What size heat tape should I get?

Auskan · 03-07-04, 05:38 PM

I am building a rack in preparation for some new snakes, due to arrive soon. Each shelf wil hold 3 sweater size boxes side by side, so I'm thinking the best thing to do would be to use three strips of heat tape, one for each "column". I was wondering whether the 3" or 4" would be best for heating a sweater box size?
TIA

mykee · 03-07-04, 05:54 PM

I would use the 4" and I would 'weave the heat tape in one piece through all the levels. Refer to my gallery for an example. It may use more tape, but it only requires one rheostat, and is just less of a hassle to deal with in the future.

Jeff_Favelle · 03-07-04, 06:36 PM

11 inch works the best for the baby cages, as two strips does three cages perfectly!!! But for bigger sized cages, well, I still think that 11-inch works best!

mykee · 03-07-04, 11:51 PM

BTW, to highlight the difference if it wasn't obvious, I use belly heat and Jeff uses back heat.

sapphire_moon · 03-08-04, 12:12 AM

I myself was wondering about that. What is the difference between back heat and belly heat?

Do they digest the same? I've always been a "belly heat is best so they can digest better." (just an opinion).

But does it really matter? Can I take a strip of heat tape down the back of my enclosure and they can digest and get heat as needed?
I would think that one side of them would be cold....like the side not touching the heat source would be cold or something.......

anyone care to explain further??? or give their opinions?

Jeff: What do you have in those rubbermaids? Looks like a lot of humidity. If you don't mind me asking that is, if you do just don't answer me! lol

Jeff_Favelle · 03-08-04, 12:13 AM

Yes, if you're going belly heat, 11 inch will be overkill for babies and juveniles! For sure.

Auskan · 03-08-04, 03:19 PM

Jeff: on the back heat, does the tape actually touch the rubbermaids? I was looking at doing it that way, but because of the tapering of the rubbermaid container, it looked like at best it would touch only the very top. So we are looking at "radiant" back heat? Obviously you must find that that is satisfactory, but it seems like there would be some energy wastage? Or do I have that wrong? Also, something I've been wondering about the heat tape: Does it put out heat on both sides, or just one side? I was thinking about using peg board for the back of the rack, to give more support to the shelves, which are quite long. Therefore if I went with back heat, the tape would be between the backs of the rubbermaids and the peg board. If it puts out heat on both sides, I worry about a fire hazard, whereas if it only puts out heat on the side facing the rubbermaids, it would probably be ok. Your thoughts?

Jeff_Favelle · 03-08-04, 09:47 PM

The humdity is for Rainbow Boas. Its a necessity to keep them alive. For sure.

Auskan, the heat tape touches the top of the Rubbermaid, but that's about it. It basically just creates a "pocket" of heat in the back of the Rubbermaid, while the front stays around, well, it stays whatever I want it to! For the Jungles, its stays at 82F, for the Ball Pythons, its 84F, and for the Rainbows and colubrids, its 80F, etc etc etc.

There is no energy wastage, as the heat isn't radiated into the atmosphere! Its just radiated to the cages! Actually, its more conducted, as the lids are actually touching the heat tape, but there is some radiant heat. Plus, the whole unit is insulated on the sides and back, so the heat has only ONE way to go. And that way is through the Rubbermaid. The baby racks are in my basement and the ambient in there is like 65F. I have the racks turned in (rheostat) maybe 30% and I'm its like 92F hotspots at the back. It ROCKS!

Heat tape heats both sides, but insulation prevents any heat loss. Peg board sucks. I use plywood.

Auskan · 03-08-04, 10:38 PM

Thanks for your patience with my questions Jeff. I already bought the peg board but I haven't touched it, so I guess I could take it back and replace it with plywood instead. On the insulation - how is it insulated? I mean, is the plywood the insulation for the back side, or do you insulate it some other way?
Thanks again.

Jeff_Favelle · 03-08-04, 11:12 PM

Take it back, for sure. You're going to be wasting more heat than you're using, plus your dimmer will be less accurate.

To insulate, I just screw styrofoam slabs or that aluminum-coated insulation right to the plywood! Piece of cake. Gets it right in there nice and snug, and NO heat gets though!

Don't worry about the questions! Its why we're all here! To learn and share, share and learn!

sapphire_moon · 03-09-04, 06:55 AM

Thanks, I forgot that you breed BRB's!

So back heat would work just as well as belly heat? Styrofoam slabs? Where do you get those? lol

edit: do you have a picture of how you put the insulation in there? After posting and then thinking about it I got myself all confused...lol