Rack Heated with Pads

[Byrdie]

I read the Chatbox this morning and seen someone who wanted to he a rack with pads and this Thought came right into my head so i made a quick MSPaint picture and explanation hope it helps please let me know what you think I'm still new to snakes so i might be wrong lol just please comment on what you think

[OhhWatALoser]

flexwatt is cheaper and you can just wire it all together so you only have 1 cord hanging out.

I don't even recess the heat into the wood, flexxwatt is thin enough you can just tape it down and the tubs slide over it. I would imagine most heatpads would be the same way tho. so i think you might be doing extra work.

[Byrdie]

Well the person wanted belly heat that was the easiest solution i could figure but thanks for your input and zoomed and zilla pads do stick up quite a bit i figured better to make a small hole rather than accidentally crushing it against the back of the rack

[OhhWatALoser]

turn the sticky side down against the wood

[Byrdie]

there is still a chance of it coming loose not to mention on a zoomed heat mat the cord has a nice box right around the cord so it still sticks up quite a bit not to mention for a flexwatt you need to buy thermostat to plug it into heat foil lots of extras that will run you a pretty penny so its not always cheaper this setup is quick and easy and very safe for the snake. a 10 year old can build this rack with no complications (given parental supervision of course).

[don15681]

flexwatt is cheaper and you can just wire it all together so you only have 1 cord hanging out.

I don't even recess the heat into the wood, flexxwatt is thin enough you can just tape it down and the tubs slide over it. I would imagine most heatpads would be the same way tho. so i think you might be doing extra work.

I agree flexwatt is the way to go. I notice that most pads being same make and size will vary in temps somewhat and can cause a problem contolling equal temps to each level. you might be asking for a big headache. one problem with the flexwatt is it's so thin and the coating is plastic, sliding the tub over it again and again will make it wear and also cause problem. so I would use very thin metal like roof flashing and cover the flexwatt with to protect it from the sliding tub. just make sure the ends where you cut the flexwatt, the metal inside the flexwatt doesn't come into direct contact with the flashing.

[Byrdie]

I agree flexwatt is the way to go. I notice that most pads being same make and size will vary in temps somewhat and can cause a problem contolling equal temps to each level. you might be asking for a big headache. one problem with the flexwatt is it's so thin and the coating is plastic, sliding the tub over it again and again will make it wear and also cause problem. so I would use very thin metal like roof flashing and cover the flexwatt with to protect it from the sliding tub. just make sure the ends where you cut the flexwatt, the metal inside the flexwatt doesn't come into direct contact with the flashing.

point well taken but let me ask you for a simple home set up cost included a heat mat set up would be cheaper wouldn't it? because all you would need are the pads but with flexwatt and correct me if I'm wrong you would need

Rolls of Flexwatt
Foil Tape
Electric Thermostat to control temps of each tub to shut the Flexwatt of at a certain temp

last time i checked flexwatt does get over 120 where as heat mats get to about 80-90 and shut themselves off so you do need the thermostat

also as i was saying before he wanted a cheap and easy solution to belly heating a Rack I'm new and just thought this would be easiest and i do appreciate the input I'm just wondering how off base i am lol

[MikeV]

point well taken but let me ask you for a simple home set up cost included a heat mat set up would be cheaper wouldn't it? because all you would need are the pads but with flexwatt and correct me if I'm wrong you would need

Rolls of Flexwatt
Foil Tape
Electric Thermostat to control temps of each tub to shut the Flexwatt of at a certain temp

last time i checked flexwatt does get over 120 where as heat mats get to about 80-90 and shut themselves off so you do need the thermostat

also as i was saying before he wanted a cheap and easy solution to belly heating a Rack I'm new and just thought this would be easiest and i do appreciate the input I'm just wondering how off base i am lol

You MUST have a thermostat even for heat pads!

I have a heat pad in my savannah monitors tank that is unregulated and it reaches temps of 120 - 130F on its own

If you use multiple heat pads you may end up needing more than one thermostat where with flexwatt you only need one thermostat

[Byrdie]

You MUST have a thermostat even for heat pads!

I have a heat pad in my savannah monitors tank that is unregulated and it reaches temps of 120 - 130F on its own

If you use multiple heat pads you may end up needing more than one thermostat where with flexwatt you only need one thermostat

I see ok thank you i didn't know that now I do lol i do have a digital Thermometer to check my temp but no thermostat yet... since i don't even have my snake ...yet although Frankie sent me some pics of the cutest little female he is sending me and i have had her enclosure set up for almost a week now and the humidity and temp have stayed perfect (just a Zilla heat mat and a water bowl in a sterilite tub) *knock on wood* so i don't have anything near a rack yet so like i said i really have no idea what I'm talking about...yet

[OhhWatALoser]

point well taken but let me ask you for a simple home set up cost included a heat mat set up would be cheaper wouldn't it? because all you would need are the pads but with flexwatt and correct me if I'm wrong you would need

Rolls of Flexwatt
Foil Tape
Electric Thermostat to control temps of each tub to shut the Flexwatt of at a certain temp

last time i checked flexwatt does get over 120 where as heat mats get to about 80-90 and shut themselves off so you do need the thermostat

also as i was saying before he wanted a cheap and easy solution to belly heating a Rack I'm new and just thought this would be easiest and i do appreciate the input I'm just wondering how off base i am lol

actually, i've ran my flexwatt up to 150 degrees, just to see how hot it got, and there is no heatpad i know of that self regulates. one i have went up to 120ish unregulated, so yes you need a thermostat.

cheapest way is flexwatt, hands down.