Best way to install thermostat probe in PVC enclosure??

[Dragun]

Hey guys, I am new to this hobby and was wondering the best way to install or adhere the thermostat probe from my VE-200 thermostat to the inside of my PVC enclosure? I am using flex watt heat tape. Should I do inside the enclosure?? Under? Drill holes in the enclosure and then zip tie it dow?? What do you guys think is the best?? How do you guys have yours set up?? Thanks in advance.

Nik

[iCandiBallPythons]

If im understanding your question correctly, you want to tape the the thermostat probe directly to the heat tape

[BallsUnlimited]

^^^^ im with this guy

[Skiploder]

Hey guys, I am new to this hobby and was wondering the best way to install or adhere the thermostat probe from my VE-200 thermostat to the inside of my PVC enclosure? I am using flex watt heat tape. Should I do inside the enclosure?? Under? Drill holes in the enclosure and then zip tie it dow?? What do you guys think is the best?? How do you guys have yours set up?? Thanks in advance.

Nik

Tape the flex watt to the underside of the cage. Affix the probe to the underside of the flexwatt.

Make sure that the cage is elevated a bit.

Keep in mind that the t-stat probe reading will be higher than what you will read in the cage. In other words, even though the probe on the flex watt may read 99 degrees, the reading on the floor of the inside of the cage may read only 92 or 93 degrees due to the insulating properties of the PVC.

Therefore you will need to use a temp. gun to figure out what the difference is between the heat tape temp. and the cage floor temp.

[LizardPants]

Taping the probe to the bottom of the flexwatt works well for racks. You could do that to your enclosure as well, but keep in mind that the temperature set on your thermostat will likely be higher than your cage temp (which is fine). You could also use hot melt glue (hot glue only, no tape) to attach the probe inside the enclosure which will get you closer to the actual temp.

[Dragun]

Does anyone keep the probe inside the enclosure, just under the substrate??

[LizardPants]

Does anyone keep the probe inside the enclosure, just under the substrate??

You can do that, and that's the way that Spyder Robotics recommends. Although that will only work with a standalone enclosure. You have to adhere it, so that it is not moved. Only use hot melt glue. Please don't use tape.

With a rack, it's best to tape it to the heat tape, most people use aluminium duct tape.

[Skiploder]

You can do that, and that's the way that Spyder Robotics recommends. Although that will only work with a standalone enclosure. You have to adhere it, so that it is not moved. Only use hot melt glue. Please don't use tape.

With a rack, it's best to tape it to the heat tape, most people use aluminium duct tape.

.....or rested on, or urinated on.

I used to run my probes in my cages for my UTHs....................had a heck of a time maintaining stable temps.

The only way I run inside probes now is if I'm using overhead heat.

[LizardPants]

.....or rested on, or urinated on.

Which wouldn't hurt the probe. To each their own. Under the tape will be fine too, just make sure that there's no way that it can receive a draft (because that will also skew the reading).

[Wh00h0069]

.....or rested on, or urinated on.

I used to run my probes in my cages for my UTHs....................had a heck of a time maintaining stable temps.

The only way I run inside probes now is if I'm using overhead heat.

Good point. I install my probes inside my cages, and use radiant heat panels. Reading underneath the cage would not do any good in cases like this.

Either way, I highly suggest investing in a temp gun to frequently measure temps no matter where you decide to put the probe.