Aluminum Foil Tape: Conductive Issues?

[Linds]

I have never used heat tape and aluminum foil tape together, as I have always used staples. However I now am in need of a different method, and the other alternative is aluminum foil tape. I know this is a commonly used method, but I was wondering if anyone had experienced any conductive issues using this technique? TY

[Shane Tesser]

linds, i cant speak from experince with heat tape, but as a mechanic who is trained in such things..yes foil tape is conductive. If your looking to hold the heat tape down..use a good duct tape. It will handle heat...it was originally designed for heating ducts in homes..thus the name..and is super sticky. If you are worried about width..go to a good building supply store like the homedepot, they will have it in larger than usual widths.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Don't hook up the wires to the aluminum foil and there won't be any issues.

[Lisa]

another thing you could try using is a hot glue gun. Heat tape should never go up much past the human body temp and shouldn't reach the temperature required to melt the glue (which is hot enough to burn human skin). If it does reach the temp to melt the glue you have much more important problems then the melted glue.

[Linds]

Shane,
Thanks for the input. I barely recall a while ago on that other forum someone mentioning the aluminum foil tape being conductive when used with heat tape (even though it is sealed off at the hookups and laminated all the way through), but since so many people use it I just wanted to make sure. I'll go ahead with the duct tape to be on the safe side

Jeff,


Lisa,
None of my heating devices are allowed to reach dangerous temperatures. All of them are carefully monitored and controlled with dimmers or thermostats. I don't want to permanently fasten the heat tape down because heat tape burns out eventually, and I plan on having my rack longer than the heat tape

[Jeff_Favelle]

If electricity is getting through the plastic laminate on the heat tape, then aluminum foil being conductive is NOT your problem.

Aluminum foil is a great conductor! (Grade 8 science). But your heat tape should not have any areas where electrons come in contact with it.

Heat tape burns out? Yikes. I've had mine for 9 years and its still the same as the day I bought it. That would suck if it died on me.

Lisa, the melting of glue is a direct relation of not only temperature, but also pressure (again, Grade 8 science. Phase Diagrams I think). The more pressure you have, the less heat is needed to melt the glue. Therefore, with a heavy enough cage, the glue can melt at surprisingly low temperatures.

Just out of curiousity, what is a dangerous temperature? I'm extremely curious to see what peoples definition of this is.

[Lisa]

The question of dangerous temperatures... I would say anything high enough to kill or burn the snake would be dangerous to the snake. And anything warm enough to start a fire would be dangerous to everyone else in the vicinity.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Very much agreed Lisa!

[Linds]

I consider a dangerous temperature to be anything of a threat to the animal/s or person/s health, comfort, and safety in the enclosure and building. A dangerous temperature may be not be hot enough to burn a snake, but still can cause it to overheat, on a different angle, it can be too cold and cause a snake to get an RI.

[The_Omen]

use a good duct tape. It will handle heat...it was originally designed for heating ducts in homes..thus the name..

WHAT??
Awww man....
I gotta go cut some ducks loose down at the park now...
I'll be bbiab.....

[mykee]

Jeff, do you wear the coke-bottle glasses with the pocket-protector when you go out, or just when you're surfing sSnakeSs.com? Ha! Just kidding Boss........

[Jeff_Favelle]

Heh heh....you know it man. You know it.

[Gregg M]

Anything over 90 degs is dangerous for Gaboons and rhino vipers........ I would say a dangerous temp depends on the species you are working with.........