flexwatt heat tape

[kenster]

ok I must be blind, but for some reason i can't find any place that sells this stuff, could someone please point me to the right place to look....

thanks!!

 

[Iris]

There's probably more but I just typed "flexwatt" into a search engine and this is what it turned up on the 1st page of results

http://www.beanfarm.com/heating.htm

http://www.constrictors.com/Supplies/heat.html

 

[kenster]

thanks, i just found some at big apple herp. My search engine was down and I was just looking through pages and pages of nothing close to what I wanted. For those of you who use flexwatt heat tape, what diameter do you use? I noticed they have 3 in, 11in, and so on. I am also thinking that I need a thermostat to make sure it runs at the right temp, correct? I have been using lights, and I am switching to a rack and heat tape just wanted to make sure I had everything set up right. Thanks for all the help, guess it might help if I mentioned my rack is made of metal shelving units with particle board as the shelves. From what I have read it seems I need a barrier between the board and the heat tape, is that correct? I am also guessing that the tape should not get hot enough to burn the rubbermaid, if use with a thermostat...Ok i think I have everything covered now..

 

[Katie]

You don't really NEED a thermostat. They're pretty expensive and there is a cheaper alternative. You could just use a rheostat (sp?). This will allow you to turn the temp up or down. You will need a separate thermometer to monitor where you should have the rheostat but the thermometer and reostat will be MUCH cheaper than a thermostat.

I use rheostats in my heat pads with no problems.

 

[Rainey]

Question for Katie

Hey Katie,

you're talking about using a rheostat with your heat pad. How does this work, can you explain to me what it does and how you set it up, I'm having troubles with my pad making it too hot sometimes, can you help me?

Thanks!

 

[Corney]

Heat tape??What does it do??Is it good and safe??

 

[Katie]

Rainy, you can pick up a rheostat at pretty well any hardware store and the instructions for putting splicing it into a source of power should be included with it. I'm not sure exactly how to do it (my bf did it for me) but I will ask the boyfriend and let you know. I know it only took him about 5 minutes and a couple of butt end connectors to do and it works great. I can turn the heat up and down with a twist of the little button now. Plus, with a rheostat you can shut power to the pad right off without unplugging it.

I'll get back to you tonight or tomorrow with instructions.

 

[Simon]

Basically you are just connecting 2 wires into the rheostats....
there are three lines running form the rheosta.
there should be two black and one green.
The green is for safty, so if there is any leakage of elecricity then it goes to the ground. The other two black wires are for connecting one of the lines for your wires.
There should be three wires on your cable, usally black, white and green. Cut either the black or white line (one only and then connect the rheostat's line one to each end of the black or white line. Then basically you have finished doing it...
it's very easy.
but if you have any uncertainty at all...DON'T TO IT YOURSELF!

 

[Corney]

where do you get it??

 

[Katie]

you should be able to get them at any hardware store. basically all you need is one of those light dimmers. you know what I mean, it's a round knob and you can push it to turn the lights on and off and turn the knob to make the lights brighter or dimmer. That's what you're looking for. There are usually instructions in the box with them.

 

[Simon]

yeah those hardware stores should have them.
they are these little knobs that you sometimes have on your wall where you dim your lights in the living room or something like that....