New heat tape wiring that I tried.

New wiring for my heat tape.

I decided to try a new way to wire my heat tape. I was tired of having to have them all going to an outlet strip, and daisy chaining them would make it harder to replace if one piece ever went bad.

Let me know what you think about what I did.

1. Used 2 terminal blocks from radio shack. I also put a jumper strip on one side of each strip.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8f2ac271.jpg

2. Used heavy duty double sided tape to attach the blocks inside of a project box.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps573ae46e.jpg

3. Then I labeled where each point on the block was going.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...psa8cfee1a.jpg

4. Then I connected all the wires coming down from the heat tape.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...psab2767aa.jpg

5. Connected the extension cord that will go to a thermostat.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps76d79da2.jpg

6. Closed the cover of the project box. I used Velcro to attach the box to the rack.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps15ed76e9.jpg


It looks a lot better than all the plugs going into an outlet strip. I know it doesn't look as pretty as I would like it but it was a first attempt. I have a few ideas that I will use next time. I would like to know what everyone thinks. This is for my 5 bin 28 qt rack.

I am currently trying to figure out how best to wire my heat tape...i LOVE this idea. I assume it works well for you or you wouldn't have posted? Can you share what kind of wire you used and what kind of connectors?

I'd also love to see how you connected each piece of heat tape. I bought connectors yesterday from Radio Shack that look nearly identical to yours, but then the guy there told me they couldn't handle 120 V, so I'm back to square one and a little confused, but I'm really loving your idea...

Also, where'd you get the project box?

Looks good it should help make disenfecting easier. Nice design I like it very clean.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zuma22

I am currently trying to figure out how best to wire my heat tape...i LOVE this idea. I assume it works well for you or you wouldn't have posted? Can you share what kind of wire you used and what kind of connectors?

I'd also love to see how you connected each piece of heat tape. I bought connectors yesterday from Radio Shack that look nearly identical to yours, but then the guy there told me they couldn't handle 120 V, so I'm back to square one and a little confused, but I'm really loving your idea...

Also, where'd you get the project box?

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The wire I used is just your standard extension cord. The connectors I have had for a long long time I think I had them left over from when I was in the army. The heat tape is just soldered.

I don't know about the connectors from radio shack because I haven't looked at them. But the ones that look like mind that I have found at Home Depot are rated for 600 volts. The project box I got from Radio shack.

I will say some people at radio shack can be helpful. Others have no clue what they are talking about. I know I went there to get things to put together my STC-1000 thermostat and one of the people working there kept asking me all kinds of questions. This was the finish product of that project.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54580c65.jpg

If you have separate pieces of flexwatt, you can use a 12 foot or 6 foot extension cord. Cut it up and connect each flexwatt piece to the next. You end up only having one wire exit the rack to the thermostat. You can soder the wire to the flexwatt or order the clips they make for it. I like the fact that if a piece stops functioning you can easily exchange it. If you use the clips this can also be done. I like that you thought outside the box, I'm just not crazy about all the wires.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scooter11

If you have separate pieces of flexwatt, you can use a 12 foot or 6 foot extension cord. Cut it up and connect each flexwatt piece to the next. You end up only having one wire exit the rack to the thermostat. You can soder the wire to the flexwatt or order the clips they make for it. I like the fact that if a piece stops functioning you can easily exchange it. If you use the clips this can also be done. I like that you thought outside the box, I'm just not crazy about all the wires.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

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The way I have it wired there is only one wire going to the thermostat. If you daisy chain the wires like you are talking about I think if you have a failure at one connection the others above it will be affected.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mattb

The wire I used is just your standard extension cord. The connectors I have had for a long long time I think I had them left over from when I was in the army. The heat tape is just soldered.

I don't know about the connectors from radio shack because I haven't looked at them. But the ones that look like mind that I have found at Home Depot are rated for 600 volts. The project box I got from Radio shack.

I will say some people at radio shack can be helpful. Others have no clue what they are talking about. I know I went there to get things to put together my STC-1000 thermostat and one of the people working there kept asking me all kinds of questions. This was the finish product of that project.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54580c65.jpg

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Ok, I'll take a look at Home Depot for those. Now, my question is (and this may have been what you said you were doing before you came up with this idea): can't you just plug all your heat strips into a power strip and then plug that into the thermostat?? For someone more electrically challenged like me, this seems like a simpler option. Does this work and is the thermostat able to control all the strips this way?

Sorry to hijack your thread!! I can PM you if you'd prefer so you can keep the thread on topic!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zuma22

Ok, I'll take a look at Home Depot for those. Now, my question is (and this may have been what you said you were doing before you came up with this idea): can't you just plug all your heat strips into a power strip and then plug that into the thermostat?? For someone more electrically challenged like me, this seems like a simpler option. Does this work and is the thermostat able to control all the strips this way?

Sorry to hijack your thread!! I can PM you if you'd prefer so you can keep the thread on topic!

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Yes that is how my other rack is right now. Everything is plugged into a power strip and then into the thermostat. I will say that I am the furthest from electrical savvy but I can make my way around it and if I have any questions I ask someone who does work in the field.

will def have to give this a try next rack build

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mattb

The way I have it wired there is only one wire going to the thermostat. If you daisy chain the wires like you are talking about I think if you have a failure at one connection the others above it will be affected.

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If you use the clip setup you just undo the clip and put in new flexwatt. Which it sounds like your doing anyway.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scooter11

If you use the clip setup you just undo the clip and put in new flexwatt. Which it sounds like your doing anyway.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

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The only thing is you shouldn't reuse the clips. That's asking for trouble. Taking them off is going to weaken them. All it would take is one to fail then you would have a short.

What kind of clips are you referring to?? And why can't you reuse them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zuma22

What kind of clips are you referring to?? And why can't you reuse them?

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I believe that he is talking about these clips.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps64f381de.jpg

I would never reuse any clips of any kind because when you pry the clip off and clamp it back down you will weaken the metal and it could very well break without you knowing after you covered to with electrical tape and it could cause an arch to happen and that's how fires start.

I would never recommend that anyone reuse anything like clips or connectors. Shortcuts like that are dangerous.

Actually it is up to the installer.
I have and will reuse them IF I am the one that installed them and removed them.
Most if my work is soldered but I do have racks with clips too.
If you are careful to remove them and don't open them all the way back up you shouldn't stress the "hinge" at all.
The hinge will stress crack on a new unused clip too if you fold it down too quickly. ;)

I wouldn't reuse them if you used a hammer to pinch them down but a nice slow crimp with pliers is the proper way.

AGAIN--- it is up to the user and their ABILITY :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mattb

If you daisy chain the wires like you are talking about I think if you have a failure at one connection the others above it will be affected.

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No, your connection failure will be at the "connector" to the flex-a-watt but because your wires are either crimped in the connector or soldered there should still be a connection for power to flow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mattb

The wire I used is just your standard extension cord. The connectors I have had for a long long time I think I had them left over from when I was in the army. The heat tape is just soldered.

I don't know about the connectors from radio shack because I haven't looked at them. But the ones that look like mind that I have found at Home Depot are rated for 600 volts. The project box I got from Radio shack.

I will say some people at radio shack can be helpful. Others have no clue what they are talking about. I know I went there to get things to put together my STC-1000 thermostat and one of the people working there kept asking me all kinds of questions. This was the finish product of that project.

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54580c65.jpg

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i just ordered one of these stc 1000s
how do you like yours?

Great idea.