THG Heat Tape; Will it Burn Cardboard?

• Jan 6, 2014

• #1

gatorgeckos

New Member

Messages

26

Location

Florida

I'm trying to figure out how to heat a large amount of tubs with my shelf setup, and thought of trying to put a large piece of cardboard or something behind the tubs to make something of a shelf backing, and then running heat tape on that to heat the tubs.

The temps would be about 95 degrees F, as there would be a loss of a few degrees from the slight distance from the tape to the tubs.

Does this sound good to you guys, and would the heat tape burn the cardboard? Is there another way you would go about doing this? Thanks!

 

• Jan 7, 2014

• #2

Phoenix1115

New Member

Messages

932

Location

Connecticut

I'd use PVC instead or something similar. Melamine, would be good too

 

• Jan 7, 2014

• #3

DrCarrotTail

Moderator

Messages

3,590

Location

Ridgewood, NJ

As long as your electrical connections are well insulated and you have a quality thermostat, 95 degrees won't burn cardboard. I would probably use something more sturdy like wood or melamine as they'll stay put over time and I would think that the money you'll save using cardboard will be lost in your electricity bill as it doesn't insulate the rack as well and you'll burn electricity as you lose heat. Also side heat isn't ideal for leos. UTH is a much better idea.

 

• Jan 8, 2014

• #4

gatorgeckos

New Member

Messages

26

Location

Florida

I know under tank is better. My shelving unit does not really allow for that though, so I'm working on an alternative. I have to be able to stack any tubs I use on top of each other, and I figured it would just get too hot. I suppose I could always try to build something to allow under tank heating, but I'm thinking this will work better for what I've got.

 

• Jan 9, 2014

• #5

Robyn@SYR

New Member

Messages

91

Location

Denver, CO

I don't think it is a good idea to run any kind of heat element in direct contact with paper or cardboard. 95F is not hot enough to burn paper, but compounded heat can build up quickly, and a fire starter like cardboard/paper is just not going to be a good idea.

 

• Jan 9, 2014

• #6

gatorgeckos

New Member

Messages

26

Location

Florida

I figured as much. I'm now thinking I'm going to build a sort of heating rack to put on my shelf (it's a good sized shelf). I was thinking of building it out of something like melamine, having five or six shelves all running a strip of the heat tape, holes drilled in the side to run wires out of, and the right size to hold about 18-20 shoe box sized plastic tubs. It'll be a baby rack. Sounds good?