cutting Flexwatt

[spidergecko]

Maybe this is a dumb question.

I decided to move to Flexwatt as my heating method. I wired my hatchling rack up. Everything is fine.

However, I thought I'd re-read the instructions on the "right" way to wire it and I seem to have misunderstood the proper way to cut the tape. It's the 4" wide type and the instructions say to cut through the black stripe. I cut it through the clear part (on an angle) between the black stripes. Is there a reason why this wouldn't be advisable?

Thanks.

[mykee]

With the 4" I cut it straight through, at whatever length I want it. No troubles at all, as long as you insulate the cut end with elctrical tape to avoid both heat loss and a possible short.

[spidergecko]

I didn't exactly cut straight through. The tape alternates black clear black clear ... What I did was I cut through just the clear. I didn't cut through any black at all. I wasn't sure if there was a reason the black stipe had to be cut through or if they are just assuming normal people would cut the tape at a 90 degree (unlike me who cut it on an angle)

[mykee]

Should work just the same, next time just slice right through it.

[spidergecko]

Okay, thanks. It didn't seem like there would be a problem doing it this way (aside from being awkward to set up) but I don't understand why the stripes are on an angle anyway. I guess it's probably because if they were straight, we wouldn't be able to cut the tape to any length; we would have to cut only on the clear parts.

Wow, I'm analyzing this too much.

Thanks again.

[mykee]

No trouble.