heat tape questions

[reptilemama]

Ok, we're still trying to get our new cages done, and I have a couple questions. I'm planning in putting contact paper in all the cages for easy cleaning. I'm also using heat tape. Should I put it under or on top of the contact paper? Also, instead of wiring each peice to a separate cord, can I wire it all to one cord? Of so, how? Thanks in advance!

[addsig]

[hisba]

the heat tape should go on the outside of the cage, so it wouldn't be under or over
the contact paper. It also works best if sandwiched between something, either
the cage floor and the shelf, or against the back and the wall or between two cages
pushed together or put cardboard over it. You can wire the entire thing with one
clip set/cord... I have 3' of heat tape attached to a stack of 3 neodeshas, I taped cardboard
over the backs to sandwhich the tape. (I'll be posting something about that today or
tomorrow in the reviews section) One more thing, make sure to use a thermostat or at
least a rheostat (that's what I'm using for now) because the heat tape itself can heat up
to 120 degree...
[addsig]

[reptilemama]

Hisba, these are a stack of wooden cages, and the top of one is the bottom of the other, so there's no way to put it on the outside. We'll be using a digital programmable theromostat, so that won't be a problem. Any other ideas?

[addsig]

[hisba]

can you run the heat tape up the side or back of the stack? Then just tape some
cardboard over it to sandwhich it in.. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[talon]

where can i buy heat tape?
[addsig]

[reptilemama]

Talon, I got mine at Big Apple Herpetelogical Supply. BTW, I'm using flexwatt, not pipetape, in case that helps. Hisba, Unfortunately I can't run it on the outside, because the back wall is the actual wall of the room (hubby's bright idea), and we're building a large cage onto the end for my leaftails, so they will share the end wall. The chameleon shares the other end wall. I can take some pics if you want, too. I'm thinking since it's flexwatt, could I just lay it between the floor and the substrate? I plan on using newspaper or sheets. As long as I tape it down, and measure the temp where the tape is at, does that sound like it would work?

[addsig]

[hisba]

Hmmm... well If you secured it good enough... it would prob work.. you'd prob still have
to sandwich it down to get an accurate reading, or it will seem warm, but when the
snake puts it's weight on it, that part will get even warmer.. hard to explain and I don't know
for sure if that's what would happen. The only problem I would see with placing the
heat tape in the cage is how to get the rest of the tape out and into the other... it almost
seems like you'd have to cut each piece for each cage and have seperate clip cords for each one?
A pic would probably help.. .but I guess the best advice I can give is to just give it a try, temp
test and see if it will work.
[addsig]

[Corvinedragon]

Sandwich heat tape??? It needs a clearance of air to not be a fire hazard. That sounds very unsafe.