How does heat tape work?

[carpondro17]

OK well my power bill is going up alot and I need to find a cheaper way to house and heat my cages. So I was thinking to build some racks and give my adult snakes their own cages. So I was wondering how does flexwatt heat tape work? Do you have to connect it to a plug or something? Is it better then heat lamps and heat pads? The aquariums I have just take up too much space and are not stackable and arent good so I want to buy some custom cages and make my own racks how do you heat up your racks? As for my adult chondro I plan buy a cage from www.dragons4you.com and buying a heat panel for my carept I guess I will be buying a cage from animal plastics or some other cage maker when hes around 4-5ft right now hes only 3ft and a couple of inches. For the rest of the animals I have this planed
1.0 chondro the dragons4you cage
0.0.1 chondro put him in a 15quart tub when I build my racks
0.0.1 carpet a 4ft animal plastic cage or moster cage
0.0.1 black thraot a 10-12ft cage
0.2 red eye crocs herp cage
0.1 cal king put him in a rack when I build it
and future bps racks,hedgehogs a 40gal breeder , and hopefully and argus in the next 2 years a 8-10ft cage
Does this sound good??

[The Snake Guru]

You usually buy clip on connections to attach to the +/- parts on the heat tape.

I caution you though, heat tape is designed to create a hot spot or warm and imediate area....it will not heat your entire cage, it should be used much like an UnderTankHeat pad.

~B~

[carpondro17]

Oh ok is it good for racks?

[The Snake Guru]

It is good for racks, but there again....in most situations it creates a hotspot. Though some people can can by with it in some situations due to the fact the tubs in the rack are of a very low air volume so it can actually heat rack systems to a point.

~B~

[carpondro17]

ohh ok thanks!

[The Snake Guru]

Not a problem.
~B~

[steelheadchris]

I am starting to really dig the heat panels,has heat from above like in nature,and with just 2 enclosures on them, electric bill is shrinking,i am getting more when i get some more spare cash,plus they are supposed to last a long time. pro products gives you a 10yr warranty and says they could last 30 plus yrs.i like em alot

[carpondro17]

Thats sweet yea im hearing good things from them!

[ffollett]

Though some people can can by with it in some situations due to the fact the tubs in the rack are of a very low air volume so it can actually heat rack systems to a point.

It also depends on were you reptiles are. Our snake room is always hotter than the rest of the house so with the heat tape they get a hot spot and with the room being 80+ it keeps a nice gradient in the cages/racks.

You usually buy clip on connections to attach to the +/- parts on the heat tape

I hate those things. Soldering the connection seems to hold better than the clips we got. I am not sure if there is more than one kind though.