Clearing up myths about heat tape

[Stockwell]

Killa, jacking up the tank is just fine. It's not what most people would find convenient, but allowing surface air ciculation over the pad is closer to the intended use, and a better long term option than "sandwiching" them under tanks.
You'll probably avoid the heat marks and short life span that way.
For your interest however, I should mention that dimmers are available built right into cords, and that eliminates any wiring. IKEA has a $10 dimmer built into a cord, and also Home Depot sell the LUTRON brand of Credenza dimmers which are also a dimmer self contained with cord and receptacle.
These handle 600 watts and can be used for all resistive herp heat loads, from light bulbs, to heat tape, to heat pads and hot rocks.

[MouseKilla]

Thanks again Roy, I wasn't sure if a rheostat would affect the safety or longevity of a heat pad one way or the other.

It's funny that you mention self contained dimmers, there is one that was made some time very shortly after the discovery of electricity hooked to a lamp in my grandmother's living room. I have looked all over for a modern version with no luck(haven't seen them in HD, never looked in IKEA). I've asked around and it was suggested to me that they were now illegal for some safety reason. Good to know that isn't the case, I would feel better using something like that than cutting into wires myself.

Oh, about the carbon film heaters, has anyone seen the fully wired ones available in a couple of different sizes in pet shops? They're scandalously over-priced of course but they ARE cUL approved. I'm guessing that the only trouble with heat tape is the fact that you have to wire it yourself, rather than an issue with carbon film heaters.

[justinO]

we have the ikea ones and they are great once you figure which direction turns the heat up/down..

the only thing i don't like about them is that the control isnt "inline" with the cord.. it makes the plug outlet even more crowded then it already is. I'm loving those adapters that convert two 120v outlets into 6 120v. i'd be lost without them

[Stockwell]

Justin power bars are quite useful in getting some outlets out from the wall where its easier to access them. You can get 4 receptacle power bars with short cords for as little as one dollar at "Dollarama" and "A buck or two" Of course power bars with 6 or 8 outlets and longer cords are available for a few dollars more from any large chain Hardware store.
Lutron now makes a dimmer that you install into lamp cord yourself.It's not difficult if you follow their instructions, and of course they are CSA approved. They look exactly like their Credenza inline dimmer units only without the plug and cord.
The advantage is you can put the dimmer part where you want "in line" I've used these for racks and have them up front where its easy to adjust.
I bought one of these a couple weeks ago from H. Depot. It's a white, slider type control

[kjay]

hi all canadian tire has the sunbeams on for 14.99 this week, go get em