Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been working on a rack for a while now.
I have it all built, I just need to install the heat tape, which I have NO Idea how.
I have it all wired, I just don't know how its sposed to make contact with the tub itself.
Im using Sterlite Tubs, so they have ridges around the bottom of the tub, making it really difficult to come in direct contact with the heat tape, without directly taping the tape to the bottom of the cage.
Pictures, or anything would be great.
This is really frustrating me.
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

Josh,

I don't think there is anything you can do other than tape the flex watt heater tape using metal tape to the shelves then just set your thermostat so that the bottom of the tubs are getting enough heat to the snakes.

Here's another idea. Take a drumel tool and grind those steps off of the bottom of the tubs so that now the bottom of the tubs will make intimate contact with the heat tape. This is the better idea of the two.

Good Luck Bud

Brian
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Appriciate the Comments, I have chosen to tape the heat tape directly to the bottom of the tub with Foil Tape.
As my dad is a bit of an Electrician Nerd, We came up with a pretty neat idea about it.

Ill post pictures after its all done.
Thanks for the advice.

Josh Molone
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

I have two racks and the heat tape doesn't come within half an inch of the tubs most of the time. No problems keeping everyone warm and only a couple of degrees difference between the tape itself and the snakes' hotspots. If you have a 1/4 inch difference or so, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
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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

Your heat tape should not directly touch the tubs. There needs to be an air barrier to prevent overheating. If the tubs touch, you will soon see the tubs melting, and this could lead to a fire risk.

I build all of my racks with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap between tub and heat. Heat tape has the potential to get very hot, so this barrier will not be an issue.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

I wouldn’t say that the tubs should not come in contact with the flexwatt. Many, many of people have tubs come in direct contact with flexwatt…..like in open air racks, with no issues what so ever.

Problems of tubs melting is a fault within the thermostat. This is why people shouldn’t buy cheapo’s and really invest on good quality thermostat.

In my opinion I would say flexwatt is safe if “controlled” ……extremely dangerous if not.

Pitoon

>>Your heat tape should not directly touch the tubs. There needs to be an air barrier to prevent overheating. If the tubs touch, you will soon see the tubs melting, and this could lead to a fire risk.
>>
>>I build all of my racks with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap between tub and heat. Heat tape has the potential to get very hot, so this barrier will not be an issue.
>>
>>Warren
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>>Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
>>North Carolina State University
>>Department of Entomology
>>
>>
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Check out our FAQ on mounting heat tape, there is more info there. And here are a couple of pics from the FAQ.

PE Heat tape mounting FAQ

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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles