Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 10 box melamine 32qt rack. It is run by heat cable routered into a grove in the back of each shelf. One continous cable. When I got it it was already equipt with a dimmer. So I plugged the dimmer into my ranco thermostat and plugged the ranco into the wall. This has worked fine for months. The other day I was home and saw the dimmer catch on fire (see story below). Lucky I was home. So I then bypassed the dimmer and plugged the heat cable directly into the ranco (like it should have been in the first place). No power to the cable. So I tested the heat cable by plugging it into an electric socket. No heat. So I cut the plug off and installed a new one. Twice. 2 different plug models and even cut the cable down a few times. Still no power. What the heck could have possibly ruined the power from a simple plug to the cable to the heat cable?
So now I guess I must either buy a new rack or reheat this one. Now I'm worried about saftey. So how sould I do this?
Someone please help.
Should I run a fat long continous strip down the back OR run individual strips on each shelf? I'm unsure on which heat tape to use and how to wire it SAFELY.
What is the best way?
This is not cool especially at the height of breeding season.
Irony is that I just sold a great working freedom breeder 2 days ago!!!!!!!!!! Murphys law.

Rudy
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1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa adults
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa 2003
0.1 Rubber Boa
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

just help
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1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa adults
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa 2003
0.1 Rubber Boa
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

Well the heat rope must have burnt up (obviously you have tried to check it out in different ways)

As far as using heat tape I would go with an 11" strip running down the entire back. If you order some heat tape from big apple herp you should be able to order the length you need and get them to wire it for you. (if you are worried about trusting yourself since you have not used it before)

Good luck

Later
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
.

So you think that one fat piece of heat tape run up the back is safe?
If so that is how I want to go. Sounds cheaper.
Bigappleherp will wire that huh?
Thanks for the tips

Rudy
-----
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa adults
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa 2003
0.1 Rubber Boa
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

I have been told if you call them and ask them to wire it for you they will. And yeah 1 11" strip down the back is safe.. I have my albino, ivory anery and het albino bci's in a wooden rack with 11" running down the back on a thermostat..

Later
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
.