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Rack Pictures and Flexwatt question

SnakeySnakeSnake Mar 29, 2006 03:29 AM

Having a problem with my 3" flexwatt. I wired everything , taped everything (both ends) and taped up the solder, but I am using aluminum tape to hold the flexwatt down, and when i touch both pieces of aluminum tape at once (one on each side) I can feel a slight electricity tingle.... beyond fully triple checking my electrical tape, what else could be causing this? Does anyone else use foil tape to hold down their flexwatt??
Image

Replies (4)

SnakeySnakeSnake Mar 29, 2006 03:31 AM

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/8703271578.jpg&s=x11

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/8703265841.jpg&s=x11

bighurt Mar 29, 2006 08:53 AM

Its impossible to say without a clear visual of the tape itself. It sounds like you have a slight short where the tape is acting like a conductor. Better check everything. I have used foil tape before and never had a problem.
Jeremy
-----
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

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John Q Mar 29, 2006 09:37 AM

The very first time I setup flexwatt I had the same problem but it wasn't just a slight tingle. There was current being induced onto the foil tape. When I cranked up the dimmer there was a buzzing sound and if you touched the tape, you got zapped. I made a foolish mistake and one that I should not have considering I work in the electronics field. In an attempt to make the flexwatt more efficient, use less electricity, etc. I tried to create a wider heat gradient. I laid down 3, 2 inch wide strips of foil tape on the rack shelf. I then centered the 4 inch flexwatt on this 6 inch wide layer of foil tape. Then I taped over the flexwatt sandwiching it between the layers of foil tape. The flexwatt induced a current onto the foil tape.

Since then I have placed flexwatt on top of a wide layer of foil tape but when I tape the flexwatt down, I only apply foil tape to the clear edges of the flexwatt. When I snake the flexwatt up the sides of a rack to the next shelf I apply foil tape across the flexwatt which is directly up against the wood, not a layer of foil tape. No chance of inducing current onto the foil tape this way.

I learned my lesson on this first attempt. In the future I plan on putting up a page with lots of helpful information on how to use flexwatt and not have a failure. In 10 years of using flexwatt, the above problem is the only one I've had.
Hope this helps.

kingsnaken Mar 29, 2006 10:31 AM

Did you put electrical tape at the other end of the heat tape? You can get shocked that way. There is exposed electricity there. If you electrical tape got a hole in it or ripped a little, you could short the whole thing out with aluminum tape. Let us know what you find out.

Derek

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