Wires

Ok, so I really want to get this cage finished up, but I keep reading different things that I should be dong differnt Aaaarrrrggg!

I'm going to be having some loose wires inside the cage from the flexwatt, and I had been planning to just hid them with some black duct tape or electrical tape, but now I am reading that his isn't a good idea. Possibly clear packing tape. I just don't want loose wires in there. Anybody with an idea?

fyi, my flexwatt IS inside the cage, its just under a piece of plexi so there isn't direct contact between the flexwatt and the animal.

No tape. None of any kind. Just cover up the wires with whatever substrate you're using. If you're using plexi to cover the flexwatt...why not just use it along the entire floor and keep the wires tucked under that?


Still....the whole setup sounds questionable to me. The thought of having something electrical inside the cage with the snake seems like asking for trouble unless you've got the plexi completely sealed off. What happens when the snake urinates along the edges of the cage and the urine seeps down under the plexi and all over the flexwatt? :O

If my only choice for heating were a heat source INside the cage....I'd go for a radiant heat panel.

the plexi covered the entire inside of the cage. I don't want to put the wires under the plexi because right now the plexi is laying very flat so nothing can get under.

I agree with Judy. Don't put flexwatt inside the cage unless it is sealed under plexi with silicone. Loose wires in the cage are a bad idea as well.

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

the plexi covered the entire inside of the cage. I don't want to put the wires under the plexi because right now the plexi is laying very flat so nothing can get under.

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Unless you silicone it can absolutely seep under the Plexi.

This is where the idea came from.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...6&page=1&pp=10

The only problem with siliconing it off is what happens if the flexwatt fails? Now I can't replace the flexwatt, and that level of cages is lost.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

This is where the idea came from.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...6&page=1&pp=10

The only problem with siliconing it off is what happens if the flexwatt fails? Now I can't replace the flexwatt, and that level of cages is lost.

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If it fails you cut the silicone off and replace it after fixing the flexwatt...I would think the safety of your animals would come first.

Hmmm... I guess I didn't know enough about silicone. is there a certain brand or type I should get? How long does it take to dry, or I should say, be safe before I can put snakes in?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

Hmmm... I guess I didn't know enough about silicone. is there a certain brand or type I should get? How long does it take to dry, or I should say, be safe before I can put snakes in?

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I didn't read the other thread, is this a wood enclosure? If so, is it sealed?

just regular ole clear silicone 4.50 at wally-world. it drys in like 15 minutes to half an hour and is a sealer/adheisive. Look around Office Max an the like they carrie a product that we use to cover power cords and phone cords running up the walls. It looks like a hollow square tube but its two peices that snap together and have an adheisive backing. You can cut it to any length and to even turn corners. Seal the flex watt in the bottom and run that up the wall on the inside to hide the cords.

Like this http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/raceways.html

Just my two cents

Yea, I used Kilz sealer/primer and its painted.

Heres the cage:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=38786

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

just regular ole clear silicone 4.50 at wally-world. it drys in like 15 minutes to half an hour and is a sealer/adheisive. Look around Office Max an the like they carrie a product that we use to cover power cords and phone cords running up the walls. It looks like a hollow square tube but its two peices that snap together and have an adheisive backing. You can cut it to any length and to even turn corners. Seal the flex watt in the bottom and run that up the wall on the inside to hide the cords.

Just my two cents

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I'll head to office max, sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

Is the silicone like a thick glue in a tube? I've never used it. So I can just run a thick bead around the edges on all the cages.

I posted a link after that so look back at that post to get an idea

Back to the issue of the wires...maybe you could put little spacers under the plexi so it still lays flat but allows for the flexwatt as well as the wires. Then seal it up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

I'll head to office max, sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

Is the silicone like a thick glue in a tube? I've never used it. So I can just run a thick bead around the edges on all the cages.

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Its a little thicker than toothpaste. Put the plexi down in the bottom over the flexwatt. Then run a bead of silicone in the edges between the walls and the bottom (about as thick as a ink pen, the tip of the tube can be trimmed for larger or smaller beads) then get a cheap deck of playing cards and use the rounded corner of the card to spread out the silicone. Have to work quick or work in small lines. That will seal it and glue it down. By not gluing the Plexi to the bottom it'll be easier to take up if need be.


Hope this helps

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

Back to the issue of the wires...maybe you could put little spacers under the plexi so it still lays flat but allows for the flexwatt as well as the wires. Then seal it up.

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Great idea also depending on how creative you are notch the plexi around the cord and fill the notch with sisicone.

Just a thought.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

Back to the issue of the wires...maybe you could put little spacers under the plexi so it still lays flat but allows for the flexwatt as well as the wires. Then seal it up.

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Hmm... I just tested, and because the plexi has already been cut to fit, theres too much of a gap on the edges. I sort of want to just lay the wires on the edge and run them out the back. Then just put the silicone right over the wires as well as the edge. Wires are easy to replace if I need to rip up the silicone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Great idea also depending on how creative you are notch the plexi around the cord and fill the notch with sisicone.

Just a thought.

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Yea, I still have to notch out the plexi for the insulators for the flexwatt. Once the plexi is notched out there come the wires...

Just by the design, the wires will have to get some silicone on them any way I do it.