My racks are complete and my Flexwatt (3" 10watt) is coming in today. I am going to install it tonight. The guys from the Bean Farm advised me to cover it completely with foil tape instead of just the sides in order to completely to protect it. Most the videos on You Tube and online instruction seem to say to just do the sides. What would you recommend? Would it matter either way? I would think covering it completely would give it a "consistant" heat on the face of the entire tape. Thanks for any advice!
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Flexwatt: Cover completely or partial?
rj1204
Jun 10, 2010 09:10 AM
Replies (4)
exoticball
Jun 10, 2010 10:23 AM
I used painters tape and only ran it over the sides, I would not cover the whole tape. Also if you picked up the crimping tool cool, but if you didn't just use a good set of vice grips, you really need to clamp down on them.
Matt
Bolitochrome
Jun 10, 2010 10:36 AM
When I was considering belly heat, I was advised to cover the entire surface with foil tape OR to tape a very small hardwood dowel the entire width of the rack in front of the flexwatt. This protects the heat tape and either prevents the tub from rubbing and scratching the surface of the heat tape itself or lifts the tub so it is not sliding directly over it. I found some small diameter dowels at a hardware store I considered using. I ended up going with dual side radiant heat though.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband
rj1204
Jun 10, 2010 10:59 AM
Yeah, I know the people at The Bean Farm are pretty knowledgable. I would think that covering the entire surface of the Flexwatt with foil tape and taping the Helix thermostat probe on top of the foil tape would ensure that the entire surface is the same temperature. I was just curious to see what the majority of people do. Also, my tubs are fairly tight so the foil would provide good protection.
exoticball
Jun 10, 2010 03:21 PM
I did router groves in the wood so my heat tape sits 1/16th under the wood surface to keep it from rubbing it all depends on how your rack is set up. Also on the probe I would recommend stapling it down, do not staple through the wire, simply because when you are pushing totes in and out it wears on that tape and may pull up. That tape gets 1 inch away from the totes and you are in big trouble.
Matt
