Rack Temperature

What's a typical variation in rack temperature? I've got a 5-shelf PVC rack with the thermostat probe in the middle shelf. Rack is heated with heat tape. My top shelf is around 92F and my lower shelf reads about 83F. All heat tapes are the same size. Any ideas on how to get a more consistent temp other than running the upper and lower on separate tstats?


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Anyone?


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What thermostat? How much wattage total is the heat tape, what size is the tape, and is it one continuous strip? Most racks come with a grooved slot to slide the tape into and may mean the probe is not flush against the heat tape but leaving a small air gap. It should be in physical contact with the heat tape perpendicular to the black lines. So how do you exactly have the probe installed and seated against the heat tape and how exactly and with what device are you reading the temps? What is the surface temp of the tape?

All that being said hte most importatn thing to ask is what are the room temps fomr the bottom of the rack to the top? If the room is varying to greatly form bottom to top it might be impacting the location where you are taking temps. Things such as ceiling fans, HVAC vents, radiant heaters, etc.

I have a similar problem, I think it is because I have 4 different pieces of heat tape wired together. Next time I’m using one continuous heat tape weaved through the shelves, to eliminate this variance problem.

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Originally Posted by SDA

What thermostat? How much wattage total is the heat tape, what size is the tape, and is it one continuous strip? Most racks come with a grooved slot to slide the tape into and may mean the probe is not flush against the heat tape but leaving a small air gap. It should be in physical contact with the heat tape perpendicular to the black lines. So how do you exactly have the probe installed and seated against the heat tape and how exactly and with what device are you reading the temps? What is the surface temp of the tape?

All that being said hte most importatn thing to ask is what are the room temps fomr the bottom of the rack to the top? If the room is varying to greatly form bottom to top it might be impacting the location where you are taking temps. Things such as ceiling fans, HVAC vents, radiant heaters, etc.

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It's 12" heat tape wired in parallel. You make a good point with the ambient air - it's only reading about 73F at the bottom shelf and 77F at the top. That's probably the most likely culprit.


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I am amazed you were able to decrypt my chicken scratch there LMAO!