flexwatt wiring routing

jason&stephany · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 04:41 AM

so im brainstorming on building a rack. the only issue that i need more information on is how the flexwatt works..

i just bought a Herpstat, love it. and i noticed that it is able to take 3 heat sources off of the one unit, bein having 3 outlets.

question is can you link the heat tapes together throughout a rack or does it need to be all in one strip?

also if i can link them together, and i want to run the 4" tape on my top racks and then run the 11" tape on the bottom racks can those still be linked together and the temps still be the same? cause i know the tapes are different watts per foot.

its hard to explain my question so i made a picture on paint. what got me thinkin was the 3 outlets on the Herpstat.

i need someone to elaborate on this or show me pics of their wiring, i cant seem to find any anywhere.

Hairless · #2 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 06:58 AM

Every output on my Herpstat has a probe to control each output (one output per probe).

Each output has a limit on the amount of heat tape that it can supply power for...I don't know what the limit is for your Herpstat. I would make absolutely sure you do not go above what ever the limit is or you could damage your controller/start a fire.

If you are heating multiple levels with one output, this would mean your probe is on one level telling the controller what power is needed for that level, but also giving the same power to the other level(s) without the probe...Also, I'm not sure what would happen if you wired some 11inch heat tape in series or parallel with 4inch. In theory the resistance would be greater in the wider heat tape, this may cause an uneven amp distribution (more power going through the 4inch heat tape due to less resistance, causing more heat--I wouldn't do it).

For me: one level one probe.

jason&stephany · #3 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 07:05 AM

i see what your saying, i know mine is 500w max. but i wouldnt be anywhere near that. can u run multiple 4" inline or parralel safely? or would just running 3 separate 4" strips to occupy the outlets be the way to go?
the individual length of each tape would that have effect? i would imagine it would be immeasurable...

Hairless · #4 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 07:19 AM

Wiring Flexwatt Heat Tape

I haven't read all of this, but it seemed informative.

I have two strips using 11 inch wide heat tape (2 of them at 22 inches long), side by side under the floor of my larger enclosures on one output/probe. Does that help?

jason&stephany · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 07:49 AM

yes it does, its more clear how the heat tape works now, i never been able to see a good picture of it.

thanks a lot bud
JNS

you got insomnia tonite as well?

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