Wire gauge for FlexWatt??

Ok I just built myself a 10 high 41 qt sterilite tub rack. I haven't received my flexwatt yet but it is on order. My question is when my flexwatt does arrive what gauge of wire will I need to use? for the back warm spot I'll be using 17" flexwatt run in parallel. and to get my cool to 84 i'm using 4" at the front run the width of the shelf and wired going down the side in parallel aswell. Do I need to use 2 different gauges or will 1 work for both applications. The 17" is 10 watts and the 4" is 8 watts per foot.

Thanks

Chad

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Originally Posted by kplunk

Ok I just built myself a 10 high 41 qt sterilite tub rack. I haven't received my flexwatt yet but it is on order. My question is when my flexwatt does arrive what gauge of wire will I need to use? for the back warm spot I'll be using 17" flexwatt run in parallel. and to get my cool to 84 i'm using 4" at the front run the width of the shelf and wired going down the side in parallel aswell. Do I need to use 2 different gauges or will 1 work for both applications. The 17" is 10 watts and the 4" is 8 watts per foot.

Thanks

Chad

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I have never heard of 17" flexwatt and suspect it would be more than 10 watts. The 11" is 20 watts. 3" is 10 watts. As far as wire, I just cut the end off of the inexpensive white extension cords. Not sure of the gauge but I am sure one of our electrical experts will know!

http://www.beanfarm.com/cgi-bin/stor...off&ppinc=heat

Don't quote me but I think its the size Boaphile uses in their racks.

Its supposed to be more herp friendly since its only 10 watts if there is a thermostat failure it won't get as hot as the 11" 20 watt flexwatt

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Originally Posted by kplunk

http://www.beanfarm.com/cgi-bin/stor...off&ppinc=heat

Don't quote me but I think its the size Boaphile uses in their racks.

Its supposed to be more herp friendly since its only 10 watts if there is a thermostat failure it won't get as hot as the 11" 20 watt flexwatt

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Wow. I guess they do have 17". Way overkill unless the room is FREEZING cold. If you have a stable temp in the room you shouldnt need more than the 4". I like www.reptilebasics.com

Good luck!

The room isn't freezing but it is 74 degrees. Is it really overkill? I have no idea first one. That was sorta the idea I got was 11" at the back to get a good belly heat of 94 going on for 1/3 the tub. But I opted for the 17" just because of the 10 watts less and from what I read on boaphile (really hope it was the boaphile rack that uses these think it was but one of the many rack companies does and raved about them and from what they said it made sense). Then I read that there should be a 84 cool side and if I wasn't willing to warm the ambient room temperature to 84 than to use 3" at the front and set it at 84. but again I went to the 4" because it was 8 watts.

If it is overkill then good for me cause I can use the 4" for a hatchling rack or something. Can somebody let me know?

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Originally Posted by kplunk

The room isn't freezing but it is 74 degrees. Is it really overkill? I have no idea first one. That was sorta the idea I got was 11" at the back to get a good belly heat of 94 going on for 1/3 the tub. But I opted for the 17" just because of the 10 watts less and from what I read on boaphile (really hope it was the boaphile rack that uses these think it was but one of the many rack companies does and raved about them and from what they said it made sense). Then I read that there should be a 84 cool side and if I wasn't willing to warm the ambient room temperature to 84 than to use 3" at the front and set it at 84. but again I went to the 4" because it was 8 watts.

If it is overkill then good for me cause I can use the 4" for a hatchling rack or something. Can somebody let me know?

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I would think you would be fine with 4" in the front and 4" in the back controlled by separate stats. Just my opinion. 74 for the room isnt extremely cold.

16 gauge wire wil handle up to 13 amps , on 120 volts. this should be all you need. if you really wanted to go overkill you could use 14 gauge.



vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

16 gauge wire wil handle up to 13 amps , on 120 volts. this should be all you need. if you really wanted to go overkill you could use 14 gauge.



vaughn

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16 gauge ok. sounds good. Thanks

is there any danger of overpowering the flexwatt if too big of wire gauge is used ??

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I would think you would be fine with 4" in the front and 4" in the back controlled by separate stats. Just my opinion. 74 for the room isnt extremely cold.

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Well wish I would of known that before could of saved myself 16$

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Originally Posted by kplunk

Well wish I would of known that before could of saved myself 16$

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I am sure the 11" in the back will work fine. Try it out. 94 degrees in the back of the tub on 11" might just get you to 82-84 in the front of the tub with no additional heat tape. I used 11" in a 74 degree room for over a year with no additional heat tape and it was fine.

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Originally Posted by kplunk

16 gauge ok. sounds good. Thanks

is there any danger of overpowering the flexwatt if too big of wire gauge is used ??

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not really, the flex is rated for a certain amount of watts per foot. that is all the power that it can use. 16 gauge is plenty, 14 is overkill


vaughn

alrighty then 16 gauge it is. Thank you very much.