helix and flexwatt??

one advantage to routing one piece through the rack is less connections. less connections= less possibility of bad connections/potential problems. either way done correctly is fine though. it's your choice.




vaughn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MARCUS ANTONIUS

Sorry to hijack, but is the parallel setup a better means than one unbroken strip of flexwatt "snaked" from top to bottom or vice versa?

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My first plan was to "snake" the flexwatt but i was thinking that the shelfs would pinch the flexwatt.Has this happend to anyone?

The only advantage I can think of wiring parallel is that if you had one "bad" connection, all the others would still work. Same principle as light bulb wiring, in parallel one can be removed and the others still work. If they are wired in series, and one goes out they all go out. I think the snaking idea (one long piece of flexwatt) is also good for the reasons mentioned.

I am building two 5 shelf racks to hold my vision cages, so I will post some pics in a thread as it progresses.

Neil

You will use alot more flexwatt "snaking" through the shelves than you would to put strips on each shelf. You can buy your flexwatt prewired and cut to length. They also make handy little crimp connectors if you decide to do it yourself. The longer the flexwatt the more power it will draw also. :)

I have also wired racks in a series and parallel(sp?) before, as long as you turn on your thermostat and test to make sure each piece of flexwatt is working before use. You shouldnt have any problems. I use a tempgun to verify each is working properly.

im going to use melamine for the rack.can i put the flexwatt directly on the melamine or would i need some kind of heat tape(i dont know if thats right:confuzd: but its the silver stuff

I put my flexwatt directly on the melamine and tape it down with the silver(aluminum) tape.

Does your cage sit directly on the heat tape, or do you have something to keep the cage off of it?

Neil

My tubs sit directly on the flexwatt. :)

Thanks Vaughn, that's what I had envisioned as being a possible reason to "snake" it.

KrackerJack - What I had thought about trying was a design like Jeff Ronne (Boaphile Plastics)... Here's a link to a page so you can see what I mean... http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...xwatt_Rear.jpg
You'll probably have to enlarge the pic by clicking the bottom-right corner on that icon that comes up to reallly see it. I haven't actually tried making one like this but I think I can handle it... But being my first attempt at rack building, it may prove a daunting task... ;)

Wild Bill - That's something else I have to take into account is whether the design warrants the extra flexwatt or whether it would be better just to do strips and save the $ for something else... Like possibly some nice Hets for those tubs!! :)