why doesnt my flexwatt heat up? plz help!

How are you measuring your temps and where?

my heat tape is a single connection and is the only thing plugged into the thermostat. the connection was done for me by the supplier.


im going to try putting the probe directly on the heat tape. that is probably my problem.

i guess i would need to set my thermostat temperature higher than the desired temp to make up for the loss of heat from the tape to the desired area???(make sense...?)

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Originally Posted by bigballs

my heat tape is a single connection and is the only thing plugged into the thermostat. the connection was done for me by the supplier.


im going to try putting the probe directly on the heat tape. that is probably my problem.

i guess i would need to set my thermostat temperature higher than the desired temp to make up for the loss of heat from the tape to the desired area???(make sense...?)

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The only thing that the flex-watt will do without having the probe directly on it, is it will get hotter.Something is wrong somewhere.You should be able to set your thermostat at the desired temp and the thermostat will shut down when it reaches your desired temp.If you raise the setting higher then you should have you could have a problem arise(fire from a malfunctioning device and such).I am not trying to scare you just letting you know these things.

i placed the probe on the thermostat but it cooled the heat tape because i guess it was at full power but if thats full power how is it supposed to heat the whole enclosure??

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Originally Posted by bigballs

i placed the probe on the thermostat but it cooled the heat tape because i guess it was at full power but if thats full power how is it supposed to heat the whole enclosure??

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Ok i am VERY confused here:( .I just reread this whole thread and you have never mentioned what size of enclosure you are attemting to heat.Not being rude here,are you attempting to heat a large enclosure with a peice of 3" flex-watt? If so this will NOT heat a large enclosure.I also caught you say you are wanting to heat up "a enclosure" to place your snakes in.I hope you are not placing more then one snake in this "enclosure",if so you are setting yourself up with some major ball python problems.Please calmly post everything about your setup you are attempting to heat up.Otherwise it may be next Christmas before we are able to correct the problems here.Like i said not being rude just confused lol.

ok joe here we go...

i have built a "display rack" out of wood and plexi glass and the dimensions are 3' long by 2' wide by 4' high. i have a piece of 3" flexwatt running down the back of the enclosure. the flexwatt is 3 feet long(should be 4' feet but came to me 3') and is boxed in by 1/8" hardboard(the wood with holes in it).

i need to get one side 92-94 and im wondering how to get the heat tape hot enough to heat this thing. i was told that a 3" strip of flexwatt running down the rear or the enclosure would be more than enough to get the temp that i want. it seems that the flexwatt doesnt emit enough heat. how do you guys do it and what do you use?

i placed the probe on the heat tape but i dont think thats going to work. if i place the probe somewhere in the enclosure where i want it to be 92 degrees then wouldnt that warm up the enclosure to the temp i want?

thanks everyone for all the ideas and comments please bear with me i just need to get this working as soon as i possibly can!

thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigballs

ok joe here we go...

i have built a "display rack" out of wood and plexi glass and the dimensions are 3' long by 2' wide by 4' high. i have a piece of 3" flexwatt running down the back of the enclosure. the flexwatt is 3 feet long(should be 4' feet but came to me 3') and is boxed in by 1/8" hardboard(the wood with holes in it).

i need to get one side 92-94 and im wondering how to get the heat tape hot enough to heat this thing. i was told that a 3" strip of flexwatt running down the rear or the enclosure would be more than enough to get the temp that i want. it seems that the flexwatt doesnt emit enough heat. how do you guys do it and what do you use?

i placed the probe on the heat tape but i dont think thats going to work. if i place the probe somewhere in the enclosure where i want it to be 92 degrees then wouldnt that warm up the enclosure to the temp i want?

thanks everyone for all the ideas and comments please bear with me i just need to get this working as soon as i possibly can!

thanks again!

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OK i think i have solved your problem.You are attaching the flex-watt to the wood on the back of the enclosure,am i correct? If so the wood is soaking up all the heat.It will never reach the desired heats.Just so you know ahead of time that wood is going to soak up the liquid poo like a sponge.It will not last long unless you used a water sealer.Who told you that a section of 3" flex-watt would heat that type of enclosure up? Let alone sell you 4' and send you 3' thats bad.I will be right back and i will post a pic of what i am using to house my adult ball python breeders.

Here is a link that shows my 41qt rack that i house my adult breeders in.Yes i did buy it as it sets. http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=41qt+rack

joe, my flexwatt is boxed in on the inside of the enclosure. it is not pressed up against anything and the front of the box allows heat to escape into the enclosure. i just need the heat tape to get to a high enough temp to emit proper heat.


ill take pics soon maybe it will help...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigballs

joe, my flexwatt is boxed in on the inside of the enclosure. it is not pressed up against anything and the front of the box allows heat to escape into the enclosure. i just need the heat tape to get to a high enough temp to emit proper heat.


ill take pics soon maybe it will help...

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OK i understand now.Even though i doubt you will be able to get the correct temps.On my 41qt rack it has a section of 11" flex-watt on each shelf for belly heat.The 3" flex-watt is probably reaching the correct temp in that area just not in the entire cage.