Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all you DIYers. I have been lurking around here the last year or two and you guys rock!

I am finishing up a Sterlite 41 qt melamine rack. There are six tubs. I am using one panel of the 11" Flexwatt for belly heat on the rear 1/3 of each tub. I am trying to save a few bucks and don't want to use the electrical connectors they sell with the heat tape. I have heard of soldering. Or I was thinking of putting a small screw through the metal strip on either side and wrap the wire under the screw head. In either case, I think I would have to peel the plastic off the small area where I need to make the connection. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance, Eric.

I don't know how safe running a screw through it would be. I definitely say solder the connections. It is simple enough you shouldn't have any problems. Use the soldering iron to melt the plastic off, then make the connections.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Here is a link that discusses soldering flexwatt. I would avoid the screw idea.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml

Bart

I soulder mine. The first time was tricky but I quite enjoy the process now.

Use the souldering iron to remove the plastic.

Put some solder on the metal strip where you will place the wire.

Lay the wire on top of the solder. If it's hardened, I press the wire on top of the solder and use the iron's tip to melt the solder.

Put some more solder on top of the wire, and then cover it with electrical tape.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try to solder them and see how it goes. Eric.

Use a LOW wattage soldering iron. IMO the cheapest one you can find. Higher wattage will de-laminate the side conductor. Definitely one of those situations where "more power" is bad.

I rub the soldering iron on the side conductor to melt/scrape a small area away and add a little solder. Repeat for each spot you want to connect to. Then strip and pre-tin the ends of all the cords. Next, lay a pretinned wire on the side conductor and use the soldering iron to melt the two together. Onbce the solder flows, remove the iron and voila. Lastly, add some electrical tape to make it safe and done!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats