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Cute_Clock t1_j6mwjte wrote

Can you dim the lights for them?

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6n1yri wrote

The lights are indeed brighter than what I’d prefer. They’re a string of fairy led’s that I modified from battery to plug in power via a simple 1.5v transformer.

When my “liquid electrical tape” arrives from Amazon, i’ll cover half of the lights to make it a little dimmer.

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Shuggaloaf t1_j6nnu6x wrote

Looks like the floor of the actual enclosure is raised off the ground? If there is any space underneath you can put the lights there.

Many people do this with enclosures (strays, chickens, etc.) because heat rises up through the floor. It also keeps the light source away so the animal doesn't touch it (probably not an issue with your LEDs though). And of course also because it allows it to be dark for the animals.

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6nvwqg wrote

Interesting. I can see where just having bulbs under a raised floor would work well.

Don’t have any current pics of the floor setup, but here’s the “ceiling” w light and electrical cat-proofing.

cat proofing

e: over to under 😂

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Shuggaloaf t1_j6nzgm5 wrote

I was saying under a raised floor (you said over, but not sure if just a typo). Also want to make sure you know I wasn't calling your skills or the kitty's safety into question. :)

I like the way you did the LED strands. I'm a big fan of "keep it simple" and the screws work perfectly. The whole electrical setup looks really well done. (Personally if I had already done all that I wouldn't be thinking of making any big changes either. haha)

Crazy that that little strand of lights is increasing the temperature that much. I'm sure the little guy is nice and toasty and very grateful.

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6o5cdx wrote

> but not sure if just a typo

It was indeed. Fixed.

> Crazy that that little strand of lights is increasing the temperature that much

Guess I probably should’ve posted a picture of the floor.

The lights are simply for illumination. The floor is heated with a heating pad designed for plant seedlings.

So it’s:

  1. foam insulation
  2. aluminum foil
  3. 3/4 maple scrap
  4. Heating pad
  5. Maple scrap (over 100 holes drilled to make sure the heat radiates through.)
  6. carpet

Floor setup

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bonescrusher t1_j6nisqi wrote

How about a infrared bulb instead since they are not as bright ...my parents used them for chicks and they are great.

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6njos8 wrote

I suspect that might be too much heat. It's a small enclosure with 2" foam insulation on all sides. The heating pad underneath the carpeted maple "subfloor" + insulation makes the space probably close to 30° over ambient, so in freezing temps, it's about 45-55° in there.

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neil470 t1_j6p5ocd wrote

What is the point of the lights? Aren't cats perfectly happy in the dark at night?

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fuzzytradr t1_j6oo0uq wrote

He's begging you with his eyes to turn the light off

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CritterEnthusiast t1_j6myzgh wrote

The light is probably what's making the heat, it's probably an incandescent light or whatever those were called before LEDs.

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6n2gur wrote

Yeah, didn’t want to risk a fire hazard so I used an LED fairy string for the lighting, and a heating pad for a seedling rack as the heat source. Heats to ~20 deg over ambient.

All of it on an outlet timer

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CritterEnthusiast t1_j6n2w3m wrote

Damn that's a nice setup! Cute kitty too 😍

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i_am_fear_itself OP t1_j6n3pby wrote

Thanks. Yeah, he’s the mischievous one out of the 3 that live in my backyard.

Funny, in the five years since I finished this shelter, he never once set foot inside of it until I got the lights working last weekend. LOL

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