Another heat tape question

[Greg West]

Can the 11" heat tape be cut in the middle, or does it have to be on the 1' lines? I have a rack im working on and the 1' sections don't work for the width of the rack.

Greg

[Bartman]

I was told it would be a fire hazard if they were cut.

[Greg West]

It would be easy to tape over the cut area if that prevented it, but I wanted to be sure.

Greg

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

GREG WEST:

I would not try it, better off getting 4 - 6" material instead.

Cya...

Tony

[CamHanna]

Do you mean cut lengthwise into a strip of 5.5" heat tape or transversly so that you can have a length that is not divisable by 1' (i.e. a length of 11'7")? Either way I can't help you but perhaps some one who can needs the same clarification I do.

[Stockwell]

Greg, you can cut the stuff where ever you want as long as it's across the entire width from bus to bus and that includes right through the black part which is simply conductive graphite ink. Just put tape along the cut edge as since it's conductive it will be an exposed shock hazard.
I've been cutting the stuff for years.. no big deal. The transparent lines are mostly for convenience and ease of measuring.

[Greg West]

Thanks Roy,

I was hoping you were going to reply to my thread. I was thinking that what you suggested could be done as the 4" cuts through the graphite. The tape won't heat up and melt on the edge?

[Stockwell]

No,there wont be any more heat at the edge than any other spot, but I'm not a big fan of electrical tape.. The gum tends to let go after a while. If you use it, don't fold it, put one piece on each side of the edge, so that the two strips of the tape lay flat and stick to each other and the edge. There are also other ways of insulating the end, including simply running a bead of silicone along the entire edge, or placing a narrow strip of plastic, glass or any other non conductive substance over it.

[Greg West]

Thanks Roy.

Greg