Flexwatt is making a buzzing noise....help please

[Geckodelic]

Hi,

I am setting up a new QT rack in anticipation for some new snake arrivals. My problem is that I now hear a slight buzzing noise from my flexwatt. I have the flexwatt taped down with aluminum tape. Could this be the issue?

I have the flexwatt connected to the new Herpstat 2.

Is it safe to leave as it is with the buzz, or should I remove the tape?

Thanks,

[The Serpent Merchant]

The Aluminum tape is fine to secure the flexwatt, are you sure that the buzzing is coming from the flexwatt and not the thermostat? if the buzzing is coming from the flexwatt where? are you using the wire clips or was it soldered?

[Geckodelic]

I removed the thermostat from my rack and put it on a table next to the rack and didn't hear the buzz. But when I put my ear to the rack I hear it on the inside.

I'm not sure how it is connected because I bought it off Craigslist and the part where it is connected is inside the rack and covered with tape. I guess I have to take it apart, which is going to be hard to untape and reach to the back of the adult rack. Sigh...

[The Serpent Merchant]

That sucks, I would seriously consider replacing the heat tape if that is the source of the buzzing.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Yeah, if you are not sure and have to go through all that to get to it I would replace it too.
Probably just a lose connection but its better to be safe.
Thought................... did you try running without the t-stat to see if you still hear it?

[Dave Green]

Switch the thermostat from proportional to non-proportional...

[Geckodelic]

Switch the thermostat from proportional to non-proportional...

What does this do? Don't I want the thermostat to be proportional? What happens to my temps if I switch to non?

[The Serpent Merchant]

What does this do? Don't I want the thermostat to be proportional? What happens to my temps if I switch to non?

You definatly want to run your thermostat on proportional mode, you can test the flexwatt by switching it to non-proportional mode to see if it still makes the humming noise, but the same thing will be accomplished by just plugging the flexwatt into the wall.

[Dave Green]

What does this do? Don't I want the thermostat to be proportional? What happens to my temps if I switch to non?

Try it. I had the same problem and contacted ARS. After a lot of electronic talk that I barely understood or remember this fixed the issue.

Non-proportional is fine for a rack. It simply means the thermostat turns the power on and off to maintain the set temperature. All my racks are on non-proportional, only my incubators are on proportional.

[Geckodelic]

Ok, so i set it to non-proportional and the buzzing stopped. Does this mean that the buzzing isn't a loose connection, and if I wanted to switch it to proportional I won't have a problem?

To the poster above, why don't i want it to be non-proportional? Does it heat the rack differently?

Thanks for the help