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heat tape questions

carnivorouszoo

carnivorouszoo

Crazy Critter Lady
How does the heat tape attach to the thing you are using it on? Fr example I want to make a rack from a bookshelf and use heat tape down the back of it so the back half of the tubs are heated. How do I get the tape to stay on the back of the shelf?
 
I used metal tape that I believe is for duct work. Here is a not so good picture of a shelf with flexwatt taped down.

049.jpg
 
Do not use duct tape. What you want is Aluminum Foil Tape. You can buy it a Home Depot in the same area you would find heating ducts. It is very different than Duct Tape.
 
There is no Home Depot but I'll try my Ace Hardware shop, thanks! Guess my rack can't be put together until tomorrow GERRR!
 
ROFLMAO! You guys are to much, I only meant we don't have a HD here. I am sure I can get it I just have to get off my keester and get it.
 
wade said:
Do not use duct tape. What you want is Aluminum Foil Tape. You can buy it a Home Depot in the same area you would find heating ducts. It is very different than Duct Tape.
Click to expand...

I talked to a "help" guy at Calorique (the manufacturer of Flexwatt) about this a few months ago because I was having trouble getting mine to heat tubs enough. I said something about the tin tape and he started laughing - his reply was "I don't understand why everybody thinks it's a good idea to use that stuff. Why would you put metal tape (a conductor) somewhere that will come into contact with electricity if the flexwatt is ever damaged so it electrifies the tape and everything else it's attached to?"

I don't know what to think about that...but it seems to make sense.
 
I just found the instructions that came with the tape and it says you can use duct tape. However, I did not order enough heat tape to complete the setup, but I will be getting it!
 
Actually you might want to try double-sided tape (the stuff I use is what you get in those window insulation kits). It's real thin and sticky. I use a strip running along each side where the metal pieces are in the flexwatt.
 
I switched to using duct tape because the aluminum tape just doesn't stick very well, AND, even tho hubby made ABSOLUTELY sure everything was sealed up (even cut ends), the aluminum tape carried a CHARGE thru it! I kept telling him that when I'd touch the heat tapes to make sure they're working okay, I'd get a "buzz" going thru my arm! (Nothing bad, mynd you, but you could still FEEL it!) He'd tell me that was impossible because there's nothing exposed to make a connection, but it was there!
I would say, depending how high you keep your heat tapes, duct tape would be just fine. People use it on plenty of applications that get some heat (think about how that stuff heats up in the sun, after all!)
I think if you're flexwatt doesn't get over, say, 95-100 degrees on a regular basis, the glue should be just fine.
 
I have a BIG problem! I got the flexwatt set up and wanted to test it before taping it down. GLAD I did! I blew 3 fuses before I said forget it! I barely touched the plug to the outlet and got sparks and blown fuses. Anyone have any ideas??
 
CZ, people are probably going to tell you this anyway, but you'll need to be more specific about how you've got it set up (pics would be a good idea too!).

Are you using a thermostatically-controlled system to run it or trying to plug it straight into the wall? (I know that kinda' sounds like I'm trying to call you stupid...I'm not, just wondering.) Have you got several sections of tape hooked up together? If so, how many total feet? How are they connected (i.e. serial or circuit?)

It sounds to me (and by no means am I an expert, which is why I let HUBBY deal with all that!) like either a wire is crossed in the series connection...or, you're running too much wattage (feet) off of one circuit on the thermostat. But...if you can be more specific about the setup, I can relate it to hubby and help track down the problem for you. He's REALLY good with that stuff!
 
Er, well that COULd be it, but I think there was a short in the electrical, the small section of the trailer that fuse goes to is out. Even with a new fuse. Sigh, good thing we did not use much on those areas. Except the porch light GRRRRR! I got a dimmer with the flexwatt. It was not really clear how to wire it. Or maybe I just don't get this kind of thing. I am usually quite good with "stuff" like this. I got some wire just like what is on the plug. I hooked this to the flexwatt using the metal clips they sell and covered the connections with the plastic covers they also sell (I went to beanfarm.com I think?) then attached that to the wire in the dimmer that "seemed" to be what was indicated for the "lamp" end of the system, then connected the plug to the other and capped those and the green grounding wire. I plugged it in, blew the first fuse. Thought, "Crud I miswired." so I switched the wires connected on the dimmer. Tried again and blew another. Then I went to change the fuse out and blew another! The third I think indicated a short in my home wiring. I posted before this occurred to me and was pointed out in another post I did thinking no one would look at this one. I unplugged my alarm clock and turned off the porch light and put in a new fuse after that. It did not blow but nothing works either. I tried to turn on the porch light and nothing. Sigh. . . At least there was not a fire!
 
CZ, sorry, man! If you lived closer, I'd rent you my husband! LOL (He's a whiz at those sorts of things.)
If I can remember in time before he has to leave for work tomorrow, I'll ask him to look at this thread & see if there's anything he can think of to help you out.
Best I can do! ;)
 
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