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Inexpensive alternative to wiring 11" Flexwatt

dwyn127

dwyn127

Cinderazzo
The 1st time I wired Flexwatt I soldered the wire to the metal strip. It works great, but I wanted an alternative and I didn't want to spend 0.60 cents each for the clips designed for it. If that makes me cheap, so be it. Instead I went to Lowes and spent 2.98 for a package of 20 Female Disconnects. (pics 1 & 2)

The underside of 11" flexwatt is not attached to the metal strips that run along both sides of the tape. I cut the plastic to expose a quarter inch tab (pic 3 & 4); the female disconnects fit perfectly (pic 5).

I put the wire through the opening in the terminal, crimped it closed then crimped the disconnect onto the flexwatt strip(pic 6).

No final pics, but yes, I taped all exposed metal and wire.
 

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That's a great idea. I've got some flexwatt that I've been holding off on setting up because I hate wiring it. I may melt a mean hole in sterilites with a soldering iron, but I stink at the real deal. :rolleyes: I think I'll have to give this method a shot. Thanks!
 
BMueller777 said:
Where do you get this and how much?
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I went to Lowes and spent 2.98 for a package of 20 Female Disconnects.
smile.gif


zwyatt said:
I may melt a mean hole in sterilites with a soldering iron, but I stink at the real deal. :rolleyes: I think I'll have to give this method a shot. Thanks!
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Exactly why I wanted an alternative.:grin01:

desertanimal said:
Thanks for the tip! That'll come in handy some day. :cheers:
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You're welcome!
 
Sweet! I'm pretty good with the soldering iron, but that connection looks safer. Does the plastic peel away from the metal strip pretty easily?
 
tom e said:
Sweet! I'm pretty good with the soldering iron, but that connection looks safer. Does the plastic peel away from the metal strip pretty easily?
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Yes Tom. The plastic is connected everywhere except on the underside of both metal strips. I used my fingernail.
 
Hey Danny! Quick question, where did you get that heat tape? Does it matter where you get your flexwatt from to do this? I don't know if different places are all the same for cutting to expose the metal or not.
 
raynefyre said:
Hey Danny! Quick question, where did you get that heat tape? Does it matter where you get your flexwatt from to do this? I don't know if different places are all the same for cutting to expose the metal or not.
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You might have to wait for Danny response; it's been some time since he posted it.
But, I would think if you go with the general idea of the OP it would still work no matter who you get your flexwatt from.
 
raynefyre said:
Hey Danny! Quick question, where did you get that heat tape? Does it matter where you get your flexwatt from to do this? I don't know if different places are all the same for cutting to expose the metal or not.
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Hey Bree, I've gotten Flexwatt from Bean Farm, a booth at the shows in Daytona and in Cleveland; my system has worked for all of them.
 
Danny this is an outstanding idea. The clips made for Flex Watt are big and bulky and difficult to work with. I can see your idea is much better. Did you just tape over the exposed conductors?
 
dwyn127 said:
Hey Bree, I've gotten Flexwatt from Bean Farm, a booth at the shows in Daytona and in Cleveland; my system has worked for all of them.
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Thank you Danny! Now I just have to sit and wait patiently until the next Cleveland show. (>.<) Is the heat tape at the show much cheaper in price because you don't pay shipping or is it about the same as ordering online?
 
Bree, if you buy it today from the Bean Farm and pay the shipping and everything it may cost as much as $5 more than at the show. How important is $5 to you?
 
wade said:
Danny this is an outstanding idea. The clips made for Flex Watt are big and bulky and difficult to work with. I can see your idea is much better. Did you just tape over the exposed conductors?
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Yup, electrical tape.


raynefyre said:
Is the heat tape at the show much cheaper in price because you don't pay shipping or is it about the same as ordering online?
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Sorry, I don't remember. I guess it would depend on how much you need and how soon you want it. Plus is would be a bummer if you waited and the guy at the booth was sold out! :grin01:
 
wade said:
Bree, if you buy it today from the Bean Farm and pay the shipping and everything it may cost as much as $5 more than at the show. How important is $5 to you?
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8 pieces of 11" flexwatt from bean farm is 29 bucks plus 10 for shipping. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do.
 
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