Flex-watt Heat tape help plz

[tiexecutioner]

ok will it destroy the heat tape if i didn't cut every foot and cut in the middle of the foot and how hot dose it get if u just plug it in to a wall outlet? How long will it take to reach its maximum temp after being plugged in? (don't worry i don't plan on using it until my helix comes just curious) thx.

[travisgoldkuhl]

ive never tried it but i bet without any control the tape would burn itself up. if you cut it in the middle i think you would mess up the resistance between the 2 sides whitch would make the remaining stuff to burn up, like a short insteed of just heating.

[justind]

I'm pretty sure it will work fine if you cut it that way, just make sure you insulate the end with electrical tape. The manufacturer recommends against it though. I would wait for someone more experienced to comment on it as i may be remembering this information incorrectly.

[tiexecutioner]

i cut it in the middle and it still heats up

[MustBeSatan]

Same, I didn't cut at even feet, and it works fine. Just make sure to throw some electrical tape on the end to insulate and it will work.

As for how hot it gets when you just plug it in, I've never tried... But I do know that Flexwatt isn't CSA approved in Canada, because of the fire hazard it poses when it's not hooked up to a control of some kind. So my guess is it gets pretty hot I have seen pictures of flexwatt with big burn holes in it from overheating... Again, pretty hot, wouldn't recommend trying it unless you've got flexwatt to burn!

[guambomb832]

It depends on the wattage. Higher wattages require you to cut at increments of 1 foot while small wattages can be cut almost anywhere.

[tiexecutioner]

At 94 degrees it should only be warm to the touch right?