Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My question is i'm trying to build a rack system for my geckos and babies,i want to make it 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide and i dont know how deep because i dont know alot about the flexwatt tape or how close i can put it to my plastic boxes.
I have Aero Housewares clear plastic shoe boxes like they sell at the dollar general store,thet are built really good and the price is right $1.00 a piece.
What position should i put the tape in on the bottom with the boxes sitting on top of them or behind them?
I was also thiking of using a Zoo Med Repti Temp 500r thermostat,can i split the main wire going to the flexwatt tape from the extension cord to multiple strips of the flexwatt on different shelves and regulate them all with one thermostat?
Also where can i get the best prices on the flexwatt and the thermostat.
The cage will be inside my house.
Also what size flexwatt should i use 3 or 4"
Thanks for the help,
Tony

1 more thing,i've been reading more posts and it seems that 11" flexwatt would be better,correct me if i'm wrong.
Would 2 strips vertically be adequate and can you attach this directlt to 3/4" plywood
Thanks

Hi Tony,

The width of the Flexwatt depends upon the size of the shoebox/sweaterbox, etc. If I'm heating regular shoeboxes in a rack system, I use 3" Flexwatt, on the back edge of the shelf, secured to the surface of the shelf with aluminum foil duct tape. This provides a theermal gradient with the front edge of teh shoeboxes being the cool end (about room temperature) and the back edge being the warm end (whatever temp you set your thermostat for). I have just measured the distance between the shelves to accomodate the thickness of the flexwatt and duct tape so that the shoebox still fits perfectly between the shelves. The shoeboxes I use (Sterilite 1852) have little "feet" on the bottom of them so that there is about a 1/8" gap between the bottom surface of the shoebox and the Flexwatt. Any proportional thermostat will work for Flexwatt. Yes, you can control the whole rack with one thermostat, just place your probe to regulate the center of the middle shelf. All of your shelves should then be within about 2 degrees F. of each other. If you need to independently control each shelf, then you will need either separate thermostats for each shelf, or one that has multiple probes for controlling zones.

As long as you are using a thermostat to regulate the temp, it is safe to place the Flexwatt on top of the plywood. Some people make a groove in the plywood, about 1/16" deep and the width of the Flexwatt and lay the Flexwatt in that groove. I have found that to be a pain in the neck and not really necessary.

May CERTAIN that you insulate all electrical connections to the FLexwatt and also the cut end of the Flexwatt.

I knew from reading a lot of the other posts that you were the one that i needed advice from.
Thank You
Tony

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