Heating/T-stats for racks

[MrsIrions]

Hi there, I'm new to the forum. I've been searching around, but haven't found a thread that is specific to my questions, I apologize if it's been discussed before and I overlooked it.

I've had mostly corn snakes when I was young (and looking back I know they were not taken care up properly) and now I'm getting into ball pythons and working on my husbandry skills. I got my first ball python a month ago and set her up in a 40 gal tank with a zoomed UTH and zoomed t-stat that attaches outside the tank. The tank is NOT holding heat well at all, so I added a heat lamp to the t-stat, but in my reading I've decided to switch to a small rack system since snakes seem to thrive in them and it will allow me to have more snakes in a small space. Rack systems just make sense for snakes. My husband is going to build me a small (< 20 tubs) rack.

So, my questions. I'm really paranoid about using heat tape and starting a fire. Has anyone had problems with heat tape (while also using a t-stat) and having a fire/burning their snakes? What about the plastic melting? Head pads vs heat tape- any thoughts? Can heat pads melt plastic?

Any advice on economical ways to have a t-stat system? I've seen nice ones for $130, do those come with multiple probes for each tub, or do you buy a system for each tub? Or do you only put a probe in a few tubs?

Thank you thank you so much in advance!!

[Slim]

Heat tape is very safe when connected, regulated and used properly. In a rack system I personally like to use one T-stat per strip of heat tape. Doesn't matter If that strip of flex-watt is heating one tub or six. Some keepers will run multiple strips of heat tape on one T-stat, and It can be done as long as the wattages are the same, but I prefer not to do that. Totally a personal decision.

I place my T-stat probe directly on the flex-watt, right in the middle of the rack. Usually, I run my heat tape at about 102 degrees to achieve a 90 hot spot in the tub (I use paper substrate so your mileage may vary).

Back in 2010, I did have a severe T-stat malfunction due to an electrical storm. My T-stat allowed the heat tape to run unchecked for several hours (I was out of town on business at the time) until the the tubs melting onto the flex-watt overloaded everything and the T-stat shut off power to the heat tape. The result was 7 dead snakes and a ruined rack, but thankfully, no apartment fire. That was a one in a million occurrence, and the only time the manufacturer of that particular model of T-stat has ever seen it happen.

[MrsIrions]

So if one shelf has one strip of heat tape, it requires 1 thermostat? Does each thermostat only have 1 probe? I COULD, until I had the money, build a rack with 3 shelves, 3 strips of heat tape, and 1 thermostat, and just monitor everything?

I have 2 UTH stuck on my terrariums- can I use those for anything now that I'm switching to a rack system, or are they just stuck with the tanks?

[CryHavoc17]

So if one shelf has one strip of heat tape, it requires 1 thermostat? Does each thermostat only have 1 probe? I COULD, until I had the money, build a rack with 3 shelves, 3 strips of heat tape, and 1 thermostat, and just monitor everything?

I have 2 UTH stuck on my terrariums- can I use those for anything now that I'm switching to a rack system, or are they just stuck with the tanks?

A lot of rack manufacturers use one continues strip of flexwatt for the whole rack. Its easier to monitor and build as you dont have to chain multiple pieces together, and there is only one thermostat needed. Chaining flexwatt together has some issues as slim said. Plenty of people do it, and I probably would if I needed to, but I prefer not to. You can get some really nice thermostats that have multiple probes and outlets, so they can run multiple heatsources. But they are very expensive.

You COULD use the UTHs on a rack, but you'd run into the same issues with chaining them together as multiple strips of flexwatt. Again theyd still have to all be idenical size/watrage. Plus flexwatt is a mich lower wattage density, so its both more energy efficient and less of a risk if you have a thermostat failure.

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[MrsIrions]

Ok, I see now!! A lot of people talk about what wood/type heat tape/ t-stat they use, but it was hard for me to grasp how it all worked together. Thank you so much! Does anyone who builds their own rack system have a link to instructions/information they like to use? I've come across a LOT of different ways to build a rack. Anyone who has just a small hobby rack system?