ordering flexwatt

[mpkeelee]

im making my hatchling rack. i need 2 2 foot strips of flexwatt. do i just order 4 feet and cut it or how do i order it? and isnt their a site where the guy attaches everything for you before he ships it?

[jbean7916]

Send an email to reptile basics before you order, he'll tell you exactly what you need to order and how you need to word the comments so you get what you need

sent from my EVO

[mpkeelee]

i will do that right now, thanks!!

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

You can order it and cut it yourself it's really simple to assemble but there are several companies that sell it prewired try big apple or lllreptile. You can order prewired from some of the guys on kingsnake classifieds also. They will probably have the best prices too.

[mpkeelee]

i just ordered from Reptile Basics and in the comments i asked him to cut my 4 foot order into 2 foot strips and to please assemble with the clips and insulators. i also ordered a helix too. hopefully i did it right. thanks guys

[OhhWatALoser]

i just ordered from Reptile Basics and in the comments i asked him to cut my 4 foot order into 2 foot strips and to please assemble with the clips and insulators. i also ordered a helix too. hopefully i did it right. thanks guys

keep an eye on those clips, they like to fall off over time. or find someone who knows how to solder and just solder it on, then you can't have problems with that

[steveboos]

My clips have been fine when the specific tool is used to crimp them. When i did them myself with pliers, they were tough and i had to use a lot of brute force to get them to seat right.

Rich ALWAYS does it right and when you ask him to do something, he does it! Great choice going with him, His prices and customer service can't be beat.

[SlitherinSisters]

Did you order the clips and assembly? You have to pay for him to put it together for you. And like OhhWatALoser said, those clips are crap IMO. I solder the wires on myself. It's not hard and I haven't had one fall off yet. I also use electrical tape to hold them on and to keep from getting electrocuted/causing a fire.

[Wh00h0069]

I use the metal connectors, and I have the Flexwatt crimping tool. I have never had any issues with them at all.

[OhhWatALoser]

My clips have been fine when the specific tool is used to crimp them. When i did them myself with pliers, they were tough and i had to use a lot of brute force to get them to seat right.

Rich ALWAYS does it right and when you ask him to do something, he does it! Great choice going with him, His prices and customer service can't be beat.

I use the metal connectors, and I have the Flexwatt crimping tool. I have never had any issues with them at all.

the "crimp" to the flexwatt shouldn't even be classified as a crimp, all it does is dig teeth into the flexwatt conductor. i can still get it apart with a screwdriver there nothing holding it together besides the teeth. you could compare them to a nail. a crimp is supposed to be irreversible. I don't even think they are UL listed, but i might be wrong, they list alot of crap hack-job things now-a-days.

well what happens is over time after the connection point heats and cools a bunch of times it starts to loosen from the movement of it expanding and contracting. creates more resistance, more heat, cycle continues til it falls off or wire burns up.

its how alot of these fires start in houses, people uses the pressure connectors on the back of outlets and switches instead of the screws, same thing happens. I bet you if I went into your electrical panel, i could retighten your lugs on alot of your wires, again same thing going on. it takes years to happen and how long depends on how much it heats and cools, but unless you got a constant amount of current going through that wire or it is extremely oversize and not heating at all, then you will have it happen eventually.

now in reality only in an extreme case would something dangerous happen. most likely you will move the cage and it will fall off or you will see its loose and put it back on. but its a potential for a problem id rather not deal with. as a electrician I see them as something your just asking for problem years form now.

I bought a rack off of craiglist that had the connectors, after 2 fell off I cut em all off and solder them on, no problem anymore.