Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone please tell me how to install heat tape, do I strip the plastic layer to expose the copper film where the connector goes?

ask at the cage and habitat design forum.

Go to arbreptiles.com they have a page about installing heat tape.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

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>>Can someone please tell me how to install heat tape, do I strip the plastic layer to expose the copper film where the connector goes?

No, you don't need to strip it though you may score it a bit. Then pinch the connectors on TIGHT and test it before sealing on the plastic covers. I crimp them on and hang them off the table (to avoid shocks) then plug it in and see if it warms right up. It should get toasty quickly. Then unplug it and I silicone seal the plastic covers on. If it doesn't warm up well then recrimp the connectors tighter.
I know that if you buy from BeanFarm they send nice instructions with your order.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Be careful what type of silicone you use. Regular buy-at-the-hardware-store or aquarium silicone uses acetic acid to cure and corrodes electronics. They make special silicone for electronic applications.

http://www.logwell.com/tech/servtips/RTV.html

...a vice-grip type device is useful to assure the little round teeth in the clip "bite-through" the plastic layer. Manual pressure with a pliers is not enough to do so. It is important for ALL of the teeth on both sides of the clip to make contact with the copper strip. SJM

I'm not necessarily recommending that you do so, but I strip off a bit of plastic over the copper ends and solder the ends of wires to the copper and insulate with multiple layers of electrical tape. Since doing this I will never go back to the connectors. The connection is so strong that I cannot separate it despite my greatest effort.

The first time I ever used a soldering gun was wiring flex watt. Just practice a bit and you'll find that it's easy to get a solid connection.

That's exactly what I do - solder the connections, then I cover them with electrical tape. No more worrying about bad connections.

The best way to insulate the crimp-on connectors is to use "shrink-tubing". You can get it at any Radio Shack, Lowes, Home Depot, or any electronics store. Before you make the connection you slip a piece of the shrink-tubing onto the wire, the diameter of the tubing should be just large enough to slip over the final connection and long enough also. After you make the crimp slip the tubing over the connector and apply heat( a hair dryer works great for home use). The tubing shrinks to the shape of the connector. You then have a professional job.

CobraBoy, BSEE