Building AP Rack

My AP Economy Plastics rack is on its way (2-3 weeks)! For those of you who have put them together before, what tools am I going to need and how long does it normally take to finish? Also, do you have any advice on installing the Flexwatt?

Thanks!

The one I got had heat cable but I put it together myself with only a screwdriver.

Eli173 said:

The one I got had heat cable but I put it together myself with only a screwdriver.

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Oh that would be nice! I have built my share of cheapo Wal-Mart furniture but I figured this would be a little more intricate...

I can put one together in about 45 minutes. I use a cordless drill. The instructions tell you what setting to use. I haven't used Flexwatt, but with heat cable or whatever it is, it helps to plug it in first to make it flexible. But you can't leave it plugged in, because it gets to 130 or hotter, which burns your hands. You _may_ need an adaptor to go from the three prong Flexwatt (heat cable is three prong, I don't know about FW) to your thermostat, which may or may not take grounded plugs. Herpstats didn't used to, but now you can buy a Herpstat for a grounded plug. If for some reason they don't send the instructions, I have posted them on line here for someone else.

Nanci said:

I can put one together in about 45 minutes. I use a cordless drill. The instructions tell you what setting to use. I haven't used Flexwatt, but with heat cable or whatever it is, it helps to plug it in first to make it flexible. But you can't leave it plugged in, because it gets to 130 or hotter, which burns your hands. You _may_ need an adaptor to go from the three prong Flexwatt (heat cable is three prong, I don't know about FW) to your thermostat, which may or may not take grounded plugs. Herpstats didn't used to, but now you can buy a Herpstat for a grounded plug. If for some reason they don't send the instructions, I have posted them on line here for someone else.

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Oh ok...I'll have to search for those instructions. I got the grounded Helix just in case the Flexwatt was 3 pronged. Sounds like it shouldn't be too bad. Thanks guys!

I just got my AP economy rack a month or so ago and unfortunately the directions left a lot to be desired. I had pieces that had no place in the instructions and I had to call AP to find out where they went.

The instructions described how to install the heat cable but I ordered flex watt and to my knowledge warming up the flex watt does not help getting it in the grooves.

Don't get me wrong my rack is great but it took me 4 hours from unpacking to finally applying the aluminum tape strips after figuring out how to get the flex watt in.


My suggestion don’t install the back pieces (the one in the middle was not listed on my instructions) until you install the flex watt and don’t be afraid to bow the flex watt to get it in the grooves. Run the heat tape up the rack without putting it in the grooves then work it into the grooves going down. The flex watt does not have a grounded plug.

How do you like yours, with the Flexwatt, now that it is up and running? Do you have nice warm temps without running the Flexwatt in the 90's?

Khaman is correct that it will take some finagling to get the Flexwatt in. By the time I was ready to put together my 2nd AP I had the method down. I would recommend purchasing extra Aluminum Foil Tape as I wasn't provided enough for the Flexwatt to be secure enough for my taste. Luckily I had a ton of it left over from when my husband used to build my racks.

A tip on hooking up your thermostat...

Don't waist your time trying to use the probe slots routered into the shelves. You will have a heck of a time trying to get your temps correct if you do. After a few days of fudging with it, I gave up and taped my probes directly to the heat tape (Ball Python racks are set at 95 and the Cornsnake racks at 85 to make up for the few degrees difference between heat tape and tub). While it's a nice idea to have routered out spots for your probes, they just aren't close enough to the heat tape.

Nanci said:

How do you like yours, with the Flexwatt, now that it is up and running? Do you have nice warm temps without running the Flexwatt in the 90's?

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I melted a hole in the back of the top left tub and taped the probe down where the flex watt was and set the temp to 81 even the bottom tubs get no cooler than 78.

Khaman said:

I melted a hole in the back of the top left tub and taped the probe down where the flex watt was and set the temp to 81 even the bottom tubs get no cooler than 78.

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Can you elaborate on this a little please? What was the thermostat set at when the tub melted? Does it work fine now?

airenlow said:

Can you elaborate on this a little please? What was the thermostat set at when the tub melted? Does it work fine now?

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They purposely melted a hole to run the thermometer probe to the Flexwatt.

Saffleur said:

They purposely melted a hole to run the thermometer probe to the Flexwatt.

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Wow...it makes much more sense when you read it that way!

Saffleur said:

They purposely melted a hole to run the thermometer probe to the Flexwatt.

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Exactly, the back of the rack is open so it just seemed easier than running it down the holes in the top of the rack.

I ran mine over the top, and taped it down with aluminum tape. But one of the wires is getting worn from sliding the bin.