Ummm help? Flexwatt "buzzing"?? new install. . .

[Steve-J]

I just installed it and it was fine while getting up to temp, as I was sliding in the tubs I hear it buzzing and the connections are good. normal or not? do I need to take action or what?

[Driver]

I haven't been working with flexwatt for a long time but none of mine are buzzing and never have. I would be worried and want to check that out. I know it may seem like a hassle but i would double/triple check your connections.

I will add that i have been working with low voltage wiring for the past 10 years and when there is a buzzing sound there is usually something wrong.

[spitzu]

Is it a metal rack?

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=buzzing

[RichsBallPythons]

Buzzing usually coems from a not so good connection,wetness,or bad thermostat


Not Normal

[Steve-J]

not a metal rack. . . melamine. no wetness present and the connection is soldered - solid, tinned first, not a cheapie iron, adjustable 500 to 850 deg., so that only leaves the thermostat. . . the thermostat is a Herpstat, only 3-4 months old. I'm going to bypass it to test for the noise

[RichsBallPythons]

What type of solder you using.

I use .032 core rosin core solder for all my flexwatt.

Plug the flexwatt directly into a outlet. If it buzzes you have your answer, bad connection. if it dont then its t-stat

[Steve-J]

yeah, just tested it. no buzzing when plugged in directly. I tried both outlets on the Herpstat II same thing happened, while it was heating up no buzzing, as soon as it started to get near temp the buzzing started. if I entered the menu the buzzing will stop, then when it exits the menu buzzing starts again. . . .ugh.

[RichsBallPythons]

Have you checked to make sure its not the Fan on the Herpstat

[Steve-J]

no, unfortunately it's not the fan. . . I wish it was. It seems to be some kind of triac problem because if I let the flexwatt cool down for a minute then plug it back into the herpstat output it begins to warm up silently, then as it gets nearer to the desired temp it starts doing its proportional output thing (the reason they are great) and that when it starts softly and slowly gets a little louder. I just sent an email to spyderrobotics, Im just not sure if it's safe to run. . . I may test out the on/off mode to see if it is different than proportional mode . . .

[RichsBallPythons]

Do you have a spare piece a flexwatt you can Freshly solder up and test out on the herpstat.

Same length,size,wattage and if that piece does the same then its time to send ti back for repairs