Heating rack system with flexwatt and thermostat

[atp151415]

I have some ?s about how much flexwatt to order, and wireing it best. I was wondering if its best to run and whind it through the shelves, or have seperate connections, I was thinking whinding it through would be best so i only have to deal with one connection. I also was wondering how much feet of flexwatt i should order if each shelf on my rack is 24in. long, and about 6 inches tall, (for a 32 qt sterilite on a shelf or two 15 qts on a shelf). The sides of my rack are 48 inches tall, so i figured id get about 7 shelves on it.

thanks

[Patrick Long]

my suggestion would be to build your rack to fit your tubs. then measure the space that you have in each shelf, and contact reptile basics, or somewhere else that you are going to buy your flexwatt at, and tell them the dims of your rack. becuase they can wire it all up for you and everything, or assist you in wiring it up.

[atp151415]

i already have my melamine cut and everything

i cut each shelf 24in. X 16in.
the sides are 16 in. wide and 48 in. tall

the 32 qts are like 23 1/8 long so i went 24 to give it some space, and the width is like 15 1/8 so i went 16

[Patrick Long]

ok so you have a max floor width of 16" correct?

so i would say about 14 inches of flexwatt per shelf? maybe even less.

anyone else?

[atp151415]

ya, my tubs will slide in width ways so i can also have two 15qts on a shelf also

should i have all diferent connections?
or one and whind it through each shelf?

[atp151415]

and also, would it be better to buy and Alife thermostat?, or pay 45 bucks more for a ranco or johnsons thermostat?, for only having 7 shelves on my rack?

[Halfdawg]

I would say that if you are setting up the 32 Qt tubs to go in width wise then you are going to want to have heat on one end with 11 inch flex watt for that shelf.

For a rack 48 inches high using 32 qt tubs you will be able to go 6 tubs high.

I have not seen your plans for the rack but you said you want to also use 1 shelf for 2 15 qt tubs, if this is so you are going to want to use 3 inch flex watt running all the way across the back of the rack for your belly heat on that shelf. Now this is the way I would set it up but I am sure you can go with back heat, so there are several options to go with. You just have to go with what works for you. There are alot of DIY Racks out there so do your homework and see what works for you.


Richard

[Chuck]

If it was me I would sspend the extra money and byt the Johnson controls unit, thats me but I would stay away from the alife unit.

Chuck

[atp151415]

thank you halfdawg, the 15 qt tubs would be used for a baby ball until it reached bigger size and it would be put in a 32 qt, would it be bad to run the 3inch flexwatt length wayz on each shelf (24 inch)?

[atp151415]

and also i would like to know the difference between ranco and johnsons thermostats, and the difference between those two and an Alife unit
thanks