11" heat tape question?

[Alligatorbait]

Someone told me you can only cut 11" heat tape into certain lengths or they will short out or melt or something... Is this true or can you cut 11" heat tape to any size as long as your using a thermostat?

[kitedemon]

It depends on the exact type. Some flexwatt yes you can cut it in-between the bars and other you must cut on the cut lines. It has nothing to do with a thermostat all heat sources need to be controlled regardless.

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[Alligatorbait]

So someone told me you have to cut 11" heat tape to certain lengths or it will short out and melt or somethin??? Is this true or can you cut 11" heat tap to any size as long as you are using a thermostat. ( I get my heat tape from bean farm)

[Alligatorbait]

I get my heat tape from bean farm and there was no part on the heat tape that said cut line??? So I should be fine then right?

[snakesRkewl]

If it is straight line flexwatt you can cut it anywhere in between the lines.
Thankfully The beanfarm no longer carries that zig zag stuff.

[Kaorte]

I'm not sure how it works with the newer heat tape, but I'm fairly certain the 11" heat tape that I have can only be cut in 12" increments. There is a dotted line that you cut it on.

[Alligatorbait]

Ohhh perfect thanks for all the help!!!

[Alligatorbait]

Ya I accidentally posted this question twice haha. Someone said if its straight line you can cut it anywhere, but if the black bars in the heat tape are zig zag you have to cut along the dotted line.

[RedseaReefer]

Basically.. Follow the manufactures instructions. They will specify wether or not you can cut to any length or specific increments. If it says to cut only on the line I would probably only cut it on the line.

When I build my rack I ordered tape from beanfarm also. But I chose to "snake" my tape throughout the rack rather than cut it at all. A 4 shelf rack that hold either 8x 15qt sterilite tubs or 4x 32 quarts took 10' of flexwatt and only one connection.

BUT I believe... ALL the flexwatt style heat tape MUST HAVE A THERMASTAT. Otherwise they will melt.

[Elusive Dream]

I ordered my heat tape to desired length with dimmer etc all ready to go for my dubia roaches. If you don't have things squared away send me a pm and I will give you the information on where I purchased mine.

Willis