Issue with heat tape temps in rack...

My 4 level rack is set up with a different heat tape square and its own plug per level. So I have four plugs, and plug them all into an extension cord, and plug the extension cord into the herpstat.

The problem I'm still having is the heat tapes are all different temps, and particularly the level the probe is sitting under, often randomly jumps up to 94 degrees, while the other levels are 88~91. But sometimes it'll just be 91~92 degrees. What's the problem here? Does this just happen when the heat tapes are on different plugs in an extension cord? I tried switching around the plugs, but it's the same.

Heat rises. Are your top levels the ones getting hotter? Which level is the probe on? You also might have some faulty flexwatt connections. Maybe double check and re-solder them.

Are the tape squares all the same width, length and brand?

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Heat rises. Are your top levels the ones getting hotter? Which level is the probe on? You also might have some faulty flexwatt connections. Maybe double check and re-solder them.

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No, it's the 3rd level with the probe under it. I really hope it's not flexwatt connection problems, because I have no idea how to fix it. The rack maker made the heat tape for me, and he glued down the cords on the heat tape using this black sticking putty stuff.

The top (4th) level is around 89~90, the 3rd level is randomly 91~95, the 2nd level and first level are both around 88~90.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Are the tape squares all the same width, length and brand?

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Yes they are, they're 12" flexwatt.

Try moving the probe up or down a shelf and see what happens.

I only just realized when I went to measure again... some spots on the same heat tape will give me 97, while another spot 1 inch to the left will give me 89 and another spot will be 90~93, whatever within 89~97. Wtf lol. Is this normal for heat tape or is my heat tape broken? Could the way the heat tape is wired cause this?

I doublechecked if it's a broken temp gun by measuring different spots on in my dumeril's enclosure, and it's accurate (around 90).

The different plugs (levels) all plugged into a extension cord is going to be problematic and potentially dangerous. Is the extension cord a surge protector type? I would consider a Herpstat 4 for this situation or a top quality surge protector may help. Belkin Electronics makes the best surge protectors and extension cords. Just my thoughts and i hope this helps you. :gj: The varying degrees along the heat tape i think is normal.

I can't move the probe to a different shelf, because it sits in the recess in the pvc, below the heat tape.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

The different plugs (levels) all plugged into a extension cord is going to be problematic and potentially dangerous. Is the extension cord a surge protector type? I would consider a Herpstat 4 for this situation or a top quality surge protector may help. Belkin Electronics makes the best surge protectors and extension cords. Just my thoughts and i hope this helps you. :gj: The varying degrees along the heat tape i think is normal.

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Darn, I thought it seemed iffy, but the rack maker seems to make all his heat tapes this way and he said it was alright. No idea if that's true or not LOL.

I don't think the extension cord is surge protected. What kind of risks does not having a surge protected cord have?

Thanks for the reply Albert

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

My 4 level rack is set up with a different heat tape square

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Has the tape the same size and wattage on all the levels?

If it is try moving the probe and making sure it's well attached to the tape and possibly with some heat refracting tape to keep the temp stable.

There's always a bit of difference between levels. Extension cords are used on all professional racks and a surge protector AFTER the thermostat seems an overkill. Before is suggested tho.

Well, the biggest risk is fire of course. Especially with a overloaded extension cord. Remember that these simple extension cords internal diodes and structures wear out and become faulty. I was told they should be replaced annually. You are probably okay but i would look into at least a surge protector extension cord until you can really figure out something alternative. And thats easy , to replace the cord and it might even correct the issue. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Aste88

Has the tape the same size and wattage on all the levels?

If it is try moving the probe and making sure it's well attached to the tape and possibly with some heat refracting tape to keep the temp stable.

There's always a bit of difference between levels. Extension cords are used on all professional racks and a surge protector AFTER the thermostat seems an overkill. Before is suggested tho.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Yes they are, they're 12" flexwatt.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

I can't move the probe to a different shelf, because it sits in the recess in the pvc, below the heat tape.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Well, the biggest risk is fire of course. Especially with a overloaded extension cord. Remember that these simple extension cords internal diodes and structures wear out and become faulty. I was told they should be replaced annually. You are probably okay but i would look into at least a surge protector extension cord until you can really figure out something alternative. And thats easy , to replace the cord and it might even correct the issue. :gj:

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I guess I'll get a new one and hope it fixes it. This 10 degree temp range is too crazy!

Any possibility the heat tapes are wired wrong? (however you do it)

Sure they can be wired faulty, but then i think you would have different issues. Is it possible the maker can check all the connections for you? Is he a local person?

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Sure they can be wired faulty, but then i think you would have different issues. Is it possible the maker can check all the connections for you? Is he a local person?

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Not very local, no. An hour and a half or so drive normally.. I don't want to continue bothering him either, because he already made me a new rack, when the first one he made was made badly (tubs fit too tight that they wouldn't even slide out without me pushing on the rack with my feet LOL). What kind of different issues?

Unfortunately, heat tape is never exactly the same from one spot to another...I think I read somewhere that there is 5% "play" ?

10 degrees difference from one spot to another seems high, though !!!

I'm not sure about the 4 plugs/extension cord issue, mine has one long continues piece of flexwatt "snaking" (no pun) through the rack, so I only have one plug..

Ok, found where I read that.

Taken off of the reptilebasics.com webpage, the FAQ section:

My heat tape is not always the same temperature in all places?
Heat tape is not always as consistent as we would like it to be. While a very useful, good quality product it was not designed for use in ultra precision applications. The cost would be impractical. Over the years of use in our own collections, the thousands of racks and cages we have built and the miles of element we have sold we have found that you can expect about a 5% fluctuation over the length of a section. Often a little better, sometimes a little worse. That adds up to about 5 degrees at a 100 degree setting on your thermostat.
Is this a problem? If you are set up right at the limitations of your animals, yes. If you are set up properly, almost never. Your reptiles are going to instinctively thermoregulate themselves if you let them. This is where your design comes into play! You want to allow them to move on and off of the heated area freely. If their tub in the rack system is 3 degrees warmer than your "ideal" temp then they will spend a little less time on the heat than the animal in the next tub that is 3 degrees cooler than the ideal temp. It is what they do for a living so let them do it. Now, if you are substantially lower in temp that can lead to issues because the animal will not be able to achieve an ideal body temp. This is why a little planning a proper setup is important. You want your animal to have access to very slightly higher temps than it requires and also very slightly lower temps than it requires. With this arrangement your reptile will always be able to find a spot that is "just right".

Ah thanks for that info zina, I had no idea about that fluctuation in heat tape. I think that might actually be most of the issue. :\ But it's a huge fluctuation though like dang. It was almost 98 degrees in a couple spots today! (on the 3rd level, where it's overall hottest for yet unknown reason)

I wonder if I just bought 4 small ultratherm heat pads, if it would fix the issue. It's not like I even have a huge rack to require heat tape. I already bought the surge protecting cord, so we'll see how it is combined. I'm so mad at heat tape. LOL

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Not very local, no. An hour and a half or so drive normally.

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Is he located in Palmdale by any chance? There's a guy down here who makes racks like that, with separate outlets on each level. I haven't bought anything from him but I've seen his racks at the local pet shop and his ads on craigslist.

I'm having similar issues with one of my racks, but it has a single piece of heat tape threaded throughout the rack. It's about 7-8 degrees off. Don't have the same problem with a different rack that uses heat tape. It only varies a few degrees. Some pieces of heat tape just seems to fluctuate more than others. All I can really say is that, in my case, the one that fluctuates more is older. I bought it used from another breeder. The other I made myself, less than a year ago.

Just throwing it out there but wouldn't it be more practical if he's going to use multiple pieces of flexwatt to just connect each to each other and have one outlet coming out?...I mean of course it's more cost effective to have each one with a plug in but it would only be a couple dollars?


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Originally Posted by BBotteron

Just throwing it out there but wouldn't it be more practical if he's going to use multiple pieces of flexwatt to just connect each to each other and have one outlet coming out?...I mean of course it's more cost effective to have each one with a plug in but it would only be a couple dollars?


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I think the issue is more that OP doesn't know how to wire flex watt. It would be easier to wire it all together but it won't necessarily fix the temp fluctuation issue.


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Ya I didn't think about that either true true


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Possibly a useless question, but are all the cords the same length? It could possibly be a cord resistance difference (though, a couple inches doesn't really do much). It just seems odd that the 3rd shelf down has the heating issue (or maybe that square of tape has faulty wires inside?).

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Originally Posted by amsmtf

Possibly a useless question, but are all the cords the same length? It could possibly be a cord resistance difference (though, a couple inches doesn't really do much). It just seems odd that the 3rd shelf down has the heating issue (or maybe that square of tape has faulty wires inside?).

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I'll check that when I get home. I'll need to take temps again though, because now I'm thinking that there is possibly a fluctuation between spots on each heat mat AND random fluctuation overall between 88~97 on each mat. So when I took the temp on one mat and then took the temp on another, I could have just happened to measure different spots, if you know what I mean.

When I measured yesterday, it was 94 at random points on other mats too (but still overall less hot than the 3rd mat), so now I'm not so sure if it's always just the 3rd mat.