Homemade Racks

[Niqui13]

Can I see some pictures of some of y'alls homemade rack systems and how you went about wiring them with heat tape? I recently bought a fairly cheap shelving unit and am in the process of turning it into a gecko rack. I could use some ideas and tips from those of you who have made your own racks. (Especially when it comes to wiring the heat tape, thermostat, etc. I'm a fast learner, but technically challenged! )

Thanks

 

[spidergecko]

This is a good walkthrough of building a rack:
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rack.shtml

He used the tape on the back of the rack, though.

I described one of my racks here:
http://www.geckoworld.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4129&highlight=rack

If I could make some suggestions:
1) When wiring heat tape, it is easier to use ring terminals on the ends of the wire rather than using a soldering iron or clips. You just put a screw straight into the shelf, through the tape. No prep. Then just cover the exposed screw with silicone or electrical tape.
2) Wiring in parallel is easier than in series.

I hope that makes some sense.

 

[GeckoFiend]

I think it's important to mention, ONLY SCREW THROUGH THE CLEAR PART.

 

[spidergecko]

I think it's important to mention, ONLY SCREW THROUGH THE CLEAR PART.

Screw through the copper strips, not through the element.

 

[GeckoFiend]

Oh, you mean for attaching the wires. I thought you meant for securing the tape

 

[Haroldo]

Here are some links to some racks I've done in the past (though I've gotten rid of, or will be getting rid of shortly).

http://www.alexhuereptiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11854

 

[L.A.C. Herps]

here's one that I designed awhile back.... however it won't help much with heating. You could always space the levels out a bit more and put flourescent lights over them which would give off a little heat, or put a level under the bin with heat tape on it
http://www.forums.repashy.com/showthread.php?t=3542