Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok... I've been having problems with using the flex watt in my ARB cage. First, I tried it under the flooring (vented, of course). It lasted about 2 weeks before it stopped working. Next, I tried it on top of the flooring, under the substrate. That one lasted about 1 week.

Background- Both times I used the clips/covers for it and a low-cost extension cord. To help keep moisture out of the connection, I filled the cover with silicone before putting it over the clip. I have the cord passing through a dimmer switch before getting to the thermostat.

Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong?

Any recommendations on a different type of heat source?

Help? *lol*
-----
Carmen

mine
-------------------
3.0 cats
1.0 horse
1.0 Argentine Rainbow Boa

fostering
-------------------
1.1 kittens

pet sitting (3 months)
-------------------
0.2 cats
1.0 bearded dragon

Carmine,
...I am using lots of Flexwatt that has been in use for 7 years. I have mine controlled with dimmers and thermostats. Do you know someone with a multimeter to see if the problem actually is the Flexwatt or if it might actually be the dimmer switch?
Jeff

>>Ok... I've been having problems with using the flex watt in my ARB cage. First, I tried it under the flooring (vented, of course). It lasted about 2 weeks before it stopped working. Next, I tried it on top of the flooring, under the substrate. That one lasted about 1 week.
>>
>>Background- Both times I used the clips/covers for it and a low-cost extension cord. To help keep moisture out of the connection, I filled the cover with silicone before putting it over the clip. I have the cord passing through a dimmer switch before getting to the thermostat.
>>
>>Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong?
>>
>>Any recommendations on a different type of heat source?
>>
>>Help? *lol*
>>-----
>>Carmen
>>
>>mine
>>-------------------
>>3.0 cats
>>1.0 horse
>>1.0 Argentine Rainbow Boa
>>
>>fostering
>>-------------------
>>1.1 kittens
>>
>>pet sitting (3 months)
>>-------------------
>>0.2 cats
>>1.0 bearded dragon

Carmen,
...I forgot to mention the electircal connections in my other post. The plastic used on flexwatt is pretty tough and the teeth on the aluminum connectors are not very sharp. I use visegrips to make sure I squeeze the teeth on the connectors all the way through the plastic insulation on the flexwatt when installing them.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>Ok... I've been having problems with using the flex watt in my ARB cage. First, I tried it under the flooring (vented, of course). It lasted about 2 weeks before it stopped working. Next, I tried it on top of the flooring, under the substrate. That one lasted about 1 week.
>>
>>Background- Both times I used the clips/covers for it and a low-cost extension cord. To help keep moisture out of the connection, I filled the cover with silicone before putting it over the clip. I have the cord passing through a dimmer switch before getting to the thermostat.
>>
>>Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong?
>>
>>Any recommendations on a different type of heat source?
>>
>>Help? *lol*
>>-----
>>Carmen
>>
>>mine
>>-------------------
>>3.0 cats
>>1.0 horse
>>1.0 Argentine Rainbow Boa
>>
>>fostering
>>-------------------
>>1.1 kittens
>>
>>pet sitting (3 months)
>>-------------------
>>0.2 cats
>>1.0 bearded dragon

I agree with what Jeff said. I know when I hooked mine up (with out covers, I just used electrical tape to cover the connections) I had to re do 2 of the cages after I moved them because I connections were not tight. You really have to crimp the heck out of the connectors to pierce the plastic coating over the metal strip. I've heard that some people (and I don't know that I recommend it) scrape the plastic off of that section of the metal connector with an exacto blade or other sharp object. I connect up the cages, plug them in with out a thermostat or rheostat, and test the temp over the flex watt with my temp gun. I know in about 3 minutes if I've got a good connection because it heats up fast. Then I secure everything down with electrical tape. Then I move it into position and test it again with the thermostat, before I set the cage up for the snake. I don't move my cages around so the connections have stayed secure since.
-----
Lora

Thank you both! Jeff- unfortunately I don't have access to a multimeter anymore... if only I was still in college!

I'll take the advice of the visegrip and see what happens.

Thanks again!
-----
Carmen

mine
-------------------
3.0 cats
1.0 horse
1.0 Argentine Rainbow Boa

fostering
-------------------
1.1 kittens

pet sitting (3 months)
-------------------
0.2 cats
1.0 bearded dragon