Some tips for all who use heat tape:



A few things went wrong here. When you use heat tape of any size or wattage on a belly heat rack of any design, especially ones with larger tubs, you MUST put the probe on or very close to the heat tape. There are a few reasons for this.



If you put a probe in the tub, away from the heat tape itself you are setting yourself up for trouble. Many things can affect the temperature or the probe besides the heat tape. For instance, a cool or cold room may artificaially lower the temp at locations other than on the tape, moisture or humidity (evaporation) may cool the probe, once again fooling it. Worse yet, if there is a snake in the tub the animal can move it altogeher off of the warm area, spill water, etc, etc.



These issues are then compounded by the fact the tape is tightly sandwhiched under a tub and against another material that is usually a decent insulator (PVC, Melamine particle board, plywood, etc) which keeps most of the now excessive heat trapped. Over time the tape will fail under these circumstances. Only question is when. When it fails it will do exactly this, short-get too hot and then melt where it shorted. Might take a year or more or may only take two weeks. Made this same mistake myself about 14 years ago and have not had a piece fail for me since.



Please, when you set up your racks or your own heat tape in a belly heat application place your probe on the tape OUTSIDE of the tubs and secure it so it can not be moved by tubs sliding past it. This way your tape surface temp will not exceed the mid 90's. If that is not warm enough to heat your rack adequately then you will want to move to a warmer room or move to a larger surface area tape.
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Rich Goldzung

Reptile Basics Inc

www.reptilebasics.com

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