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Covering exposed metal on flexwatt

R

replover

New member
Ok I have decided I will use solder instead of the connectors to wire the flexwatt. I know I have to cover up the exposed metal over the soldered connection, as well as the end of the heat tape where it was cut to length, with electrical tape.

However, I have seen some guides and photos, where the electrical tape actually overlaps on the heat tape heating elements! For example, the solder is on the metal strips on either side of the tape. It is only like 1 - 2 mm away from the heat tape itself. So if you tape the electrical tape over the solder,it will touch the heating element and even cover it somewhat. Is this ok? Or will it melt the electrical tape?
On the end where I cut the heat tape to length, I would be taping the entire end with electrical tape. So again, the tape will cover part of the heat tape. Is this bad?
 
I don't know if this helps, but I am using electrical tape to hold my Cobra Heat Pad onto the bottom of my Viv so far. I am still tweaking the temps, but at full blast (100 degrees F) the tape was fine on the pad. It didn't melt or anything.
 
Is the tape on top of the heating element on the hot side?
Anyone care to comment re: specifically flexwatt?
 
The best I can do is to say that I think you will be alright. I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. If you have some flexwatt handy some example pics might help. Here's some pictures of how I did my taping on the exposed solder and exposed heating elements. Hopefully, they can help answer your question.

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replover said:
Ok I have decided I will use solder instead of the connectors to wire the flexwatt. I know I have to cover up the exposed metal over the soldered connection, as well as the end of the heat tape where it was cut to length, with electrical tape.

However, I have seen some guides and photos, where the electrical tape actually overlaps on the heat tape heating elements! For example, the solder is on the metal strips on either side of the tape. It is only like 1 - 2 mm away from the heat tape itself. So if you tape the electrical tape over the solder,it will touch the heating element and even cover it somewhat. Is this ok? Or will it melt the electrical tape?
On the end where I cut the heat tape to length, I would be taping the entire end with electrical tape. So again, the tape will cover part of the heat tape. Is this bad?
Click to expand...

when you figure it out post some info and pics, I want to build my own cage too (wooden) but I'm not sure on the flexwatt in the cage. thanks
 
The heat element on my flexwatt does not go straight across like Zach has pictured above. Mine goes on a diagonal so when I cut it, I had to cut through the metal part. I soldered the wires on each side, taped each side off and then ran electrical tape across the entire bottom from one side to the other to cover the exposed metal in the center of the flexwatt. It will not melt, that's why it's called 'electrical' tape. :wavey:
 
Thanks all! Zach the pics were very helpful!

How come you wire two flexwatt together instead of to a power source though?

dwyn127, is yours 4 inch, 3 inch with the diagonal markings? I thought you weren't supposed to cut through the metal. Guess I was wrong. I did read something about cutting completely through a heating stripe but have no idea what that means. So is it ok to cut anywhere as long as you tape up the end from end to end?
 
replover said:
Thanks all! Zach the pics were very helpful!

How come you wire two flexwatt together instead of to a power source though?

dwyn127, is yours 4 inch, 3 inch with the diagonal markings? I thought you weren't supposed to cut through the metal. Guess I was wrong. I did read something about cutting completely through a heating stripe but have no idea what that means. So is it ok to cut anywhere as long as you tape up the end from end to end?
Click to expand...
My guess is Zach wired them because they'll be on different shelves.

And yes, it's ok to cut through as long as you tape it off. I'll try to get a pic up later of my 3'' flexwatt.
 
replover said:
Thanks all! Zach the pics were very helpful!

How come you wire two flexwatt together instead of to a power source though?
Click to expand...

I had my flexwatt in four rows across the back of the rack (vertically, like in the pictures I showed you a week or so ago of my rack system). I just chose to do the wiring this way because it made things easier. This drawing may not be 100% accurate, but it gives you an idea of what my wiring is like. The circled red part just shows why that one pictures looks like it does with the to pieces of flexwatt wired together.

4881_Untitled_2.jpg
 
dwyn127 said:
My guess is Zach wired them because they'll be on different shelves.

And yes, it's ok to cut through as long as you tape it off. I'll try to get a pic up later of my 3'' flexwatt.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I forgot to post this before today. Mine don't really give you any other choice then to cut through it. Then you just tape off the whole end.
 

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I cut mine on the diagonal so as not to cut through the elements and taped off the ends. Any black bar that does not connect at both ends to the edge metal is not going to get warm. I found some liquid electrical tape at Home Depot that worked well to seal lumpy solder connections. Stank at first but once dry, it is bomb proof and I am really happy with it.
 
poppycorn said:
I cut mine on the diagonal so as not to cut through the elements and taped off the ends. Any black bar that does not connect at both ends to the edge metal is not going to get warm. I found some liquid electrical tape at Home Depot that worked well to seal lumpy solder connections. Stank at first but once dry, it is bomb proof and I am really happy with it.
Click to expand...
I guess a diagonal cut works just as well. Either way, you're heating surface is identical, plus when you take into consideration the taper of the Sterilite from the top to the bottom, that section of flexwatt won't be touching the container anyway. I'll have to check out that liquid tape, never heard of it but I bet it would work great on the connections. Thanx!:wavey:
 
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