/porcelain socket that i fixed with a homemade solution. The bulb in the guard is my basking lamp, the CHE is next to it.

This is the one i bought:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reptile-Ceramic-Heater-Holder-Switch/dp/B0087E0WYA