Electrial Shock from Flexwatt Possible?

[MichaelJ]

I got my flex watt from MG Reptiels Pre-wired and ready to go for my 11 Shelf rack that I built.

It took a pretty long time to run each piece out straight and foil tape the whole thing to my liking. One of the shelf's tape was not working so I tested it with my voltmeter and the connections were fine but the tape was getting now juice. Soi I'm assuming Matt will send me a replacement.

Anyhoo,

I after getting the tape in and plugged into themrostat I would every few minutes place my hand on to check for warmth. All is well and my thermostat is working fine.

But if I run my finger or hand across the tape for few inches I can feel a slight charge and even hear the electrical pulse. Is this normal?

My other rack was pre-built so I never had to deal with this. I'm thinking that I'm building up the static charge of my body moving against the charged foil tape and flexwatt but I'm a little nervous because I've never heard anyone mention this before.

I completely covered each spot of Flexwatt wit Foil tape. Should I have used somthing else ?

Any thoughts?

 

[bro paul]

I get the same thing from time to time Michael. I'm not sure what causes it either because it's usually not the same shelf. It hasn't caused any other problems and it's a very mild shock

 

[MichaelJ]

Cool thank you.. That makes me feel better.

 

[MichaelJ]

I was reading the bean farms instructions and many people use duct tape, house hold tape, or even shelf lining paper. I wonder if i should a layer of Duct tape to each shelf to give some rubber grounding to the conductive Foil Tape. Can't hurt.

 

[NaughtyDawg]

Get the foil tape out of there, you are going to electrocute yourself.....If you must tape it down use duck tape or some other non-conductive tape. What typ of thermostat are you using? If you are using a on/off type such as a Johnson or Ranco you are also asking for trouble.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm using a proportional Herpostat and I've been advised by everyone to use Foil Tape and I thought it was weird myself. I'll switch it out to duct tape tomorrow. It sux because it took nearly two hours to do 11 four foot shelves and an entire roll of tape.

Thanks,

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[NaughtyDawg]

I'm using a proportional Herpostat and I've been advised by everyone to use Foil Tape and I thought it was weird myself. I'll switch it out to duct tape tomorrow. It sux because it took nearly two hours to do 11 four foot shelves and an entire roll of tape.

Thanks,

Anyone else have any ideas?

Good stuff. Foil tape is for dryer vents.....:main_thumbsup:

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

The foil tape actaully helps the heat tape keep more steady temps from one end to the other. Without it you get ever more hot spots.

Anyway, plug in the heat tape with no thermostat for a few hours, this is supposed to help "break it in". Then plug it back into your thermostat and you shoudl get more steady temps along the entire peice.

 

[Reptile_le00man7mm]

I use foil tape on both racks. Most recommend it. However your getting a bad ground tingling feeling. Is it possible that you have the foil touching a connection joint? I have never felt that on our racks, but it is possible. After i soldered the wires, i put electrical tape over it, then duct tape. Silicone would work best, but i didn't use that.

 

[MichaelJ]

Alright, I covered the aluminum tape with a duct tape and it's heating and theres no electric shock issues. But I have to turn up the herpstat to 97-98 to get good heating in the tubs.

I've read some guidelines regarding tape and they say not to go over 95.. Is it bad that I'm turning it up that high?

I'm thinking I might remove the center piece of duct tape to expose the aluminum tape down the center of each strip that way it's still safe and there will be less coverage for the heat to have to go through to get to the tubs. Because now it's going through the aluminum (which should be conducting heat) then through the duct tape, then through tubs, then the the carpet in each tub just to get the bellies at the right temp.

Is this a good idea?

 

[MichaelJ]

Nevermind.

this is how I'm going to do it. I'll have to start over but I think it's the best way to get what we need.

 

[Russ S]

I completely covered each spot of Flexwatt wit Foil tape.
Any thoughts?

I was wondering, why was it you covered the entire piece of Flexwatt instead of just tapeing down the edges?

 

[MichaelJ]

because i never got any instructions on now to install it and went by instinct. I've seen the light now and my wife is re-running it correctly according to picture; while I sit in an airport waiting for a two delayed flight.

Basically I feel like an idiot. But thanks for asking.

 

[Jayyoung]

If it is "duct" tape it will pass a charge maybe use the foil tape and cover it with black electrical tape?

 

[MichaelJ]

Is it safe to have foil tape cover the whole piece of flexwatt except the connenction area? It is ridiculous to try and remove but if it's unsafe to leave it on I won't. I have removed any foil from the connection areas. I googled it and the bean farm and others state that many people use, foil tape,duct, glass, or even cabinet lining tape, to cover the flexwatt. Not just the clear edges. Is this wrong?

 

[MichaelJ]

All done. I has my wife remove all the tape and start over the correct way as shown in that picture.I felt bad at first asking her to do a few hours work but then I remembered that I built the 7 foot shlef and wired it myself; so a few hours is fair. Right? LOL


No shocks, good appropriate heat, all is well.

Thanks for everyone's help.