Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can you bend it to the point where you make a crease? A 90 degree bend for example. Or does it need to be a gentle bend more like an rolling bend?

Thanks

I've never used it myself, but I would think a 90 degree bend would hurt the element inside the tape.

Jeff

No I don't recommend making 90 degree bends in the tape. I have it snaked throughout my racks but its more of a curve. I routered out the ends on each shelf of the rack on opposite sides. I then use one long strip to run on the back of each shelf not down the back of the rack. This creates a gentle bend on each shelf. When your dealing with electricity you never want to crush or bend any kind of wiring or heat element. That could start a fire. Hope this helps. If you need it I can take a picture of how I set it up.

A picture would be great - I want to run one continuous strip of it in and out of my rack system from shelf to shelf. I had thought about making a strip for each shelf, but I haven't yet.

Thanks for the replies!!

Hey mo-jord,

I hate telling folks what to do but if your rack shelves are 4"-5" apart, which I assume is the bare minimum for tub height and gecko living, you would use almost 3' possibly 4' more of the heat tape...I guess its not that expensive and maybe the added cost out weighs the hassle of soldering/clips but I would think you could get a nice functioning rack by taking a little more time and wiring a strip for each shelf. Just my .02.

I am actually doing the same project tonight...got 7 shelves worth to solder and wire for my new inhabitants who are due in on Sunday

Regards,

Lee

I cut individual pieces of the flexwatt per level, and use a dimmer every three levels so that I can keep the heat consistant, and I can turn off levels that aren't being occupied. It's a little more work but it works well for what I need.
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-Sal

3.8 Total Leopard Geckos (Listed below)
1.0 Hypo Golden Jungle
1.0 Super Hypo Carrot Tail Baldy
0.2 High Yellows
0.1 Normal
0.1 Patternless
1.0 Patternless het Rainwater Albino
0.3 Rainwater Albino het Patternless
0.1 Patternless Albino (Rainwater)
2 Eggs currently incubating!

1.0 Ball Python