Flexwatt buzzing?

Hey all. I just installed the flexwatt in my incubator (soldered it) and it was doing great for a while, but after a bit, I heard some buzzing. I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Does that mean there is a loose connection? I don't hear it anymore. :confused: I'm relatively tech savvy, which is why I am confused. Thanks so much!

i just noticed my flex watt on my rack buzzing too.....i have no idea and want to hear from people on this too!!

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Originally Posted by HypoPita

Hey all. I just installed the flexwatt in my incubator (soldered it) and it was doing great for a while, but after a bit, I heard some buzzing. I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Does that mean there is a loose connection? I don't hear it anymore. :confused: I'm relatively tech savvy, which is why I am confused. Thanks so much!

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Do you have it hooked up to a thermostat?

I've heard flexwatt buzz when used with a proportional thermostat or a dimmer.

It may be a simple grounding issue. Any buzzing I had went away when I switched to grounded thermostats.

It may just be a grounding issue or it could be that it's just the sounds of the flexwatt warming up, the plastic expanding and contracting a little bit. Is it just when it's first turned on or is it a constant buzzing? I've never noticed that on the flexwatt on any of my racks and I wired up a lot of it myself.

i have some buzzing flexwatt too. It's constant - and if i touch it where it's coming from i can feel a slight charge in my fingers.

I ordered it pre-wired from RBI. It's on a herpstat and isn't unreasonably hot or anything - i think it's harmless. Your mileage may vary.

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

It may just be a grounding issue or it could be that it's just the sounds of the flexwatt warming up, the plastic expanding and contracting a little bit. Is it just when it's first turned on or is it a constant buzzing? I've never noticed that on the flexwatt on any of my racks and I wired up a lot of it myself.

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Mine buzzed when resistance was applied via a proportional thermostat at less than 100% power. If it was cranked up or on and on/off thermo - it didn't buzz.

Switching to a grounded stat stopped the problem (the flex was already grounded).

The buzzing has to be coming from relative motion or tracking/arcing. It could be some surface moisture causing some surface currents or depending on cage construction a relative motion could be occuring due to the rotating magnetic field developed when AC flows through a conductor and this field is pushing or pulling on some metal object close to the flexwatt. To stop the relative motion issue in my rack designs I use a spray adhesive to glue it down then I take it down with aluminum tape. (Make sure you cover cut ends of flexwatt with electrical tape first.)

well that makes me feel alot better. i have it plugged into a herpstat.

I wouldn't think the flexwatt would buzz :confused: I soldered the flexwatt myself also, however, not tech savy in that area at all. I didn't have any buzzing till I plugged my thermostat into a dimmer as an added safety precaution. The buzzing is now comming from my thermostat when it's on. :confused: I haven't had any problems with it.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

well that makes me feel alot better. i have it plugged into a herpstat.

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Dion from Spyder Robotics assisted me with troubleshooting the "buzz" and it was he who suggested retrofitting to the grounded stat.

hmm. Weird. It is connected to a Herpstat with the grounded chord...but the extention chord I have hooked to the flexwatt (which has a ground) is not grounded. I wasn't sure how to do that. My flexwatt is taped on the bottom section, but it goes down one side...across he bottom, and up the other. I did put electrical tape over the connections as well. The sides are only on by a small piece of tape at each end (since I have to move the removable bottom to finish wiring the fans). Maybe thats the prob??

If any of you have seen the post, my incubator is that readiwipp fridge. The inside is exposed metal.

The main thing is that I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fire hazard because of it.

I hate to bring threads back from the dead but I have a question about buzzing flexwatt. If its buzzing and you have it under a tub, is there any effect on the animal?

I have one of the repti temp 500r thermostats, but I have the flexwatt connected to a dimmer then to the thermostat. DIY proportional thermostat :) My flexwatt buzzes when connected to the dimmer, but not when connected directly to the thermostat.