Rack problems...

So I finally got my two racks. One is a 15 tub, 16 quart tub 3x5 with 3 rows of 3 inch flexwatt for back heat on a herpstat thermostat. The other is a 6 tub, 41 quart tub with one row of flexwatt for back heat (I was told that this setup would be sufficient) on a herpstat nd.

The 15 tub rack is set at 120 deg. at the tape and still too cold at 78 on the bottom row up to 86 at the top row. However, the herpstat doesnt show that its goin up to 120. It keeps fluctuating from 104-106. The tape at the top row is 120 and the tape at the probe shows 106, so I know that the unit is working. WTF!!! How come the tubs dont get hot enough? Im so pissed right now.

But thats not all!

Tonight I setup the 6 tub and attempted to set the temp for the herpstat but I couldnt. The unit kept on beeping and showing me an error code #2. So I dont even know if the 6 tub rack with 3 inch flexwatt will work properly.

These are my first racks and was looking forward to not having to pile tanks all over the house but now Im thinking that at least with tanks each unit setup fairly easily.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

what are the current temps reading in the tubs?

First off, the back heat on the 41 quart tubs is not going to be enough unless you are in an extremely warm room. You will most likely need to convert it over to belly heat. I use 1 foot of 12" flexwatt on my 41 quart tubs.

Error code 2 means the sensor has shorted. You can find the info here: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/produc...tnd_manual.pdf

What is the room temp? Racks are very efficient space wise but very in efficient heat wise and basically must be in a room that is at least 80º to hold 80/90 temps. The second thing I am not completely sure about but I believe that the max temp of flexwatt heat tape is recommended to be no hotter than 100ºF I could be wrong I don't recall where I read that but I think it was with the small book that came when I ordered my flexwatt.

In an uncontrolled / unstable room back heat means terrible heat loss = not has efficient has belly heat and in the long run likely more costly.

I didn't get perfect temps until I started heating the room to 80 and left the ceiling fan on low 24/7. And as was already said, back heat sucks.

The room doesnt have anyway of stabalizing the room temp. Old house with one gas floor heater. It fluctuates from 70 to 80 degrees and sometimes lower in the winter. I am guessing that I would need to go with 11" for the 41 qt rack and change to belly heat and take the 3" under for belly heat as well. Does anyone now of operating range for the different widths of flexwat?

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Originally Posted by SiQ'

what are the current temps reading in the tubs?

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Top tubs read at 83 Degrees and the bottom reads at 76 degrees. Thats the warmest spot.

Ok...so i just ordered 20 feet of 11" for belly heat and a bunch of other stuff totaling almost $300 from the bean farm. I guess its true what they say, if you want something done right...try and try again until it works!

I also am in a drafty old place I found (you'll hate this part) but to solve the temp issues I needed to add 17" to the front as well as 4 inch at the back. The 17 doesn't get much over 86ºF so it will not ever over heat the snakes even if the t-stat fails. I needed to run the top and second down on one probe The middle ones on another and the lower on a third. The fourth controls all the front cool sides. Herpstat pro is what I am using 4' for the hot side and the 17 on the cool side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Izzy&Kitty

The room doesnt have anyway of stabalizing the room temp. Old house with one gas floor heater. It fluctuates from 70 to 80 degrees and sometimes lower in the winter. I am guessing that I would need to go with 11" for the 41 qt rack and change to belly heat and take the 3" under for belly heat as well. Does anyone now of operating range for the different widths of flexwat?

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I use a 1500 watt space heater in my reptile room plugged into a ranco thermostat set at 80 degrees. It works beautifully. The room stays at a constant 80 degrees and the whole setup only cost me about 80 bucks....well worth it. And another thing...if your gonna use two different sizes of flexwatt your gonna have to plug the 11inch into its own thermostat output and the 3 inch into its own thermostat output. They have different wattage outputs so they wont both be accurate on the same thermostat output.

I used a heater for a while but with the house the way it is the snake room still would drop below 78 on occasion the direct heat solved that and cut down on power but costs way more to set up. The heater works great as along as it is powerful enough to do the job.

I got all my supplies today from the bean farm. So I started thinking about how I was going to do this when I came across a little problem. I'm not that comfortable with laying the tubs directly on the heat tape. Any suggestions? I have no idea how to recess it in the shelf and frankly no more money to buy the tools to do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Izzy&Kitty

So I finally got my two racks. One is a 15 tub, 16 quart tub 3x5 with 3 rows of 3 inch flexwatt for back heat on a herpstat thermostat. The other is a 6 tub, 41 quart tub with one row of flexwatt for back heat (I was told that this setup would be sufficient) on a herpstat nd.

The 15 tub rack is set at 120 deg. at the tape and still too cold at 78 on the bottom row up to 86 at the top row. However, the herpstat doesnt show that its goin up to 120. It keeps fluctuating from 104-106. The tape at the top row is 120 and the tape at the probe shows 106, so I know that the unit is working. WTF!!! How come the tubs dont get hot enough? Im so pissed right now.

But thats not all!

Tonight I setup the 6 tub and attempted to set the temp for the herpstat but I couldnt. The unit kept on beeping and showing me an error code #2. So I dont even know if the 6 tub rack with 3 inch flexwatt will work properly.

These are my first racks and was looking forward to not having to pile tanks all over the house but now Im thinking that at least with tanks each unit setup fairly easily.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

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I had the same problems at first and then realized that you have to stabilize the ambient temps in the room your housing your animals in even with thermostats on everything. I currently run a dedicated oil filled heater on a t-stat to keep my room at 79 all the time. before this I was always messing with rack temp adjustments and basically driving myself crazy constatly checking temps. Also keep in mind that heat tape does have some degrees of variation within themselves. I have had some longer sections of tape that would have 5-6 degrees of difference from one end to the other.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Izzy&Kitty

So I finally got my two racks. One is a 15 tub, 16 quart tub 3x5 with 3 rows of 3 inch flexwatt for back heat on a herpstat thermostat. The other is a 6 tub, 41 quart tub with one row of flexwatt for back heat (I was told that this setup would be sufficient) on a herpstat nd.

The 15 tub rack is set at 120 deg. at the tape and still too cold at 78 on the bottom row up to 86 at the top row. However, the herpstat doesnt show that its goin up to 120. It keeps fluctuating from 104-106. The tape at the top row is 120 and the tape at the probe shows 106, so I know that the unit is working. WTF!!! How come the tubs dont get hot enough? Im so pissed right now.

But thats not all!

Tonight I setup the 6 tub and attempted to set the temp for the herpstat but I couldnt. The unit kept on beeping and showing me an error code #2. So I dont even know if the 6 tub rack with 3 inch flexwatt will work properly.

These are my first racks and was looking forward to not having to pile tanks all over the house but now Im thinking that at least with tanks each unit setup fairly easily.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

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Got pictures of your rack? I have a feeling the design might be an issue, i set my back heated thermostat at 96 for the tubs to be at 92, but my rack is enclosed on all sides but the front.

The temperature does vary alot in my house but it never affected my cages that are on the cheapy petco t stats. I did setup the rack with belly heat using 11" flexwat and secured it with foil tape. ITS FINALLY WORKING!!!! The rack is closed on three sides and only open in the front. I dont know how to post pics in the forums so I added them to my online gallery.

OH!!! And by the way, many thanks to spyder robotics for promptly resolving my problem and also to the bean farm for all they supplied me with.

Next I'll be tackling the 15 tub. Probably this weekend.