Soldered connections on Flexwatt

[MonteQ's]

I'd like to rebuild a couple of racks I picked up last year...

The connections are all soldered, and wired in parallel. Makes me a little nervous taking the heat off, don't want to loosen a connection and run into problems. These are the only racks connected this way, so I really have nothing to go on.

Don't know if I'm better of trimming the tape and making new connections. Or if I'd be better off just starting from scratch with new heat and all?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!

 

[robin]

what width is the heat tape? russ says if it is 11 inch ya can't trim it but if it is 3 inch there is a bit of room for trimming. his initial response before talking about the length of the heat tape was "start from scratch"

 

[Tony C]

his initial response before talking about the length of the heat tape was "start from scratch"

:main_thumbsup: Heat tape is cheap, if you aren't sure of it's condition why take the risk?

 

[MonteQ's]

It's 3". In great shape, it's the connections that make me nervous. Been sitting on them for a while... They aren't lid less, so I keep working around them. The more I think about it the less I want to mess with them.

Think I'll just start from scratch. Maybe give them another look down the road.

Thanks guys I appreciate the input.

 

[steve905]

Hey there young man...What I had suggested to me was taking a small circular connector that crimps on the end of the wires. Put it on there then run a screw thru and into your rack shelf. Its supposed to work to control the expansion issues too. Then place some electrical or that liquid plastic insulation over your screws...hope this helped.

 

[Syris71]

Hey there young man...What I had suggested to me was taking a small circular connector that crimps on the end of the wires. Put it on there then run a screw thru and into your rack shelf. Its supposed to work to control the expansion issues too. Then place some electrical or that liquid plastic insulation over your screws...hope this helped.

This is exactly what I do:main_thumbsup:
I used to solder but have had it happen to me too many times were the soldered wires on the flexiwatt came off...:main_rolleyes:

 

[MonteQ's]

Thanks for the suggestions. Steve you crack me up... young man huh?

I actually already ordered new heat. But I'll definitely keep this in mind when I have a chance to play with them again.

Sort of a side note...But I hate driving with melamine! Almost took off my hand trying to stop it from taking out my console!

 

[steve905]

What they're JUST fingers..they'll grow back if ya rub alittle dirt on them....

 

[robin]

dirt is a cure all? lol

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

they'll grow back if ya rub alittle dirt on them....

Is this a proven fact? haha I am glad I don't get advice on here very often.

 

[MonteQ's]

Lol. My nephew's dad says that all the time...always wondered where it came from. Guess it might help it clot at least.