Rack with Under the Tank Heaters vs. Flexwatt

[MelissaB]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, but I've been reading the forum for months now. I've been searching and searching, but haven't found the exact answer to this question - I hope nobody minds if it is an often repeated question.

I am thinking of building a rack, but am extremely nervous about using Flexwatt. It will be a challenge for me to actually build the unit never mind wiring something. Add to my "challenged" state the immense fear my electrician father has instilled in me, and I'm really not comfortable with the Flexwatt. I have cats that would definitely be playing through the wires which would pose a giant risk IMO. To anticipate two possible answers: no, I can't put the rack in a room where the cats cannot go as I live in an open concept place, and no, I cannot ask my father to do it as he lives on the other side of the country .

So, I'm wondering if it would be possible to construct a rack using UTHs? I understand I would still need a thermostat. I found this example (without a thermostat):

http://tiny.cc/PoorMansRack

(I tiny url'ed it and hope it works on the forum).

Any thoughts on this idea? I imagine there is a giant flaw in the plan I'm not thinking of (price of the heaters would be one). I do have a friend in the pet industry that is looking into getting a discount on a bulk order if I decide to do this.

OR

If someone can offer another option, I would definitely be open to suggestions. My father keeps telling me that to be "up to code," and this is in Canada, all electrical connections need to be in a metal or electrical container (approved electrical box?). If there was an issue, such as a fire, the insurance would not cover it because the system would not be within electrical code. Now I may be describing the Flexwatt connections incorrectly to my father, but I did send him some links to plans for racks I have found.

Thank in advance for any and all replies.
Melissa

 

[Kirksherps]

Melissa, check out racks by animal plastics they use heat wire that is layed in a channel. I used a router to make a similar channel in my home made racks and added heat wire.

you will have to get heat wire made for heating reptiles. not heat wire from a home store
heat wire is used in homes to wrap around pipes to prevent freezing. they have a built in thermostat to turn them on at very low temps. no good for reptiles. I got mine in 6 foot lengths directly from AP. im not sure if it is available anywhere else

Kirk

 

[sammer021486]

Flexwatt, from what I have been reading is not insured in Canada. It can be purchased in canada from a few suppliers, but if the insurance does not cover it then your out of luck if it causes a fire.

Zoo med makes heating cable that can be purchased for around $60CND for 50ft. A lot cheaper than buying multiple heat mats which go for $25-50 for an 11"x17" mat. I am thinking of either building a rack or just modifying my existing shelf to raise the sterilite containers up so that I can run the heat cable under them. If you use the heat cable a rheostat would probably be the better option of heat control over a thermostat.

You can pm me for the company that I use which is based in Orillia ON. They have excellent shipping times for myself in Ontario, I normally receive my shipment in 2-4 days by Canada express post, I am not sure how it will be for the coasts though.

 

[acpart]

The Zoo-med heat cable mentioned above has worked very well for me and is very versatile.

Aliza

 

[MelissaB]

Thank you all so much for the replies. The heat cable sounds like an excellent option. As mentioned above, I'm challenged when it comes to building things and I wasn't totally certain what a router was; however, I looked it up. I don't have access to one, but read in other posts (thank you search function) that people have used dremels to make the groves. I do have one of those, but am unsure a) how I would make straight lines, and b) what attachment I would use to do so. I don't know if one of the home stores would do this for me (I do know they cut wood and tile as I've used that service before). Any thoughts?

Sammer021486 - why would you recommend a rheostat over a thermostat for heat cable? I was under the impression that a proportional thermostat is always the best way to go.

Thank you again!
Melissa

 

[sammer021486]

Sammer021486 - why would you recommend a rheostat over a thermostat for heat cable? I was under the impression that a proportional thermostat is always the best way to go.

A proportional thermostat is essentially the combination of a rheostat and thermostat. If you have not already purchased a proportional thermostat a rheostat would save you money and would provide a continous heat, were as a thermostat would turn the cable on and off. But if you want to build a complete setup right off the bat a proportional thermostat is the way to go then. I use the zoo med thermostat and have used the zoo med rheostat and both worked very well for me. The rheostat could pose some problems when temperatures start to fluctuate and you have to re-adjust the rheostat.