Flexwatt buzzing?

Hey all. I just installed the flexwatt in my incubator (soldered it) and it was doing great for a while, but after a bit, I heard some buzzing. I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Does that mean there is a loose connection? I don't hear it anymore. :confused: I'm relatively tech savvy, which is why I am confused. Thanks so much!

i just noticed my flex watt on my rack buzzing too.....i have no idea and want to hear from people on this too!!

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Originally Posted by HypoPita

Hey all. I just installed the flexwatt in my incubator (soldered it) and it was doing great for a while, but after a bit, I heard some buzzing. I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Does that mean there is a loose connection? I don't hear it anymore. :confused: I'm relatively tech savvy, which is why I am confused. Thanks so much!

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Do you have it hooked up to a thermostat?

I've heard flexwatt buzz when used with a proportional thermostat or a dimmer.

It may be a simple grounding issue. Any buzzing I had went away when I switched to grounded thermostats.

It may just be a grounding issue or it could be that it's just the sounds of the flexwatt warming up, the plastic expanding and contracting a little bit. Is it just when it's first turned on or is it a constant buzzing? I've never noticed that on the flexwatt on any of my racks and I wired up a lot of it myself.

i have some buzzing flexwatt too. It's constant - and if i touch it where it's coming from i can feel a slight charge in my fingers.

I ordered it pre-wired from RBI. It's on a herpstat and isn't unreasonably hot or anything - i think it's harmless. Your mileage may vary.

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

It may just be a grounding issue or it could be that it's just the sounds of the flexwatt warming up, the plastic expanding and contracting a little bit. Is it just when it's first turned on or is it a constant buzzing? I've never noticed that on the flexwatt on any of my racks and I wired up a lot of it myself.

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Mine buzzed when resistance was applied via a proportional thermostat at less than 100% power. If it was cranked up or on and on/off thermo - it didn't buzz.

Switching to a grounded stat stopped the problem (the flex was already grounded).

The buzzing has to be coming from relative motion or tracking/arcing. It could be some surface moisture causing some surface currents or depending on cage construction a relative motion could be occuring due to the rotating magnetic field developed when AC flows through a conductor and this field is pushing or pulling on some metal object close to the flexwatt. To stop the relative motion issue in my rack designs I use a spray adhesive to glue it down then I take it down with aluminum tape. (Make sure you cover cut ends of flexwatt with electrical tape first.)

well that makes me feel alot better. i have it plugged into a herpstat.

I wouldn't think the flexwatt would buzz :confused: I soldered the flexwatt myself also, however, not tech savy in that area at all. I didn't have any buzzing till I plugged my thermostat into a dimmer as an added safety precaution. The buzzing is now comming from my thermostat when it's on. :confused: I haven't had any problems with it.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

well that makes me feel alot better. i have it plugged into a herpstat.

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Dion from Spyder Robotics assisted me with troubleshooting the "buzz" and it was he who suggested retrofitting to the grounded stat.