Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am attempting to build a breeder rack and another to hold my lizards. I have seen some posts that have some nice racks and some with really easy inexpensive racks to build, but none of them show me the way the heat tape is taped down and connected. I have a dimmer switch and a probe thermostat. I would like to see how they are hooked up as well. Would appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Fernando

` Try these links. I've found that heat tape works much better, and safer, if you use the solder method to attach the power cord.
www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml
`
www.dozierstudio.com/ladderrack.html
`

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Great web sites. Can you explain why the solder method is safer and why it would work better? Don't mean to doubt you but just trying to get an understanding on all this. I hear that if it's connected wrong it's very unsafe. So just trying to do things right the first time. I can see myself making many more racks in the very near future. I'm trying to make one breader rack like the Urban Gecko explains how and one rack that would just hold juveniles and non-breaders.

Thanks,
Fernando

` The clips are press-on. The connection at the clips is subject to oxidization and physical pressure/movement which causes resistance to current flow. This resistance causes heat build up, at that spot. Enough of that, and you have a fire. Soldering, well done, is much more permanent, which is much safer. Heat tape is only as safe, or dangerous, as you make it, and it ( and any heat source ) can be very dangerous, if it's hamboned.
` I use a temperature probed thermostat, then a rheostat set to 88 degrees( depending on species ), for each of my heat tape heat sources. The thermostats are $30., and each rheostat costs less than $10 to build. Cheap precautions to avoid cooking pets, or burning the house down.
` A non-contact IR thermometer is a cheap, and invaluable aid in setting up, and monitoring heat tape and floor temperature.

` Good Luck!
`
` Pot=bellied Anaconda.

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Dude, you are too funny with your pics but love them. Appreciate your help and humor. I'm with you with all the safety aspects. I think that soldering is the way to go. Can you show me a pic of the retrostat(sp?) that you say you can build and what does it do? I have a probe thermometer and dimming switch.

` Sorry, a rheostat is a dimmer. If you have one with high wattage capacity, it may not work in a linear manner with low wattage heat tape. Check it for dead spots with a very low wattage ( less than 10 watts ) incandescent light bulb. Then, plug the heat tape into the dimmer without the thermostat. Before installing the heat tape, regulate the heat tape with the dimmer to a surface temperature too low to injure the snakes. Give it plenty of time to reach full operating temperature. Then control the dimmer with the thermostat. If the thermostat ever sticks on, the dimmer will prevent super high temperatures. You can buy a dimmer that replaces a wall switch and put it in a box with plugs for less than $10.

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