Best Helix for Ball Pythons?

[BP-R-US]

Hey Guys,

I am building 3 racks so 30 containers. There size is 16*6*31.5 (roughly) Rubbermaid’s. I was wondering what would be the best Helix to control all of them and what size heat tape I should put under the Rubbermaid’s? I have only used aquariums so far so all I have experience with is under tank heaters and the cheap Alife Reptile Electronic Temperature Controllers. Thanks for the advice in advance.

[smeagel]

I would suggest the Helix DBS1000. As far as I am concerned it is the best Thermoctat on the marked. Before i got one i had to constantlt adjust my temps with a dimmer switch and my temps fluctuated quit a bit. Now the Helix sees to it that they stay relatively stable. I am going to be building my own rack system soon and I plan on useing 11 inch heat tape.

[jglass38]

Why spend the extra $ on a helix when you can get a herpstat for about $40 less. These are awesome thermostats (I use them). Check out www.mgreptiles.com. Great prices and great customer service (and he sells Helix if that is really the way you want to go)

[BP-R-US]

So would one Helix or herpstat do fine for 3 racks? The herpstat looks just as good as the helix, but it is only a $20.00 difference so I might just stick to Helix.

[smeagel]

The Helix can only handle 500W, unless you get an adapter that ups the power it can handle. Not sure what the herpstat will handle.

[satfreebie]

How do you figure out the watts with the flex watt.

[Dave Barsalou]

Watts per foot times # of feet. (don't forget, there is a max run allowed for a few reasons, don't exceed it)

ie: 5 feet of 11" Flexwatt (20W/ft)

5 x 20= 100W

All the power is only needed during startups, etc. With a pulse proportional thermostat its like a trickle of energy to the heat tape instead of full blast, shut off, full blast, shut off. :)

Dave

the helix 1007 is a single 1500W unit (that's 1500W in once source allowed instead of plug in modules at 500W max each. The 1007 allow allows 2 additional 500W plug ins. (maybe 3?).

[BP-R-US]

So let me see if I understand this, so a 1 foot strip of 11" Flexwat under each rubbermaid, per rack would be 200W * 3 so 600W. Also do you run the Flexwatt in series or each strip into the Helix. Does anyone know of a diagram to show how the setup should take place on a rack or multi-rack.

Once again, Thanks for all the help.

[dystopia]

I honestly like mykee's rack design and heating design the best. It's here:
http://www.strictlyballs.ca/snakerack.html

For a flexwatt parallel wiring diagram, go here:
http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_parallel.pdf

HTH
Jeremy

[BP-R-US]

Thanks for all the help, I think I will go with the Helix 1000 or 1007 not sure yet.