Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have almost everything for my hatchling rack. I don't have a heating method though. I may use human heating pads that have a dimmer, or whatever you want to call it but don't have a auto shut off, and put reflectix behind it. And put them on a timer and let them turn off every day for a half an hour or an hour probably a half an hour every twelve hours. Would this reduce fire hazards to almost zero? I know they aren't meant for constant use but I think turning them off would reduce this. I have no other ideas as I am no electrician and don't want to do flex watt or heat rope. I was going to use rope light but don't have enough.
Thanks for replies Josh
-----
thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake (out roaming the house but I don't know where)
1.1.0 childrens python (one needs a vet please close to 48301 or 48302 any suggestions?)
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
mice colony almost able to keep up with snakes.
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

Flexwatt is very easy to use. I bet it is even easier than you think. It isn't any more difficult than trying to figure a way to use a human heating pad. All you do is take a 2 or 3 dollar extention cord from Lowes or Target or anywhere like that. Cut the female end off (part you plug stuff into). Pull the wires apart about 6 inches or further if using bigger heat tape. Take a cheap soldering iron from lowes, let it heat up. Put it on the silver or copper looking strip at the end. The plastic will melt. Slide iron up and down about an inch until metal strip is exposed. Don't hold it in one spot too long or it will untack the strip. Strip the wires about 1/2 inch. Clean your iron off with damp paper towel. Touch the iron to the exposed wire, then touch the end of the solder in between the iron and wire at the same time. This is called a solder bridge. Solder should flow easily to wire. Once the wires are tinned with solder, put 1 wire on one side of the flexwatt where you melted away the plastic. You can use an alligator clip or something to hold wire in place, Touch the iron to the wire, and feed a little solder in between the wire and strip. Pull iron away to prevent overheating. Repeat your steps for the other side. You are done. Cover all bare wiring with electrical tape. Put wire side and heated side up where you want to heat. Tape in place, as flat as you can, with aluminum tape. Hook into a reptile thermostat to control heat. Also use a thermometer to monitor temps. If you need anymore help, email me kingsnaken@gmail.com. You will not regret doing it this way. You do it once, it's a snap. Derek

Thanks for the heat tape info. I've been using heat pads, but will be changing to heat tape.

It is incredibly easy, and much less costly than the $20 on up heat pads. Any ? let me know. I do all kinds of wiring for a living, so I know it is really easy. Also, I learned a few things on this forum. I was wiring in series, and I found out it is better to do flexwatt in parallel. Derek

That was probally the quickest and simplest way to explain soldering heat tape connections I have ever heard. I doubt I could even have come up with that myself.

Good job!

Now if only you could provide pictures for him! LOL!

I exspecially like the term Solder Bridge, although I perfer "Tining" just the same.
-----
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino RTB -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's -Coming Soon-
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

I do have some more heat tapes to make. I will make step by step pics. I have been through a few soldering schools. If I do the pics, people will see how easy it is. Derek

I don't have a pet shop near me that carries it and noone at my reptile show is wanting to sell theirs and I hate to ship things. I was wondering if anyone knows where they carry this heat rope used for gutters by plumbers as I may want to use that because it sounds easy to use. I remember a post about it and will see if I can find it. This sounds nice on a thermostat or dimmer. What are prices on this? If I use flexwatt I still need it on a dimmer or a thermostat. How do you hook up the dimmers from lowes or home depot to either of these?
Thanks Josh
-----
thanks Josh

0.0.2 sandfish skinks,
0.0.1 texas long nose luckily eating mice
0.0.1 vine snake
1.1.0 turtles
0.1.0 greek tortoise
1.0.0 ball python
1.0.0 corn snake (out roaming the house but I don't know where)
1.1.0 childrens python (one needs a vet please close to 48301 or 48302 any suggestions?)
1.0.0 het for albino san diego gopher snake
0.0.1 rosehair tarantula
0.1. black and white kenyan sand boa
mice colony almost able to keep up with snakes.
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

I've been using the human walmart type heating pads under sterilite containers for 5 of my snakes for the last 4.5 years with no problems, set on low heat.
They are left on 24/7.
My son has one he has been using under a 20 gallon long tank for his BP, for the last 2 years with no problem.
Not an endorsement, only information.
As for fire safety, I doubt Fire Marhall Bill would approve. LOL