Flex watt issues

[Gene Collins]

I have kind of asked about this topic but I have a new question along the same lines. I set up my tub rack with one 6 foot strip of flex watt snaked down the shelves. I am having trouble maintaining both my tubs hot spots at the same temp. There is about 10 degrees different between the two. I have rotated thermometers to see if they were reading wrong but ruled that out. I swapped shelves with my two tubs and no change too. I am wondering if I should cut the long strip into 3 separate pieces and wire them with their own clips.

[AKA Reptiles]

I was having the same issue when I built my rack then I realized that the top tub had heat only from the bottom since there was no shelves on top. I fixed this by adding a small strip for back heat only on the top shelf. That fixed my problem. If not you may also want to try insulating the back better to try and trap heat on the top shelf. Can you post some pictures of you build?

[Gene Collins]

I was having the same issue when I built my rack then I realized that the top tub had heat only from the bottom since there was no shelves on top. I fixed this by adding a small strip for back heat only on the top shelf. That fixed my problem. If not you may also want to try insulating the back better to try and trap heat on the top shelf. Can you post some pictures of you build?

Wow I can't believe I hadn't thought of this lol. The shelf having the issue is the top one where there is only flexwatt underneath the tub. The other shelves have it underneath and down one side. I don't have any pictures of my setup that would show the flexwatt set up very well but this is what I built.

[satomi325]

Try soldering your flexwatt to the power cord.
I got a lot more consistant heating when I did this.
When I used clips, I got inconsistent temps throughout the entire strip of flexwatt. I'm guessing it was just a bad power connection. But like I said, it was remedied with soldering the power cord directly to the flex.

[kitedemon]

That extra 6 inches of flexwatt is a real killer huh! LOL that is likely the issue. Flexwatt will vary in its length by 5% so if it were set at 100ºF (max operational temp) variation of 5ºF could be expected. This usually averages out however.

[gilly]

Wondering : Are you using 41quart containers ?

I'm about to build my 2nd rack .... it'll be a 41qt. breeder/larger BP rack to compliment my 9 slot 28qt. one.

Question: Wondering why you'd not put 100% of the heat tape under each tub rather than not utilize what looks like about 8"-10" of $4.00/ft. tape on the sides....when there is no actual contact between the side and the tape? Seems as though you'd get much less heat loss that way. You could also put a 1 foot wide hardboard up to retain some of the side heat.... and still have 66% of the side open in order to give good lighting and visibility to your collection.

RALLY like your BP rack and I see what looks like many extra boards at the bottom, so you seem to be set for some serious expansion to your collection in the near future. WELL DONE!

[Pickenprod]

I'm no help with Flexwatt, just wanted to say that is an awesome snake rack!! I want one, hehe.

[interloc]

I solder 3 pieces of 1.5 foot long, 11 inch wide flexwatt to one plug in series. I feel like it heats better than one long piece. Just my opinion.


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[Gene Collins]

I solder 3 pieces of 1.5 foot long, 11 inch wide flexwatt to one plug in series. I feel like it heats better than one long piece. Just my opinion.


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This is what I was thinking of doing but when I went to Reptile Basics to order just 2 power cords with clips it was going to be only $10 but also $10 to ship. Shipping there feels like a ripoff for something so light and small. I might check other sites to see how they compare.

The tubs are 41qts. I built the rack following these plans http://www.americanmadeexotics.com/41-quart-rack.html
I went with one long flexwatt like I did so that I would only have to worry about one power cord going into one thermostat. I wasn't sure it would be wise to run multiple cords into one thermostat.

[interloc]

I just go to the dollar store and buy an extension cord and cut the female end off. Then split the wires and solder them to either side of the flexwatt. Cheap easy and it works!


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