Flex Watt question.

will be building a rack to save on some money

Im using a rack design from the DIY section. the shelves will be 2ft Wide by 4ft Long..

This is all new to me, so Im unsure of what size of heat tape to use?

22" at 17 watts/ft. = 12 3/8" panel.
11" at 20 watts/ft. = 12 3/8" panel.
4" at 8 watts/ft.
3" at 10 watts/ft.
3" at 6 watts/ft

will be ordering a Helix thermostat along with the flex what from Helix

thanks

Can you post pics of the DIY design that you are using?

I build and sell these and for 28 or 32 quart tubs you're gonna want 3" 10watt. 3" 6 watt will most likely always do the job but if you're using a tstat having the extra power in reserve is always a good thing in the event that you would have a cold house at some point and besides it's the same price so why not.

this is the rack from the DIY section that I will be building

So i guess Ill order 4ft at 3" 10watt then. it does get very cold here in the winter

ill be using 32qt, are 32qt Sufficent for Adult BP's or is bigger neccesary?

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1671/rack1.jpg

I too am very interested in building a rack. Is anyone from the midwest where the winters a very cold? I'm an accomplished woodworker and welder if you have any building questions, be happy to help and listen to everyones idea's.

32s work in most cases. Some really large females may need 41s but you will probably have a while before that's an issue unless you already have big ones. On a side note I want offer a suggestion. That rack is the first rack I built as well and I still use it but I don't like it. When you build it three tubs wide the shelves will sag over time making the tubs very tight. I would suggest two wide and add to the height. That will help the melamine stay level. Just my opinion. Have fun and good luck!

for my larger bps i do use 41qt and everyone else gets 28qt.

OP I think you have the 22 and 17 reversed. It does not get much over 85º so it isn't really the right tool either the 3/10 or 4 /8 will be fine.

BrianWilson I am in Canada so I hear what you are saying. The easiest solution is to heat the room to 80º i think that can be said for most racks they do best in warm rooms with little variation. I have a rack in a cool room with lots of variation. Dual heat warm side and cool side (17 is awesome for the cool end) and 3 t-stats as the bottom is so much cool than the top. The hot side is on one probe and the top cool sides are on one and the bottom are on a third. The sides top and bottom are also insulated. It can be done but it is a real balancing act, and not very cheap, If I had more room I'd go with stacking enclosures it world be cheaper in the long run.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kitedemon

OP I think you have the 22 and 17 reversed. It does not get much over 85º so it isn't really the right tool either the 3/10 or 4 /8 will be fine..

---

I copy and pasted those numbers from the helix website.

if melamine sags, I wonder if using a diffrent material would be best?

flexwatt wont heat up ambiant temps much...you will need ot heat the room to 80 deg F if not the tubs will be to cold