Anyone ever used heating cable?

[casacrow]

I am in the process of building a rack system. I am going to be using 2 by 4's. I know most people would say to use something else such as plywood, but this is what I am going with. I have access to heating cable ( for melting ice) for a good price and want to use this as a heat source. I would dado out a couple of grooves in the wood for the cable to sit in. I could use as many lines under the rubbermaids a required. I think I have a pretty good plan for this...I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever used heating cable before and what your experiences with it are? I am wondering if it may get too hot or stay too cool. I would also like to see the various uses, if any, that people have executed. The room will stay at a steady 80 degrees so it will not have to heat much above that. Just provide a small warm spot. Thanx in advance for your info.

-----DONNY

[Dom]

Hey Donny ..

My Rack uses a heat cable.. Its kinda hard to explain exacly how I did it but essentially i am pretty happy with the end result.. its been running now for a year and still works great..

I don't use the melting ice cable thoguh mine is the one bought from PCPC .. Not sure where it is from b4 him though ..


Anywho .. buit the groove thing with 2 lines er shobox and 3 lines for the huge containers i had in there and all I have to say .. is thansk god its al on dimers.. cause it was WAY too hot..


Anywho.. come and see it and ull get a good idea..

Dom

[casacrow]

Dom,

I will have to come and check it out if you do not mind. I know the stuff gets pretty hot so dimmers are a definate. I'll send you a PM so I can hook up with ya. Thanx.

----Anyone else ever used the stuff?

[uog11]

i use the same stuff on my snake rack. you definitely need a dimmer and i would recommend a digital thermometer with min/max temps. i created a zig zag patern under about 1/3 of the rubbermaids. you will need to use a conductor to disperse the heat though.....possibly a small sheet of aluminum would do. if not it will be to site specific.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Dom
I don't use the melting ice cable thoguh mine is the one bought from PCPC .. Not sure where it is from b4 him though ..


This type of cabel is different from the kind used on a roof. The kind sold at PCPC are the thin heat rope used in flower beds.