Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it recommended to leave a space between under belly heat tape and the tub or can the tub rest directly on the tape? The last rack I built used rails / tracks which the tubs rested on that kept the heat tape recessed about 3/8" below the tub bottom. I would prefer to eliminate the rails and rest the tub directly on the tape but don't want to have a potential fire hazard - I do use thermostats. Any advice ore opinions would be welcomed.

You do not need an air space between the heat tape and cage if the cage is drawing heat away from the heater. That is, the cage is the thermal mass.

If the cage is more of an insulator (like a plastic box with wood chips), then the heat can stay and buildup on the heat tape I suppose. Still, people do this all the time without causing a fire. The relatively low watt-density of Flexwatt means that the chance of a fire is pretty low as long as temperature control is used.

One way to help with this is to cover the heat tape with thin aluminum sheeting, then set the cage on that.

Another way - place felt pads under the box. Now the bos will be about 1/16 of an inch above the Flexwatt.
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Mark

The most important thing: make sure the heater does not exceed about 95 deg. Do that and you will be safe on the surface.
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Mark

Mark - thanks for the input.

We recess the heat tape by 1/8th inch with a router and then seal the area with lacquer. This prevents the box from rubbing on the heat tape, reducing wear and tear.

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Randy and Michelle
Art In Scales
(719) 439-4199
info@artinscales.com

>>We recess the heat tape by 1/8th inch with a router and then seal the area with lacquer. This prevents the box from rubbing on the heat tape, reducing wear and tear.
>>

Nice looking work. That must take some time.

Here are pictures of a jig I made for one of the racks I was building.

Measure from the edge of the router bit to the outside edge of the router base, mine is 2 1/2 inches with a 1 inch bit, then double it. Add this number to the length and width of what you're routing to get the inside dimensions of the jig. In my case, I would add 5 inches to the dimensions of the flexwatt, plus about 1/8 inch for expansion of the flexwatt when it heats up.

Then I add stops to index the jig on the shelf and route it out. With this set up I can route a shelf in about a minute. It takes about 15 minutes to make the jig.
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Randy and Michelle
Art In Scales
(719) 439-4199
info@artinscales.com

Very nice, thanks for sharing the pics of the jig.
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Mark