warped flexwatt tape

[KaprikaAZ]

for how pricey flexwatt tape is, for a rack (about $40) i am getting tired of replacing it.

i was pulling bins out, and noticed that it was warped and not warm under the bin. so then i started taking other bins out and they were similar.
so. my geckos havent been getting proper heat, and this is the second strip ive had to buy in the last year.
the reptile rack is from animal plastics, and the tape has a slotted groove they sit in so there is air exchange. what do i do???
i keep temps between 86-90 and apparently thats too hot?
i dont know.
how do i keep it from warping. cause now i have to go buy yet ANOTHer 16 foot strip :/

*and yes, i have a thermostat control

 

[KaprikaAZ]

after watching a instructional video...it MAY be possible this happened cause i put the temp sensor IN the bin, rather than on the flexi tape..
the thermostat instructions werent..very clear on where the sensor went..
so i beleive that was my bad.

 

[Trevor0322]

What thermostat are you using. Depending, I would never place the sensor on the heat tape with certain thermostats. Usually there is small groove to allow the heat tape to run over top the sensor or to drill a hole in a bin and place the sensor on the floor in the hide box.

 

[Music City Geckos]

The probe for the thermostat should be attached directly to the Flex Watt with tape (aluminum tape works best). It's the best way to distribute the heat evenly throughout your rack. Usually it is attached on the middle shelf in the middle of the rack. If you put your probe into only one container then in theory you're only controlling the temperature in that one container cause they are all going to be different. You want to control the heat tape as a whole not individual bins. My thermostat is set to 92 degrees and gets my hot spots to 88-90 degrees on the inside of the bin (depending on the warmth of my house).