New rack.

So I built a new rack, much like halfdawgs and such. I did make a few changes, I put in two rows of 6 qt shoebox tubs and one row of 15qt tubs. The rest are 32 qt tubs.

Here's where my question comes in. I was getting ready to order the flexwatt and a herpstat or helix thermostat (as I was currently using a ranco) Then I thought about it and I'm going to have to run rows of 3 inch flexwatt on the smaller tubs and 11 inch flexwatt on the larger tubs. How would I set it up so that the herpstat or helix could run both at the same time without the temps in the smaller tubs getting to high, or the larger tubs getting to low?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

you could just run 3 inch all the way threw it, thats what i did
works great, and only one connection to have to worry about instead of 4

We need to see some pic's!

I understand your question and the answer is you cant, you need different thermostats for different size flexwatt. You could get a herpstat pro which can control 4 different heating elements.

its worth it, you can control your 3 different size flexwatts in that same rack, and use the 4th control for another rack. Its basically like having 4 in one.

Bah.....is there anyway I could run 11 inch flexwat on the entire thing and simply not have smaller tubs completly on it?

no ideas?

well, you will def have to stick to one size. Otherwise the 11 will be underheated or the 3 will be overheated...I would go with 4 and run one long strip...you can even double the 4" up on the longer tubs with some wise soldering. It shouldnt be too bad...

Hmm...**grumbles** I wish I had thought about all of that before I decided to add the smaller tubs in there as well. I'm not good with soldering so soldering 2 4inches together is out. Although I could perhaps run 2 strips of 3 or 4 inch next to each other under the larger tubs, and just 1 next to the smaller tubs...

I wonder if that would work better, or the 11 inch with the tubs not on top of the entire piece of flexwatt, just sitting on 1/3 or 1/2 of the flexwatt so it gets some of the heat and the rest of the heat going off the back shouldn't affect them.

ok well I have an idea, use4inch for the entire rack, 4 inch is plenty for 32qts, and plenty for the smaller tubs, and like you said you can just put a portion of the small tubs on the flexwatt.

Dunno why you'd need 11in anyway.

..ya....you dont need 11"....I use 3" on all of my racks with no problems. I even use 3" on my 43"x17"x7" 17gal tubs with no problems! 11"....been there done that....3" all the way :gj:

-Josh