Want to start with Flexwatt.. need FW 101

[Ginevive]

I need to know all about FW, from the ground up. We have been using the UTHs with the rheostats (forgot the brand name, think Zoomed?) They have been working fine, honestly; the temps stay right-on where they need to be and never spiked or anything. But it seems about time to upgrade; we have had these for the entire time we've been keeping the snakes (few years) and it just seems like they're old and need to be replaced..
My boyfriend is great at wiring things, so that's a help My question is, what-all do I need (I know some type of T-stat..) It will be about a month til I have the $$ up for it all, but I want to start now.
I plan on using the FW on our current tanks until we build our display-type shelf cages; then they'll have glass bottoms and I want to transfer the FW to that. We might even have these cages built before we get the FW.. nto sure yet. Can you use that silvery pipe tape to adhere the FW to the glass? The heaters I have now were equipped w/sticky stuff, I know FW isn't.
Any advice or links/tutorials would be great! Thanks.

[brainman1000]

I'm just starting to use flexwatt too. Here is a link to the Bean Farm:


http://www.beanfarm.com/cgi-bin/stor...off&ppinc=heat

There are links to wiring diagrams and installation instructions on that page as well as prices.

Also, you can use foil tape to tape it down. that you can get at Wal-Mart for about $6-7 per roll. You may want to also consider using a wall dimmer instead of a thermostat if you are concerned about money. You can get those at Wal-Mart also for about $4. You will just need to splice it into the power cord. It will require some tweaking, but it is cheaper than using a thermostat and serves the same purpose. I plan on wiring mine up by this weekend, so I will post my results.

[justcage]

Honestly if your current setup is working well for you then you really will not get an upgrade.. If your really wanting to go with the flex then all you need to do is get a measurement of your cage and then divide it by half and this will give you a rough estimate of how much you will need for each cage. Since your boyfriend is good at wiring then I would solder the wires to the element, just as stong as a crimped connection but cheaper. I wouldent go with a dimmer as you will want more control then a dimmer can offer. Ther themrostats on the market can offer you 1/10th of a degree accuracy for about 100 bucks and will control all of your cages that have the same size element and same volume. Let me know if you have any other questions on it

[brainman1000]

Just an update. I built a wood box to hold (2) 6 quart sterilite tubs for 2 corns I will be getting in the next couple of weeks. I used flexwatt to heat and spliced in a wall dimmer switch. The entire setup cost me about $40 total including the Accurite thermometer/hydrogometer. My opinion on thermostats is that they are nice if you have the money, but a dimmer switch with a good thermometer works just as well. It just requires a little more monitoring and tweaking. I plugged it in last night and it took me about a half hour to tweak it to the right temps and it maintainded the temps well after that.


I'll take some pics tonight and post them.

[JLC]

... My opinion on thermostats is that they are nice if you have the money, but a dimmer switch with a good thermometer works just as well. It just requires a little more monitoring and tweaking. I plugged it in last night and it took me about a half hour to tweak it to the right temps and it maintainded the temps well after that. ...

I agree with this...so long as you know you have a room who's temperature remains relatively constant. If temps in the room fluctuate more than a few degrees throughout the day, using a dimmer switch will not work nearly so well.

[Ginevive]

hey; I think the dimmer should be fine, as my Zoomeds are on a dimmer now with no troubles; my room temps are very comsistent.

[justcage]

The problem with a dimmer is there is no fail safe. If something happens then it does not shut down

[Ginevive]

Hmm.. what would be the best option for a low-cost thermostat then? I really am not in the position to spend much money, but at the same time I don't want to chintz-out and buy something that'll break in a year or worse, not keep the temps right. I can sell a few things on ebay if need be.. wait, I have a bonus check coming friday!

[Shaun J]

I would get one of the Herpstats, Matt has a comparision chart on his site, and he says alot of good stuff about the Herpstat.

Whatever you buy, don't get those BAH1000. They flat out suck. I hated them and will never use it again. One temperature would be fine, but the other would get too low, or too high.

[justcage]

Hmm.. what would be the best option for a low-cost thermostat then? I really am not in the position to spend much money, but at the same time I don't want to chintz-out and buy something that'll break in a year or worse, not keep the temps right. I can sell a few things on ebay if need be.. wait, I have a bonus check coming friday!

If you wanting something to give you peice of mind and you can add cages onto later then a ranco or johnson controls is your best bet.. They are about 25 bucks less then the herpstats but you will not get the same accuracy with them as you would a proportional..