help choosing a rack?

The way to set up a backup thermostat is to plug your heat tape into a proportional thermostat like the Herpstat from spyder robotics. The probe from that thermostat will sit directly on the heat tape. You will then plug the proportional thermostat into the output of a on/off style thermostat such as a Ranco. The probe from the on/off style thermostat will be placed on the heat tape as well.

Now you set the proportional thermostat to your desired temperature. The on/off style thermostat will be set at the maximum temperature you want your heat tape to get ever.

So this is how it all works. The proportional thermostat regulates the heat tape unless something goes wrong with the thermostat. If something does go wrong the on/off style thermostat will kill the power going to the proportional thermostat until the heat tape cools down to safe temperatures.

Also to comment on the AP racks: because they are made from 1/2 inch thick PVC they hold heat and humidity in very well. They are great, I defiantly would recomend them.

I'm talking about extra tubs. Always nice to have extra tubs. Say something goes wrong with a tub can you go to your local Walmart and get one or do you have to order it online. Just saying.

One of the nice things about AP is that they have racks designed for iris, sterilite, and rubbermaid tubs. So you can choose which fits your needs better and what tubs you can get ahold of.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

One of the nice things about AP is that they have racks designed for iris, sterilite, and rubbermaid tubs. So you can choose which fits your needs better and what tubs you can get ahold of.

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Personally, here in Canada, its hard to find the same sized tubs as you guys have in the states. So my preference is to buy from someone who includes the tubs, in case I need to replace them. I wish AP included tubs with their racks, Ive heard great things about them.

RBI and Boaphile are pretty much on par though, I will be getting another from one of them pretty soon.

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Personally, here in Canada, its hard to find the same sized tubs as you guys have in the states. So my preference is to buy from someone who includes the tubs, in case I need to replace them. I wish AP included tubs with their racks, Ive heard great things about them.

RBI and Boaphile are pretty much on par though, I will be getting another from one of them pretty soon.

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I'm not Knowledgeable in what it takes to get a product from the US to Canada, but AP has a link to an online source for tubs for their racks. Maybe that won't work as I said I don't know much about the process.

Looks like I'm going to have to stick with AP now... Does anyone have the economy line? I've decided to go with there 6 container rack so I can get AT LEAST 1 more snake.

Anything good or bad about this one?

The only issue that the economy line of racks might have is that since they don't have solid 1/2" thick PVC walls they might not hold heat as well as a rack that is fully enclosed with 1/2" PVC. This shouldn't cause you any problems.

If you have any questions about the rack itself I would go ahead and email/call AP Ali is great and will answer any questions that you have.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

The only issue that the economy line of racks might have is that since they don't have solid 1/2" thick PVC walls they might not hold heat as well as a rack that is fully enclosed with 1/2" PVC. This shouldn't cause you any problems.

If you have any questions about the rack itself I would go ahead and email/call AP Ali is great and will answer any questions that you have.

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That's what I was worried about. Thanks again for another reply! And I planned on messaging them with a few questions tomorrow one of them was that. Again thank you! Hopefully AP doesn't decide to stop making racks as well...lol

If AP stops making racks that means that they are going out of business seeing that racks are 90% of their sales I bet. If they don't reply to your email within a day I would just go ahead and call them. I have had better luck with that. AP sells great products I trust that their economy line of racks is the same. I'm sure they work great.

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Just for clarity. I place the probe of the fail safe on a different piece of heat tape. I usually place the primary in the middle and the fail safe in the top with is usually a little hotter than the others. Normally it will become the warmest fastest. The temps are likely going to be different you have to play with it to get everything right.

So many have bought racks but few understand that a rack really needs to be in a controlled ambient temp to work well. It can be used in a cool room but it is a huge pain. I just thought I be clear on that, just in case.

Tubs change size a few years back rubbermaid changed all the sizes my old ones are shorter than the new ones with the same code. I'd suggest buying extras no matter what.