Please help me with Flex Watt Thank you!

Ok thank you all for the time and help in advance. I have built a Snake rack for my BP's and I can't seem to get the temps anywhere near right. The temps in my rack at the hot spot right now is 73.8. I have had my rack setup for well over 24 hours and have yet to see a change in the temp. I'm using 41 qt sterilite tubs. The measurements for my tub shelves are 17" x 35". I have ten shelves. I wasn't able to get melamine wood so i went with plywood and treated it with a non toxic marine grade polyurithan. On my shelves I have put down foil tape so it will act as insulation for the flex watt. I then put my flex watt on top of the foil tape and taped it down on top of the other foil tape. I'm using a Herpstat 2 thermostat and I have the temp prob taped down right on top of the flex watt heat tape. I'm using 11" flex watt that i cut into 10 even pieces. So i have 10 pieces of 11' flex watt that has been cut into 6"x 11". I used the clips for the flex watt as I have never used a soddering iron. I have made sure all clips where good and connected. I have also went and checked to make sure everything was electrical taped up good. Oh and when I started almost two days ago i had my Herpstat set at 93' and my hot spots where 70 somthing degrees. So i tried setting the herpstat temp higher and it's now set to 105. and the hot spot temp is just at 74.3. Again thank you all for any and all elp that is offered and or given. My snakes and I need you!! Many Thanks!!

Wait, The temp probe is taped on top of the heat tape?

Oh also just so we are clear when I cut the flex watt I cut it into even pieces meaning I DID NOT cut any of the black lines on the flex watt and also went so far as to make sure every piece of flex watt that i cut had the exact same amount of black lines on them. Sorry not sure what the names of the black lines are on the flex watt. Ok so I think I have covered everything. If i missed any important information pls let me know and I will post any information need to help solve his problem Thanks again.

Where do you place your probe. This is the key to your temperature problem, I'm sure.

A good placement is on the middle shelf on the flexwatt.

Yes so on my rack I have foil tape down then on top of that i put my flex watt and taped that down. But i only taped the sides of the flex watt and left almost all the flex watt showing. then i took my prob and placed it on top of flex watt then taped it down to it

I have ten shelves total and I put the prob on the 5th rack on the flex watt in the middle of the flex watt. taped down to flex watt with nothing in between flex watt and Prob. just tape on top of prob to hold it down on top of flex watt tape

Try plugging your flexwatt directly into the wall without the thermostat, then see if it heats up. Then you'll know whether you're looking for a problem with the flexwatt or the thermostat.

everything sounds right, what mode is your herpstat in, and what is the current power output (the percentage on the display)

try plugging the Flexwatt directly into the wall and wait an hour and see what the hot spots are.

So just to be sure your flexwatt looks something like this? (taped around the edges)

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0439.jpg

To me it sounds as if you have a connection that is loose. I am assuming you have it all daisy chained together? or do you have it with each piece having it's own plug? If you have a electrical tester check to make sure there is current flowing though all the pieces.

What is the temp of the actual flexwatt getting to?

What are you using to tape down the probe?

OK, Yes my flexwatt is taped exactly as yours -The Serpent Merchant. As for the mode i'm in it's Dimming. And I have to be honest and say I'm not sure about the power output. If thats the number on my herstat 2 thats in parenthesenext to the temp it's reading 105.5 and the target temp that i have set is 105.1. also so everyone is clear I have NO snakes in my rack yet and will not till its perfect and been running acouple days at temp. I love my BP's and don't want to harm or stress them in anyway! just so we are clear lol. I'm lookin at the owners manual for the Herpstat now to figure out power output. I will try to plug my flexwatt into wall and see how that goes now. And thank you guys so far for all the help. Makes me feel good knowing people out their care!!!!

TimNa Yes you are right I do have it Daisy chained. I don't own a tester but I will go get one. also I'm using foil tape to tape down the probe.

I have herpstat 4's, so it may be different but this is what my screen looks like, is there a "Proportional" mode? that is what mine is set to, "dimming" on mine is for controlling lights *if your mode is wrong it won't work the way you want it so this might be your problem*

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0342.jpg

I think it's clear that your probe is getting too hot too fast. It's reaching the set thermostat temp, so that's why it's not getting any hotter in your tubs.


Do you have a temp gun? Can you measure the exact temp of the flexwatt and probe?
Maybe you're some how trapping the heat under your tub, so that's why you're not getting an accurate reading?? Or you can just set your thermostat to a higher temp and accommodate the tub temp

Quote:

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Originally Posted by InSaNeFrEaKsHoW

also I'm using foil tape to tape down the probe.

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This isn't recommended (it says so in the herpstat's user manual) the Aluminum tape can act like a heat sink and effect the probes readings. I use hot glue to secure my probes (I apply the hot glue to the probe cord and not the probe head)

Here are some more pictures

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/d3c8d173.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/114ba96a.jpg

Also to clarify:

in this picture the numbers are as follows

# Channel Number Current Temperature (Set Temperature) Power Output%

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0342.jpg

Oh WOW Aaron I missed that completely in the manual. And i did read the whole manual before installing. I don't know How i over looked this. I will make this change right away and see if this is the cause of my problem. if not i will start trouble shooting the other points that have been pointed out! I must say THANK YOU to everyone that responded it is great to find helpful good people ty ty

Yes when you use foil tape to secure the probe, Only tape the end and the wire. Never cover the entire probe as the tape will hold the heat in longer making the shelves cool off faster.


Redo that on the probe and should help dial in better.

Thanks Everyone for all the help, it seems so far that I messed up and covered my temp probe with foil tape and as stated I was trapping in the heat around my probe. I removed the tape and the temp on my thermostat as dropped and the temps in my tubs are rising. I will give the rack system time to adjust to my changes and then post back my results. Thanks again!

Sounds good, I suggest waiting at least 30 minutes between adjustments to allow the new temperature to settle in.