Having a problem with my racks

I've had these racks over 2 years now and almost every 6 months on the dog the heating goes out. I use a herpstat thermostat so that shouldnt be happening. When I first got the rack the heat tape was under warranty but its since gone out every 6 months. 6 months ago ago I asked if they had another option besides the heat tape since it went out every 6 months so they sent me heat tape instead. For some reason even on the herpstat something went wrong and in the same spot down all the racks a certain spot in the tape spiked up in temp and melted the tubs, killing 3 of my snakes in the process. This happened over night b/c I always do a poop check when I go to bed. Luckily at the time I had a leftover heat rope to put in it to keep them heated. Well its been 6 months again and one of the tapes burnt out. And I'm very iffy about what to buy, I dont want the same thing to happen again, but now the company I bought the racks from said they cant warranty the heat tape again b/c the company they get it from wont back it up and I don't want to pay $50 every 6 months per rack for heat, that seems ridiculous.

Any suggestions?

Yeah I know Flexwatt wont warranty the product for what we use it for

What kind of rack is it?

What kind of heating? Belly? BAck? Side?

That stinks! I have had my racks for years and only had one incident where I needed the tape replaced. He replaced it for me and it was only $20. Sorry to hear you lost 3 snakes.

Have you tried a different thermostat? Did you try moving the prob to that spot on the rack? Where on the rack does this keep happening i.e. top, middle or bottom?

They're Animal plastics economy racks, I tried a different thermostat same thing. Its belly heat. I don't use flexwatt anymore even though I still have a roll left over from what they sent me when it was under warranty so I haven't moved the probe aside from its in a different tub now

Thanks, and it didnt help they were some of my favorites and one of them I spent close to $300 to get over a RI infection previously

How cold is the room?

Thats weird

Are your tubs rubbing the heat at all?

The probe is IN the tub? That could be part of the problem as you aren't regulating the temp of the heat tape itself, but the temp of the tub. Try putting the probe directly on the heat source itself.

SHOULDNT be a problem though Chris, I know I've seen people setup like this.

My probes arent on my heat sources, but like 10 inches away and its all wavy gravy.

Again, I wonder what the room temp is. It sounds almost as if the heat tape is running full blast all the time.

We'll figure it out:salute:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

The probe is IN the tub? That could be part of the problem as you aren't regulating the temp of the heat tape itself, but the temp of the tub. Try putting the probe directly on the heat source itself.

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I have the probe in the tub dirrectly over where the heat tape sits, the room is 74-80ish I dont really keep track of it but its not all that cold and I have my air go on only 4 hours a day.

The heat rope is in a canal in the rack, but when the heat tape was there it was across the rack so the tubs did rub them but there was no other way to do it. AP told me to put it across the middle of the shelves and since there was one connection for the entire cord that was the only way it would fit the rack

Could you post a few detailed pictures. Maybe this would help us get a better idea what's happening.

Jim Smith

what kind of pictures do you want to see?
(not my pic) this is the rack, there's a channel dug in the back for the heat rope that you can see
http://media.photobucket.com/image/A...lespics046.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nagini88

what kind of pictures do you want to see?
(not my pic) this is the rack, there's a channel dug in the back for the heat rope that you can see
http://media.photobucket.com/image/A...lespics046.jpg

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If you can get a picture of the heat tape/rope at the exact location where it's burning. Get a picture of the heating set up, so we can see if there are any glaring defects. things like this may help find your answers.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

I'm not using the heat tape anymore, and the heat rope isnt melting the tubs it just stops working

The red dot is the spot it burned in all levels of the rack(not including the side brace but its in the way in the pic angle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Untitled-1.jpg

This is where the heat rope is
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Untitled-2.jpg

This is where the heat tape was put as per what AP said
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Untitled-3.jpg

So both the heat tape AND the heat rope are failing?

Sounds like a possible thermostat issue.....

If your still using heat rope, I've got a big long strand I can send you if you need it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

So both the heat tape AND the heat rope are failing?

Sounds like a possible thermostat issue.....

If your still using heat rope, I've got a big long strand I can send you if you need it.

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I would think that too, but didn't he say that the tape and rope burned out 3 different times at exactly the same location within the rack?

If that's the case, I would look for an issue with the way the tape/rope was installed. Possibly getting kinked in the process of the installation. Other than these 2 possiblities, I'm at a loss.

BTW, thanks to the OP for the pictures. I wish I had an answer for you, but I really don't.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

After going back and reading the original message, the only thing I can think of (other than the thermostat) is possibly an electrical surge. That would usually cause the failure to occur in the same spot. An over voltage/current would probably cause the tape to burn out around the same place. Also, when you cut the tape are you following the instructions for the type of tape you're using. Get me a close up picture of the end of the tape. That would be a picture for each side of the tape, the end that is just cut off as well as the end with the elcetrical connection.

I know, I'm a pain wanting to see the pictures, but I'm trying to troubleshoot an electrical failure from hundreds of miles away and only by looking at a few pictures and your descriptions.

Jim Smith

When the heat rope burns out the entire heat rope burns out not only in spots, when I had the heat tape it burned out in the same spot down the whole rack. I used 2 different thermostats to see if that was the case, it still burned out with a new thermostat that I had only used once previously on my incubator. When I installed the heat tape I did it the way the instructions dictated. I made sure it didnt twist in the process and it worked fine for about 6 months before it just stops working

Can you get me the pictures of each end of the heat tape?
This will rule out one of 2 possibilities. Glad the thermostat isn't the issue. That's one thing we can discount.

Jim Smith

like I said, I'm not using the heat tape anymore, last I used in the racks is heat rope. The heat tape was 6 months ago and I threw it out a long time ago

Opps, my bad. Sorry about that.

Okay, here's my opinion. I believe you are most likely experiencing a voltage/current surge on the electric circuit (120vac wall outlet). This is the most obvious thing I can see that would cause your recurring problem. I would buy a decent surge protector and plug your thermostat directly into that.

There is one other possibility, but you would need an electrician to check the circuit.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

this has been spread over an apartment, a 1700 sqft house and now our current house, but I'll try a serge protector.

Since I need to replace the heat, what would be a good heat source for the rack itself?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nagini88

this has been spread over an apartment, a 1700 sqft house and now our current house, but I'll try a serge protector.

Since I need to replace the heat, what would be a good heat source for the rack itself?

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Okay, I'm offically giving up on this problem.

You had heat tape and heat rope burn up every 6 months. So you've had new, then replaced the heat tape/rope a number of times? You used the tape in a different position within your rack than you did the rope? You changed thermostats. You have also used this rack system in 3 different locations?

I do not see where you haven't addressed any/all parts of the system. I don't know how you can keep having the same problem. You've changed out all components of the heating system. You have had this system in 3 different houses, which means the house power can't be the issue.

Anyone else have an idea. from what he's telling me, he's changed EVERYTHING within the heating system as well as 3 completely different house power sources.


Beaten,
Jim Smith

She*

I think I'm cursed :(

I started out with heat rope. It burnt out at the same time in both racks about 6 months after I got it. They sent me new heat tape for both, I replaced both. 6 months later one burnt out, they sent me 2 more. a few months later the other burnt out, I asked another heating option, they sent me the heat tape. I set up the heat tape in the one rack. It fried my snakes so I pulled it. I had a heat rope left over from when they sent me two so I put that in. The same rack that the heat tape was in just burnt out with that new heat rope and its been about 6 months since the heat tape

I appreciate the help, this is why I'm here, I have no clue what else to do!