flex-watt heat tape

[MartinW]

At http://www.leopardgecko.com/caging.html it mentioned 'a 3" flex-watt heat tape kept at 90F all the time.' Is this a normal lizard UTH or is it something available at other stores? Like Rona.

Martin

[Alicewave]

Heat tape is something different. I believe it is not legal for sale in Canada. Heat tape is used for heating rack systems generally.

[MartinW]

Any idea why they're not legal in Canada? Sounds pretty stupid to me.

Martin

[HQReptiles]

Heat tape is not CSA approved. No clue why, could have something to do with having to do the wiring yourself...

Matt.

[MartinW]

I looked around and I found this quote:

"In 1990, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) said there were more than 3 000 fires and 20 deaths every year in the United States caused by heat tape"
- from http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/tape.html

That might explain it a bit, but it says the industry has agreed to a voluntary standard so if you bought heat tape recently it should be safe (I don't want to start a hobby-wide panic)

Also, at the beginning it does say "the Canadian Standards Association says the product is safe," so I called around and I couldn't find a place that has heat tape.

Since I can't find any heat tape, what would be recommended (and cheap) for hatchlings? I was thinking of putting a 75W or 100W heat lamp at the corner of 4 tubs to share one lamp with 4 housings. Should I go for 1 lamp for every two tubs instead?

Martin

[Jeff_Favelle]

Heat tape is not CSA approved because:

1) You have to wire it yourself.
2) It cannot be grounded.