Heating Wire as replace to Heat Tape or UTH

[jwsporty]

Hey Folks,

I am planning on building a 12-16 unit rack system in the late summer and I would like your opinion on the use of heating wire. This stuff is normally used for de-icing snow and ice at the edge of a roof line. It is rated for 400 watts and runs on 4.2 amps. It is one hundred feet long and totally encased. It looks like a flat extension cord. I was given a couple of these and have since given one away. Has anyone had experience with this stuff. I understand it will have to be regulated because of it wattage rating but are there any negative effects from it use. As heat tape is not readily available in Canada (from what I understand )and doing a bunch of UTH could get REALLY expensive. Your views?

Thanks again

Jim

[Edwin]

I would be interested to hear thoughts on this as well, as I am also planning on getting a rack system in the near future, and this seems to be one of the better ways of heating it.

[jwsporty]

The only problem, I can see with using this stuff is you do have to plan your dimensions carefully for proper coverage, as is can not be cut. Beside the obvious of thermostatic control

[Ed_r]

Only problem I see with this is, it is a narrow cord. Wouldn't think it would put out enough surface temperature across a large enough area. And to get the temps high enough to heat the ambient air temps, the surface temp over the cord would probably be how enough to burn the snake. The Flexwatt heat tape has a much wider surface area, so the temps could be set lower, with more heating capabilities.
Just my thoughts.

[Dom]

I beleive it also cannot be cut? Not sure about it though

[jwsporty]

I was thinking..you could use two strips of aluminum sheet stock(one for the top and one for the bottom.) Use these like a sandwich with the wiring running between in two lines. The heat should dissipate through the sheet stock. and DOM you are right it can't be cut, so the layout would have to be carefully planning. I just figure with the industrial strength of these units they would last.

Jim