Need Help - Racks / Thermostats / Surge Protectors

[Iron_Man]

Trying to keep this short.

I have a VE-200 and a VE-300x2.

I have 2 racks. When I use the racks with their
own thermostats plugged into different outlets
they work fine. When I try to connect both racks
to the VE-300x2 they don't heat up correctly.

Also today I tried to move my leopard gecko setup
and plugged it into the surge protector along with
one of my racks which caused both the rack and
gecko setup to not heat up correctly.

It seems like the only way any of them will work
correctly is if they are plugged into their own
outlets. Also all 3 outlets are piggy backed off
one another. I rent the house.

I'm lost, I am clueless when it comes to stuff like
this and I have another rack otw. Any help would
be so appreciated.

[Bogertophis]

I'm certainly no electrician so I may be wrong here, but I think you have to add up the total wattage you're trying to run together, & check the rating of your surge protector? I mean, that's what your description suggests to me? If I'm understanding your term "piggy-backed", that's also best avoided. Hope someone using similar things will chime in here too, with suggestions.

[chakup]

Define "not heating correctly". Most racks run tape and they're pretty low on the wattage scale. Is the protector tripping and shutting off? Do you have individual proves for t-stat in each setup?

[Bogertophis]

Define "not heating correctly". Most racks run tape and they're pretty low on the wattage scale. Is the protector tripping and shutting off? Do you have individual proves for t-stat in each setup?

I use lots of Flexwatt (UTH-heat tape) & you're correct, they're low wattage. But if you reduce their power too much, they can just go off, so maybe that's what's happening?

[303_enfield]

Sounds like the breaker/circuit is at or over load. When you say, "plugged into different outlets", are they on different breakers? Circuit testers are cheap. They find your breakers. Then run a voltage meter to find which is upstream (closest to breaker an higher voltage) an what's down stream. You might have a ton of stuff on the breaker. Some old homes have the entire floor on one breaker.

Me, I run independent 20amp breakers to 20A outlets. Overkill, yes but some codes have six outlets on a 15A breaker. An old homes are worse. So one snake room has a sub panel.

Local electrician might run $75 for a half hour diagnostic fee. Better safe then sorry.

As for power strips. You need the ones rated for large TV's. They handle more voltage an amps.


Good luck!

[Iron_Man]

Theres 3 outlets in the room. The first outlet has
this plastic tubing coming off it going to the
second outlet and then the same to the third.

How its set up now I can reach 88-90 on my hot
spots with my temp gun. Connected the other way
it never passes 80.

I do know that a few of the rooms upstairs
have to be connected to the same circuit or breaker.
A few times since we've been here when a circuit
tripped it took out the reptile room and 2 others
and I just had to reset one breaker.

Sorry circuit or breaker or are they one in the same.
But yeah I hope that clears it up a little.

In one room I do have a bunch of electronics plugged
in but not turned on. Would unplugging stuff not
turned on fix the issue?

[Iron_Man]

My buddy was actually going to come over and run me
up a breaker or circuit. Whatever you call it. Basically
run me up an outlet from an empty spot in the breaker box.
Would that be enough to run a few racks, thermostats,
oil electric heater and a humidifier?

[Hugsplox]

My buddy was actually going to come over and run me
up a breaker or circuit. Whatever you call it. Basically
run me up an outlet from an empty spot in the breaker box.
Would that be enough to run a few racks, thermostats,
oil electric heater and a humidifier?

I would think your buddy doing the work would be the best person to advise you on what it can/can't handle. Not to be rude, but he's in your house looking at your setup and sounds like he's got the experience to give you a safer and more accurate answer.

[Bogertophis]

I just hope your buddy has enough training & experience to re-wire what you need safely. For electrical stuff like this, I'd be calling a "pro". Not cheap, but safer. And if you're renting, I hope you got permission? Old house wiring is a concern- good luck.

[OhhWatALoser]

I am an electrician and I dont exactly understand what you have going on thats the issue, but it doesn't sound like the house electrical is the problem. If the circuit was overloaded it would trip a breaker or blow a fuse, up until that point it works. Same with the surge protector, it works until it melts. what exactly are you doing that isn't working?