Heat Tape Died!

The heat tape in my AP rack just died on me! The rack is only a few months old!

I have thousands of dollars worth of animals without heat in New England winter right now.

What am I going to do!?!?!?!

Steve, was it flexwatt or was it the heat cable?

Shipping heat packs work in a pinch Steve.

PM sent

You need to check the circuit. Most likely you have lost the circuit somewhere. Start at the wall. Use another appliance and make sure the outlet is working. Assuming it is~ follow the cord to the heat tape (with it unplugged) and feel for a break, tear, kink. If you find one~ unkink the cord or repair the break or tear with electrical tape. BE CAREFUL if BOTH wires in the cord are exposed. You want to keep them separated from each other, but to repair any tears, breaks so the wire is continuous. COMPLETELY cover any exposed wiring with your electric tape. Then follow the tape itself. Check the connection of the cord to the tape (should connect at two points~ a hot and a neutral~ but DON"T PLUG IT IN~ if the circuit is complete both wires will transmit electricity, and make you part of the circuit). Make sure the cord is connected securely to the tape~ try to see inside the connection and see if the striped wire from the cord is actually in contact with the metal strip INSIDE the tape. If it is not~ move it so it connects and secure with electrical tape. Follow the tape~ look for any breaks or tears. If you find one.........put hot water bags (Ziplock bags with warm water in them will work) in the racks and buy new tape tomarrow~ you don't want to repair that~ you want to replace it (this is why I prefer back heat~ belly heat has a tub sliding over an electrical conduit). Finally~ check the ends. Make sure the metal ends on the back end of the tape are securely closed (taped over or fastened with electrical glue to keep the metal from being exposed.)

IF you find a problem and repair it yourself~
Run an extension cord to your kitchen or bathroom to plug the rack into. Your looking for a ground fault protected outlet. The one you want will have two little buttons on it~ one will say test~ the other reset. Plug the rack into THAT outlet and if a ground fault occurs during the night (or the minute you plug it in) the outlet will "pop" and stop sending electricity. (won't ruin the outlet~ just press "reset" and it is fine again)

Good luck! If your at all unsure of repairing the circuit yourself~ use the zip top bags full of warm water until you can get the rack repaired by an electrician.

Thanks everyone. I was able to borrow a space heater from the inlaws plus I had empty cages and some heat lamps which are now being utilized.

The heat tape is actually 2 rows of 11 inch running down the back. It was never glued into place, just taped on. I took the back off and checked the connections. The clips were attached but I took them off, reattached them, and taped them down.
I checked the thermostat and probe. Both are working fine. I also checked the cords on everythin and the outlet. They are OK.
It appears to now be heating up a little (the tape is warm to the touch) since I adjusted the clips and secured them.
I will check the temps with a temp gun in a few hours and see where they are. Right now the tape is plugged straight into the outlet with no thermostat.

Steve, I am so glad you got it up and running. I was afraid that one of the connectors was not getting a good contact. I will get with you again tomorrow to make sure all is well. Sorry you had such a hectic night..I can put my inhaler away now that I can breath

I have 11" tape, too, Steve. The offer stands if you need it - just give me a shout

Glad it is heating up for you now!! That is such a stressor to find I know. My connectins lost contact on my heat tape and I lost heat at one point. I did the same, unclipped and reclipped and I had heat again! YAY!
Hope it keeps heating for you.

Glad ya got things warming up again, Steve!

With our weather lately, I wish I would have thought to pick up some more 40 hour heat packs.....DUH, I don't know why I never thought of that, lol. I put 1/2 liter pop bottles filled with warmish water right over the flexwatt inside my racks last weekend when our weather got bad. They seemed to keep the heat quite awhile, and when it did get cool in here, I peeked in and saw one of my big girls curled up against it....figured I could always heat more water on the gas stove and rewarm the bottles if necessary. Between that and the kerosene heater, it'd get us through. Heat packs would have been SO much simpler....a little late to get them before tomorrow's blizzard, but a good idea for the future!

During our last big ice storm we lost power for 7 days and this was the first night be my fireplace. LOL I was at a complete loss for what to do with everyone so I grabbed some wine and cuddled by the fire.

We eventually borrowed a generator to get us through, and the animals were taken to the in-laws with heat pads since she got her power back after 2 days.