Is my new viv/light setup safe?

[McLarenfan]

Hi All,

So this is my second post on here.

I recently got my beardie a new viv and light setup as the last one was useless.
I've got an Arcadia T5 with 12% uv 3 ft tube- this replaces the crappy coils I was using before!

Anyway onto my question, I've had to make a cut-out for his basking light so he can’t get to it and hurt himself. Now I've attached some pictures as I'm worried about the smell in the cage. I'm finding it hard to tell if the cage just smells of wood because it's new, or if the way I’ve mounted the light is heating the chipboard and making it give off a smell. If it is, I can re-drill the hole and ensure the light fixture isn't touching the wood.
Inside

Outside

Recommendations please!

 

[Claudiusx]

Do you have a temp gun?

What are the temperatures at the base of the fixture, and at the wood directly touching the fixture?

-Brandon

 

[McLarenfan]

Do you have a temp gun?

What are the temperatures at the base of the fixture, and at the wood directly touching the fixture?

-Brandon

Unfortunately no I don't have a temp gun.

The fixture is touching the wood around it directly.

It seems to be chipboard under the black coating.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[bobbycarp]

Socket is hot and causing the the chipboard or whatever to gas off. I recently had a basking flood(90 watt halogen) start to melt screen. Bigger hole or maybe a mounting kit that would be used to hang heavier fixtures in a ceiling. They are secured to parallel joists and have a mounting box. Here, maybe a picture of the brace will give you an idea on how to make your own to rig across your top.

http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/202049572/westinghouse-saf-t-brace-reviews/reviews.htm

If I touched my ceramic sockets they would burn my fingers

 

[McLarenfan]

Socket is hot and causing the the chipboard or whatever to gas off. I recently had a basking flood(90 watt halogen) start to melt screen. Bigger hole or maybe a mounting kit that would be used to hang heavier fixtures in a ceiling. They are secured to parallel joists and have a mounting box. Here, maybe a picture of the brace will give you an idea on how to make your own to rig across your top.

http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/202049572/westinghouse-saf-t-brace-reviews/reviews.htm

If I touched my ceramic sockets they would burn my fingers

Thanks,
I'll be resolving this when I get home tomorrow hopefully. He seems normal at the moment to be honest. However he's always been lazy and was hoping my new UV and basking lights would fix that. Maybe he needs time,

 

[bobbycarp]

Mine is lazy even with a mercury vapor UVB. Beginning to think it's the tile because his nails on tile are like us on an ice rink. Unfortunately more porous tile he can get some grip on is a pain to get poop out of. He's brumating now so I have some time to think about it.

 

[icelore]

You never want ceramic or porcelain sockets/fixtures to be in direct contact with any kind of wood, especially particulate board. It's a fire hazard and it will decrease the life span of your lighting mount as well!

You can use something like this that mounts to the inside of the cage and just trail the wire out of the hole you've already made.