Heat Tape

[PitOnTheProwl]

-25ºC (-13ºF) with wind chill this morning and I am outside most of the day today working.

No

[Desert]

The single best feature of the new THG heat tape is the new connector style. We have been waiting for the arrival of the one piece molded wire and plug, rivets already attached. Those just came in, so the new connector style starts shipping next week. Easy to retrofit as well.

We are using a riveted connector that is both simple and secure. It is secured WITHIN the laminate (see the pics below). This connection is not possible with the flex watt product, as the bus bars are not wide enough. We also use an insulating tape to cover the connection, no more clunky two piece plastic insulators. You can trim the tape as needed with scissors. The tape actually fuses together.

You won't have to worry about loose, or loosening, alligator clip sets that often provide a tenuous connection. It is also less expensive. All around, both the heat tape and connectors.

You can use a $2 school supply hole punch from Office Depot to make the holes, and the rivets can be set with a variety of tools. If you are going to be doing dozens (or hundreds) of connections, you can use a professional hole punch and crimper.

3 current sizes- 3", 4" and 12". 6" coming soon.

That's a clever fastening idea. Are you selling these on a website?

[Reptilebasics]

We will be rolling this out this coming week when I get back from the Pomona show!

- - - Updated - - -

And yes, David very much sounds like a salesman for Calorique.

[Epic Exotics]

I have played with and used this connection for some time now and have to say I am sold. Tuff durable and super easy to install!!!

[Aes_Sidhe]

Rich Are You using new this new Tape in Your racks as well??

[Lucas339]

The single best feature of the new THG heat tape is the new connector style. We have been waiting for the arrival of the one piece molded wire and plug, rivets already attached. Those just came in, so the new connector style starts shipping next week. Easy to retrofit as well.

We are using a riveted connector that is both simple and secure. It is secured WITHIN the laminate (see the pics below). This connection is not possible with the flex watt product, as the bus bars are not wide enough. We also use an insulating tape to cover the connection, no more clunky two piece plastic insulators. You can trim the tape as needed with scissors. The tape actually fuses together.

You won't have to worry about loose, or loosening, alligator clip sets that often provide a tenuous connection. It is also less expensive. All around, both the heat tape and connectors.

You can use a $2 school supply hole punch from Office Depot to make the holes, and the rivets can be set with a variety of tools. If you are going to be doing dozens (or hundreds) of connections, you can use a professional hole punch and crimper.

3 current sizes- 3", 4" and 12". 6" coming soon.

I am interested in this connection type. Rich, are you saying that it will be available from you? Or is it store bought at home improvment stores? And it looks like the connector is tucked into the laminate. Or am I seeing that wrong?

[3skulls]

It does look as if it's tucked. I can't get them big enough on my phone to tell.

I wish this option was available a couple of weeks ago when I ordered my heat tape.

[Epic Exotics]

They do fit in between the laminate. This is a great benefit of the wider buss bar. I do know that Rich is selling this new connector.

[3skulls]

How do you separate the laminate?

[Robyn@SYR]

The eyelet does slide between the laminate at the buss bar location, quite easily. You then rivet it in place.

You don't have to separate it at all, the laminate is not sealed at the buss bar location, neither is the flexwatt design.

If you have the THG Heat Tape, and are using the old style clips, you can retrofit to the rivets very easily. Just order new wire sets from Rich at RBI, trim you connection end to remove and clip crimping, punch the holes, and rivet up.

The rivet connection does NOT work with the Calorique flexwatt product, the buss bar is too narrow.

The insulating tape is also super low profile, inexpensive (it is included in each wire set) and the asphalt-y adhesive fuses together where tape and tape touch. The tape can be trimmed with regular scissors.