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stupid heat "tape"

bmm

bmm

New member
Well I purchased an UltraTherm Heat Pad recently from a local source but it originally came from Bean Farm. Anyways its the exact same thing as FlezWatt but its already wired. Anyways....

This crap has risen the temp by ONE degree celcius???? I am quite upset seeing as I had to pay 100 canadian bucks for a four foot piece. (no cheaper here in canada already tried)

I just built this rack, it is a closed rack not just open shelves. The tape is about 3 inches away from the actual rubbermaids themselves and is controlled by a Rheostat but that really hasn't mattered as its not getting hot enough.

Do you think I should move it within an inch or two from the tubs? I may be losing heat?

bmm
 
I'm not familiar with heat tamp but logic tells me yes move it closer.. the bigger gap inbetween the two the more air flowing, wasting your heat..
 
3 inches from the rubbermaids? Well your not going to heat your cages that way. You running it along the side? The back? I runmine along the shelves so my sterilites are directly on it and I have no problem at all. How wide is the tape you got? If your going to run it along the wall or back from a distance of 3 inches I hope yoiu got the 11 inch.
 
Yeah, I've always thought that tape/mats are better used underneath the enclosures. Didn't it come with instructions or anything?
 
yes

It came with instructions. I followed them. I normally would have liked to place it underneath, but so many people have succsess by making racks where the tape is on the back that I tried....also like I mentioned heat tape is very expensive here.

I would have had to buy 7 pieces if I wanted to lay them underneath, and the peices that would fit in THAT case were 60 dollars EACH!!!! So instead like I had planned I bought the longest piece (48 inches long 4-6 inches wide) and hung it vertically. I will be moving it closer today to see how it works out.

bmm
 
The Ultratherms work good BUT there is a catch. You have to place it directly on the enclosure and cover it with aluminum tape. These emit heat from both sides. To get the heat where you want it, you need to insulate one side. Attach it to the enclosure where you want it and cover it with the tape. Another thing to consider is these only heat to about 15 degrees above ambient room temps. If the room is 75 degrees, the max that the Ultratherm will heat to is 90 degrees. Another thing to consider is that these do not work if attached to a rheostat. Let them run all full power to get any type of benefit from them.
 
well

After some re-placement of my stuff its all working fine now.

I do not understand why it wouldn't work with a Rheostat? Now that I have adjusted and all that the Rheostat and the Ultratherm heating pad is working just fine together....

Do you mean there is some danger from using a rheostat with them? I hope thats not the case! I know that most don't work with them because of the low wattage a Ultratherm takes but this seems to be shutting it off at 85 just fine.

bmm
 
It's designed to use low wattage from the manufacturer. A rheostat is not going to work with it. Read the part about controlling the temps in the directions. It will explain why they won't work.
 
well

O.k. I guess.

But I don't understand why it doesn't work as it turned off at some point today and yesterday. Maybe its just flickering or whatever, I don't know. Anyways I will check into more tonight. thanks

bmm
 
From the sound of your post, it appears you are using a thermostat and not a rheostat.
Can you dial in a temp setting? Does it turn off when you reach that? Is there a probe in the enclosure? If so, you have a thermostat. It will work with those.
The rheostat is basically a dimmer switch. Since the pad is using a very low voltage to begin with, the rheostat doesn't work properly when you "dial down" the settings.
 
haha

Yay! You are right. I was mistaken, and I am using a ESU Reptile Thermostat. :)

That's why it *IS* working hahaha :)

thanks
bmm
 
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