heating in a rack

hey everyone im adding to my collection i have one norm right now but i have a spider on the way and soon to have 3 more snakes in a few months i want to build a rack but i dont know about heating can i just use heating pads i dont know where i can get a flexwatt system or anything so could i just use large heat pads ???? please help

come on guys answer

Well, depending on your setup, you can have heat pads, or you can have flexwatt...


If you build your rack, you can use heat cable or flexwatt, which are the two most common heating elements used.

It's only been an hour and normal people are at work.. Give it some time.

You can buy flexwatt at many online stores such as www.reptilebasics.com, www.beanfarm.com, www.bigappleherp.com, etc. Depending on what size tubs you're going to use, you'll get either 3" flexwatt or 11" flexwatt, it is priced by the foot. It can come pre-wired, or you can wire it yourself.

heat cable ???? so wait im still confused i can use heating pads
that arent flexwatt becuase i dont know where i can find the flexwatt system

Thick reptile heating pads, unless they are the thin exo-terra ones, aren't going to work well in a rack system. They are just too thick and the tub will get stuck and rub up against the pad. You don't want the heating element compressed as it could be a fire hazard.

Flexwatt or heat cable are your best bet.

understand that the heat cable needs to be routed in to the shelf it is sitting on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

understand that the heat cable needs to be routed in to the shelf it is sitting on.

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Should flexwatt be routed into a self to?

thank you everyone

No flexwatt is like paper thin I jsut tape it down with metal tape and it works fine. :D

ok so do i put the flexwatt down accross the back of the rack correct with the tap over it ? :bow:

tape sorry i cant spell

Tape only to keep it down. Not all over it. But yes

Yea I'll take some pics of mine tonight so you can see unless somebody has one already.

freakie frog please do that for me man that would be great thank you so much

Yea I'll get some pic I got to build a rack tonight anyway. :D

haha thats perfect ill be waiting for the post tom if you could possbily get step by step pics that be great because im not the only one that has the questions im sure

Step by step of building the rack or heating it?

i got the building part i just need to know how to put the felxwat in like accross the back of the rack like under the tubs thats where im getting confused ?

Ok thats cool I can get that up tomorrow.

sweet thankx man you rock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Drew420

hey everyone im adding to my collection i have one norm right now but i have a spider on the way and soon to have 3 more snakes in a few months i want to build a rack but i dont know about heating can i just use heating pads i dont know where i can get a flexwatt system or anything so could i just use large heat pads ???? please help

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I agree with some of the other posts. Flexwatt is the way to go just do your research before to attempt to install it. It can be your best friend when done right or your worst enemy when done wrong.

Here is how I heat me racks.

http://www.wildmorphs.com/uploads/Morphs/rackwire.JPG

sweet thankx man helps alot

I used heat cable in my first rack. I used a router and cut a channel in the shelf and laid the cable in and taped it down. This is working great for me. Keep in mind if you decide to go with the heat cable make sure to keep it from touching its self. I was told it would cause the cable to short out. I don't know but I wasn't taking any chances. Heres some pics of my rack that might help you out.
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=100_1100.jpg

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=100_1099.jpg

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=100_1098.jpg

tncorns where did you get that kind of wire from

You can buy heat cable from most reptile suppliers.

Just do a search on heat cable

sweet thankx

also do you hook the heat wire up to a thermostat

Yes. any heating needs to be controled and monitored

ok so on the back of the thermostat is some power plugs im guessing how does it work sorry ive never used one like say i get 4 different flexxwatt do i hook there power cords to the therm???? HELP

Most of the time a thermostat will have a cord coming out of it that you plug your heat source in to, and a probe that messures the temp of the heat source.

ok cool starting to get it. what themo do you use im lookin at one thats like 120.99

I use all Helix DBS1000 proportional thermostats. :D

thats a big one haha well im still lookin for all my supplies so ill look into that one

Three thing you should never be cheap when you by.

1: feeders, buy quality be cheap here and you animals will suffer for it.

2: Morphs you intend to breed, Pay more for better looking animals if you want to produce good looking offspring.

3: Temp controls, whether its in racks/tanks/or incubators be cheap here and it could cost you years of growing time if your animals die or you have clutches die cause of temp spikes.

good rules to live buy for your snakes

Heat cables are VERY easy to use. Animal plastics and Vision rack systems use them. If you are not experienced hooking up flexwatt
this maybe a very easy altenative. They come in different lengths, you run it and plug it in. Yes you want to router the shelf where you want the cable to go an a hole in and out of every shelf(for cable) and plug the end in you tstat.

Don't forget a hole in one of the middle shelves for t stat probe.
Ranco makes a good affordable t stat that won't break the bank.

And Zoo Med makes heat cable.

thankx man

I bought this cable from reptile supply online. And I have been using a esu thermostat. They are cheap I know, but I haven't had any trouble out of them. I am running four right now and have a few more on order. I plan to hook up two thermostats to each rack. One as a backup in case the first one fails. I'm sure it seems like a waste of time to most people, but the esu's cost 25.00 each and a helix or spyder cost 90.00 and up. I plan to buy helix's when I start selling. Right now I'm just raising my stock and trying to manage my money put in ,until I see a return. Then I will have all the top notch equipment to. Those are pictures of my first rack. My second rack consist of a Living room armoire, and rubbermaid totes. I am using 11" , 3" flexwatt in the armoire rack. Figured I should use those since I work for rubbermaid and get a really good deal on them. And people pretty much gives those armoire away now on craigslist. Anyway good luck with the rack project.

thankx everyone you really helped me out with all this ill post pics when im done

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

Tape only to keep it down. Not all over it. But yes

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What's wrong with putting it all over it? This would prevent it from getting tore up from the tubs sliding over it. I've heard people say that if you cover it with tape no heat will be able to escape and this is a hazard. Makes no sense to me. Also I don't think that anyone specified that you should use aluminum tape found at home depot, lowes, etc.