HELP FLEXWATT PROBLEM!!!

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ponylover86

Guest
well,
Me and my husband are in the process of building a new rack =) We have the rack basicly done,, our problem is the heat tape. We are well aware that if you leave any of the connections bare, you can be ready for 110V. We have both ends of all heat properly covered ( I think ) with electrical tape. After we hooked it to the helix dbs 1000, we tested it out and turned it up all the way to break it in. We felt each row of heat tape, and they were all working fine. Here is my problem,,, anytime you touch the heatape now (maybe your not suppose too.) it conducts electricity and jolts it right into you (ouch). I am talking about the actual heat tape its self. we have 5 shelfs, that are 8 feet long, and all 40 feet of heat tape has become electricly charged??? I do not think this is normal as I have read no warnings about it, and we were touching it fine earlier. What could cause this?? We have it unplugged from the Helix for now. We have some leos that need the space soon, so quick help is appreciated!!!!!
Thanks
 
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ponylover86

Guest
What type of protective coating should be there? it looks like normal flexwatt with the clear coating. Also if there is a little scrap in the coating will it charge the whole thing like this? We noticed that there was a very tiny hole where it looks like something slide across it and scraped it. would that be causing it.
 
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rcobourn

Guest
First thing I would do is hit the hardware store and get an outlet tester; make sure your outlet is properly wired and grounded. If you are using any sort of outlet strip, test it too.

What material is your rack made out of? If it is conductive (metal), perhaps you want to ground it.

What did you insulate the connections with? If you didn't use real electrical tape, you need to replace whatever you did use with electrical tape.
 
snowgyre

snowgyre

New Member
Messages
588
Location
Athens, GA
Or maybe it even got too hot and melted the coating somewhere? If it's all one length of 40' heat tape it's probably pulling enough current to get way too hot, especially since you turned it all the way up. I try to keep my flexwatt lengths 3 feet or less, but I don't have any big racks either. You definitely have a short somewhere, the trick is finding it. Got any kids to test it for you? I hear they're resilient. ;-)
 
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ponylover86

Guest
rcobourn said:
First thing I would do is hit the hardware store and get an outlet tester; make sure your outlet is properly wired and grounded. If you are using any sort of outlet strip, test it too.

What material is your rack made out of? If it is conductive (metal), perhaps you want to ground it.

What did you insulate the connections with? If you didn't use real electrical tape, you need to replace whatever you did use with electrical tape.
Click to expand...

The outlet is good.
the rack is made out of wood. And we used electrical tape to isulate with. We bought the grounded version of the Helix thermsostat but the extension cord that feeds the daisy chains is not grounded.Would that matter?

If it was missing one little patch would it cause the whole thing to be electric? Like if there was a tiny tiny little scratch in a spot somewhere like if something slide across it maybe? Could that cause it?
 
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ponylover86

Guest
snowgyre said:
Or maybe it even got too hot and melted the coating somewhere? If it's all one length of 40' heat tape it's probably pulling enough current to get way too hot, especially since you turned it all the way up. I try to keep my flexwatt lengths 3 feet or less, but I don't have any big racks either. You definitely have a short somewhere, the trick is finding it. Got any kids to test it for you? I hear they're resilient. ;-)
Click to expand...

There are 5 racks that are 8 feet long each.IS that to long?
 
snowgyre

snowgyre

New Member
Messages
588
Location
Athens, GA
I'm not sure. I've never tested it at lengths longer than 3 feet. I would think though that the longer the length the greater the potential the tape has of significantly overheating because it's drawing between 6-10 watts per foot, depending upon what you have. Theoretically, at 8 feet you could be pulling as much energy as a 48-80 watt lightbulb, and I know how hot those things get. I think flexwatt's a bit more resilient than that, but who knows.

So, anybody have experience with that length of tape? Anybody have trouble with it overheating to the point of a meltdown?
 
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ponylover86

Guest
So its probably the wiring/connections then??well have to mess with it.....:(
Why cant things just work and cause so much stress ans time and ect....?
 
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ponylover86

Guest
Im just confussed because it was fine, and then it went crazy. I will have to look into it, but anymore suggestions or ideas are appreciated!!!!
 
snowgyre

snowgyre

New Member
Messages
588
Location
Athens, GA
At this point I think I'd just do an experiment. I'd slice off the connectors and try again. If it doesn't work a second time, then there's probably a short somewhere along the length of the tape. If it works, then you know it's a connector issue. At worst, you've only lost a half inch of flexwatt from one side.

Do you know how to solder the connections? That may work better than the connectors. It's how I've got my flexwatt set up.
 
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ponylover86

Guest
I dont know how, but I may attempt to figure it out. I think I will maybe retry the connections. I thought they were good as it heated up nicely, but obviously something is wrong. It still heats fine and maintains the exact temp I have my DBS 1000 at, but its all charged with live power. Always my luck!
 
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brothaT

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Messages
70
Location
Spanish Fork, UT
If it shocks you down the entire length of flexwatt there is no way it is an overheating problem. That would only occur near the end with the clips attached. The only thing I can think of is that the plastic coating is porous or nonexistent at many points on the tape and when you place your hand across the entire width you are making contact with the hot and ground wires. It doesn't shock you if you just place the tip of your finger on it, right?
 
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ponylover86

Guest
I am not sure, I will give it a whirl as soon as I get back home, as I am away from their right now. If it does not shock me, what does this mean, and how do I fix the problem??? Thanks!!!
 
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ponylover86

Guest
Well I have arrived back home to do some more investigating. The only way to be shocked, is to place your hands across/or on both silver strips (hot and ground). The entire length of the flexwatt makes a little zap if you touch both silver strips at the same time. If you only touch one nothing. Is this normal as they are providing power to the tape. Was I suppose to put electrical tape the entire length of the tape, as I only cover the connections and the opposing 2 corners. I checked every tub and there is no way to make connection threw the tub, so when I add my leos they should be fine. Anyways does anyone else get a bit of a zap when they touch both silver strips at same time???? Thanks in advance!!!
 
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