Keeping cool - thermo-electric cooling plate?

[yotsubachan]

I just got my first chinchilla this week from a rescue. I have been doing my research about Chinchillas, and I'm worried that when summer comes around and I'm out for work, my apartment will be too hot for my chinchilla. I've read about the marble chinchillers and ice water bottles in a sock. Will this be sufficient to keep the chinchilla cool the entire day? My boyfriend wants to know if anyone has considered or designed a thermo-electric cooling plate (maybe battery operated?), like those found in USB drink coolers, to cool their chinchilla. The wire would have to be protected or the item battery operated. The drink ice chest electric coolers that are plugged into cars also use thermo-electric cooling technology. Just a thought. I think this would be a great idea rather than cooling and entire home/apartment.

 

[eroomlorac]

In areas where the weather gets hot, an air conditioner of some sort is mandatory for the safety and comfort of your chinchillas. Chinchillas are very prone to heat stroke due to their dense fur. Is there some way to install an air conditioner to use on those hot days?

 

[Stackie]

I agree with Carol. The chinchilla's ENTIRE environment has to be cool, not just a spot in the cage that it can lay on. You must have an a/c or something to cool down your apartment for the comfort and safety of your chinchilla.

 

[InkedupTara]

I agree with the AC. if you don't have an Air Conditioner, get to saving lol! They will surely need one, otherwise you will kill them or seriously harm them when the temps rise.

I dont think I would put anything electrical in my chin cage, battery operated or otherwise. They are too quick to chew things, and what would happen should they ever reach the battery.

 

[Chub_Chub]

The average thermo electric plate or radiator/fan convection plate is operating at freezing temperatures. You also get fluctuation depending on mean temps. and humidity. We live in Arizona, the average summer temp here is 103 to 105 degrees. We then regulate the house to about 77 to 78 degrees. Even in the height of summer, I could not get the chins to lay on a sub 40 degree plate with out diffusing it. I tried rigging up an aluminum cold plate that used heatpipes run to a fan/heatsink, very similar to the cooling a computer processor uses. But once again my chins showed me that they prefer practicality to modern technology. We now use 7x7x1.5" BLUE ICE freezer packs covered in custom fleece cases. they love it, and it only cost $1-2 a peice. Just throw one in the cage before work, and replace it when you get home.
I am however considering a networked temperature sensor though. Its a small device that connects to a CAT-5 network cable, and sends an email or text message warning if the temperature exceeds or drops below preset standards. It even uses a 9 volt backup, assuming your modem and router are on a battery backup.
If you are a working professional and you live in an 80 degree plus enviroment this is a must have, to protect your chins from power failure and AC outage. Hopefully this is helpful information, for all you aspiring space shuttle mechanics.:thumbsup:

 

[InkedupTara]

I cant say i would recommend leaving ice packs in cages unsupervised. Just because a gel is non toxic to a human doesnt mean they can have it.

I use frozen water bottles in fleece covers. That way if they bite it and it leaks, it is just water. But I never leave them in the cage unsupervised anyway.

I have the tile in my cages, but I will be looking into the temp monitor to send me text messages.

 

[mishellyshel]

if only we could get our chins to send us text messages when they were hot!!

I like the frozen water bottle wrapped in a custome fleece cover. Will have to remember that next year in case the air conditioner breaks like it did this past year.

 

[AZChins]

I have a customer, who puts the ice packs into a glass jar that has a metal cap. She was scared about the chins getting to the plastic bags or into the bags of water or ice. She wraps the jars in a towel. This is because she had a situation where the air conditioner went out suddenly so she was scared of it happening again.

 

[yotsubachan]

Thanks for all your suggestions. It seems like the ice packs and bottles should help a lot. My boyfriend is still intent on trying the thermo-electric cooling in an inclosed house (with chin hole to get in and out) area for the chinchilla. I'm not so sure how well it will work though. I like the idea of the thermometer that will send you text messages if the temperature goes above a certain temperature. Do you know where I can buy this or can you recommend a model? Thanks again!

 

[Ash]

Um, if you didn't realize, these were all options in conjuction with an air conditioner, not a replacement for it.

 

[tunes]

yotsubachan - As several people have pointed out, if you have chinchillas, you need an a/c. Other things are just temporary in case of a a/c break down or power outage. They are not meant to be a substitute for an a/c.

If your temperatures go above 75 degrees, and if you are in a highly humid area on top of that, you need to have an a/c. I personally would not let my chins get above 60 - 65degrees.

 

[yotsubachan]

Okay. I understand. Yes, I have an AC and plan to use it when it gets hot.