flexwatt melting

[gbrys122]

about 2 months ago I got a wiff of burning plastic in my herp room,sniffed around a bit didn't smell it anymore,figured I''d see smoke if there was a real problem,I know what a bonehead!!!!!That's why I"m telling this story.Anyhow a day or so later I was rearrange some tanks on a bottom shelf and when I picked up one of the glass tanks I saw little sparks coming from the flexwatt ,a melted and burnt spot about 3 in. long and a little smoke.It even left a burn spot on the wood shelf.WAIT I was a bonehead again.I figured something happened to the flexwatt that caused a break or puncture which caused a short.SOOOOOOO the rest of the flxwatt must be still good.The burnt part was near the one end.I still had 3ft. of good flexwatt.I used it again and this time I didn't smell burnt plastic but did find 2 spots this time like the 1st time.For some reason all 3 spots were lying directly center of a glass tank.Anyone experience this?

[mykee]

Sounds like it was installed/in use incorrectly. Do you have your flexwatt on a thermostat or rheostat? Did you have an air gap between flexwatt and tank?

[Justcage]

If you did not have a thermo on the flexwatt it will reach temps that are way past the manufacture recommendations.. In a sense it would get so hot it would try and consume itself. This is the case with all thin heating elements... Be careful!

[Stockwell]

And let me guess. It was 3 inch 10 watts per foot heat tape, right?? If used with full power(no dimmer) on wood with no gap, it will burn wood. I've had it happen as well many years ago.
Herpers should not be using 10watt 3 inch heat tape
Use the 5watt 3 inch or the 8watt 4 inch,(the 11 inch is fine too) as both of these run cooler. Not all suppliers sell 5 watt 3 inch so beware.

[Justcage]

They do not make a 5 watt 3" flexwatt. They make a 6 watt.. 10 watt is perfectly safe if used as the manufacre suggests. Any heating element can and will over heat if not controlled with some type of inline controls....

[gbrys122]

10 watts per foot is correct,I did not know they made 10 watt.Not to blame anyone else but myself,I really wasn't aware when I bought it at a show.Hey if everyone wants to make an example out of me feel free,because I started the thread to make people aware basically,I'm learning too.Thanks for your responses.

[mykee]

Gbrys; that's great, but what was the setup that caused this 'malfunction'?

[gbrys122]

3" 10 watt flexwatt without a thermostat.

[Kyle Barker]

i threw all my 3" out. not worth the risk. this stuff is ****, no wonder its ilelgal in canada....thermostats can fail. anyway, i dont like having easily possible fire hazards around. i went through the same deal, with thermos. raises teh stress level up 10 notches.

[mykee]

Gbrys; Yup, that would do it.
Kyle: Heat tape is not illegal in Canada.

[Justcage]

Nope not illeagl at all. All elitrical devices can fail! It depends on the quality of the unit you are using! Flexwatt is awseom stuff when used as per the manufactures directions. 99.5 of the prefab undertank heater are made by the same company that makes flexwatt! So Kyle how do you heat your reptiles? You are afraid of a fire right? I am curious as to this answer...

[paulsreef]

Yah Kyle,

What are you using?

[Justcage]

Hello?
lol

[Kyle Barker]

flexwatt is not csa....its not legal to sell in canada, i dont *think*. and if used in homes it will void your insurance. so ya not illegal, but ya. shouldnt of said that. right now i am using the 4". i have also looked into water heating, which depending what friends can get it for i may switch to that.

[Shad0w]

This is exactly why I use RHPs for my large enclosures, and for my rubbermaids, I use exoterra heat pads (as they are legal in canada)... I know some might think Im nuts, but this way my home insurance remains intact