Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, so for the past year and a half I've used UTH's for everyone, but I wanted to switch to heat pads or flexwatt in the new rack. I read a great page (sorry I forgot who's page it was) about how to wire them up and it looks so simple. And the cost of everything I'd need is the same or less going with flexwatt over heating pads. What I'm wondering is, can you make it so the flex watt is wired to the plug on one end, and to another piece of flexwatt on the other end? and then from piece to piece, so that all the strips are connected to one plug, even though they're on different shelves? Did I word that right? I hope you know what I mean here. I think it would work, seems like it should, but I'm hoping someone has done this before and it works? This way they could all be plugged into the same rheostat and would cut my cost by the price of one or two rheostats.

Also, is the foil tape a good enough insulator for the shelf under the tape? And should there be something between the flexwatt and the plastic tub?

Thanks for any input, I want to finish this rack this weekend! FINALY!!!!
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

here's the page I found for wiring it.... www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml

great instructions!

Now I have another ?...Will it overload if it's plugged into a 120v outlet? (thermostat/rheostat in between) I haven't heard of this happening, but someone mentioned it and now I'm paranoid
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Will it be overloaded plugging into a 110 outlet or reo-stat? No. Flexwatt is manufactured in the US and intended for use in the US. AC electricity here in the US is predominatly 110 volt. I am unsure if Flexwatt would have a problem with Europe (220) but I know it is fine here in the US in 110.

Can you wire it together~ yes.......In Line. As in BEFORE you put the plug on, wire the next piece of tape in line on the cord. However~ I'm not sure thats a good idea as you will be using a LOT of connections in each rack, and each connection is a potential ground fault (If a wire shakes loose or something). I ran one long strip of 11" tape on the back pannel of my racks. Uses much less tape and works fine. BUT if your really want belly heat, check out Big Apples heat cord. You could just router that into each shelf and wrap it up to the next.

Good Luck! Hope this makes sence!

One strip down the back would be much simpler, and it was my first thought, but then I started thinking I was an electrician for a second What are your temps using back heat? Did you leave the back open then except for the tape, or did you put a back over the tape to hold in more heat? I will probably end up with one piece down the back. Just not sure how much heat loss there will be that way, if any.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I attached the heat tape to the back piece (1/4" hardboard) with tape, and then put the back on the rack. A benifit of the rack I built is the enclosed back helps to hold in heat. I get temps in the back easy in the 80's, but I am having a difficult time getting it consistently into the 90's as needed for my Ball Pythons. I am building a new rack this week too, and I plan to pick up some insulation ~ I don't know the name of it, but it's a "Foil insulation".......one side is shiny foil like. I plan to put that on the back board (foil side toward the rack) and put the tape on that. I think that will help keep most of the heat from escaping to the other side of the hardbaord and being wasted.

Guess we'll see how that works!

Good luck with yours! Wish me luck with mine~ now we are playing at being carpenters!!

Here is a page that will answer your questions on wiring more than one length of flexwatt together.
http://www.dozierstudio.com/ladderrack.html

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Stupidity should be Painful!

I'm so anxious to get this built now!!!!! I'll have all the pieces next weekend. then I just have to put it together
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents