In rack systems for babies, sub-adults, and adults, what size flexwatt do you find to work the best? 3 in, 4 in, or 11 in?

What works for me is 4 inch wide for racks with 16, 32qrts, 12 inch wide for racks with the 41qrts or CB 70's in them. Runs under and above each shelf of the racks.

I use 4 inch running down the back of racks holding 6 qrts.... runs behind them only.

I use 11" flexwatt down the back of all my homemade bush-league racks..:D

Are you using a plastic rack or melamine? What I have noticed is that my plastic racks seem to hold heat better. My plastic racks have 4" belly heat and I can easily get 90 at the back of the box and 78-80 degrees at the front.

On my melamine racks I use 1 foot of 11 flexwatt to heat a 32 quart tub and that works out well.

Having said that, I have seen a couple of setups that use 11" flex down the back and that seems to work out really well also. I think the best thing is to just experiment and find out what works for you. Something to consider is the temperature of your room. If it is a cooler room then it would make sense to use bigger tape.

I use only 11" now on everything, also I have found that if I solder the connections they seem to hold temps better with the better connections.

I use only 11" now on everything, also I have found that if I solder the connections they seem to hold temps better with the better connections.

Never thought of soldering the connections, can you use a small soldering iron kit?

Never thought of soldering the connections, can you use a small soldering iron kit?

Yeah it worked out really well compared to the clamps IMO

I solder all mine as well. Those connectors are crap. I got a roll of 4" tape with my racks and it had the connectors on the end. Before I even routed the heat tape through the rack the connector broke off. Soldering is much more secure.

I use 3 inch for hatchlings and sub adults. 4 inch for adults. All are belly heat. Sodering is the way to go for good connections.

Two strips of 11" down each of my Six slotter plastic racks, and the same for my five slotter. Then i have, only currently. one strip of 11" on my four slotter RBI rack, but will be adding a second strip to keep temps stable for winter. It gets COLD up here!

I dont trust 3" at all for my colder climate. ( which was on my 4 Slot RBI, and failed last winter, causing me to double house some critters)

I love the 11" and have been using it for a couple years now without ANY problems, no matter the temp.

I use 11 inch down the backs of my racks for juvie and hatchlings. In the racks that use tubs where back heat isn't very efficient or doesn't heat effectively, I use either 3 or 4 inch belly heat, depending on what I've got laying around at the time. I usually run 2 strips of it for a larger basking spot.

I also use 11 inch on my stacks of visions and on all my homemade cages that I don't use radiant heat panels in.

I use 11" flexwatt down the back of all my homemade bush-league racks..:D



You got some pictures of these?

4in for 16qt and32qt.
11in.for 41qt. all bottom heat