heat cables?

[mandalorian]

Was wondering if anyone has tried or is currently using heat cables (exo terra, zoo med) for any type of enclosure? could you please list the pros and cons and if you would recommend them and how you set them up .

thanks

mandalorian

[thewesterngate]

I currently use it on a wire rack, I spiraled the entire length along the back of the shelf (covered three wires, makes it about three inches wide). I'm using it until I can build my rack with heat tape, it seems to work decently.

[Anatopism]

We currently have heat cable on our racks, because it's always easily available. Attached to a thermostat it works very nicely, without, it can get very very hot. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't sit flush with a shelf like heat tape, so unless you do back heat you can't use it on a tight fitting rack where the tubs slide in and use the shelf as a lid.

[fonzi1289]

I have a buddy that uses it with his..Has a thermo on it as well.. Works just as well.. And for the fitting issue he made a kind ofgroove in his rack and what little was sticking out i suggested foil tape. The tape helps spread the heat evenly Also helps the tubs slide over the wire much better

[Homegrownscales]

I use heat cable in my freedom breeder racks as well as the rack we built. All racks are hooked up to different t stats and work nicely. The thing I had to do with my melamine rack is put contact paper over the cable so the tubs would slide over the cable and not twist it and pull it up. It works great! I've never really had an issue with the cable. The only problem I had was a 52' cable just crapped the bed one day. And half my rack was without heat. That was fixed with a new cable and I Check them at least 1x per day now.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[mandalorian]

thanks for all your replies. i just set up a 2 tub enclosure and used 1 exo terra cable to heat both of them. just got a new pastel for one and still debating on what to house in the other.

[kitedemon]

The nice thing of cable are they are water proof! Cleaning a rack with flexwatt is a royal pain in the ... knees ... back.. and neck. maybe I am getting old Anyway it is a real advantage to be able to clean and spray directly on the heat source with out worry.

The second advantage is if you are in Canada and run any business out of your home you need to buy off the shelf wired products or get an electrician to wire it. It makes flexwatt really expensive.

[703VAMORPHS]

I use them on my Racks I have the CB70 From visions and thats what your suppose to use. The only thing about the Heat Cable is that the first six feet doesn't heat up but thats what all the cables. But it works great i have it hooked up to a helix