Zilla Thermostat

[SaucyBalls]

I purchased a 500 watt temperature controller made by Zilla and I am a bit puzzled as to how it works with a heat pad.

It is being used on a ten gallon tank with a heat pad made for a ten gallon.
Without the thermostat the heat mat temp is WAY to high.

I need a hot spot of 90 degrees. I suspended the probe on the same side as the heat pad, a few inches above it, and have had a digital thermometer right on the hot spot. I had the temperature at about 90 degrees steadily, but the probe fell and now it is all messed up.

My question is, where is the best place to keep the probe in the tank?

I have heard of people putting the probe right on the bottom of the tank but when I tried this the temp just shot right down.

Any advice on using these things would be very much appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your time.

SB

[Skittles1101]

Thermostat probes should go on the directly on the heat source. Thermometer probes go inside the tank.

I returned a Zilla heat controller because it didn't work well for me, hopefully it works better for you than it did for me. It almost went out my window.

[SaucyBalls]

Thermostat probes should go on the directly on the heat source. Thermometer probes go inside the tank.

I returned a Zilla heat controller because it didn't work well for me, hopefully it works better for you than it did for me. It almost went out my window.

Thank you very much for your advice.

The thermometer does not have a probe. It is a Fluker's Thermo-Hygrometer.
Where should it be placed?

This thing is irritating me as well!! Thanks again.

[Skittles1101]

Honestly, my advice would be to return it and get this.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...5956818&sr=8-2

As far as cheap thermostats go, it works fairly well. 8972347 times better than those Zilla things anyways, and it's only $26 with free shipping. I use 3 of them.

[kitedemon]

I have one ahhh in a drawer someplace under a broken keyboard.

There are two schools of thought on probes some say on the heat source and some place them inside the enclosure.

In either case the probe MUST not move. Inside offers higher accuracy but more opportunity for movement as the snake might be able to dislodge it. Out side placement I use electrical tape on the UTH I place mine on the back of it so the pad heats more evenly.

interior placement I use hot melt glue over the probe and along the cord. If you are using a glass tank I'd leave the pad on for a while so the glass is warm before gluing the probe down you will get a better joint.

The probe must not move. This cannot be said too strongly. It doesn't matter if the snake moves it or the cat either is a potential life threatening even for the occupants.

[kitedemon]

If you have the cash you can use the zilla to back up the hydrofarm T-stat. If the probe moves the second t-stat will shut it down before serious problems occur.

Hosted on Fotki

link to a description.

http://spyderrobotics.com/home/suppo...edocument.html

[SaucyBalls]

Honestly, my advice would be to return it and get this.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...5956818&sr=8-2

As far as cheap thermostats go, it works fairly well. 8972347 times better than those Zilla things anyways, and it's only $26 with free shipping. I use 3 of them.

Thank you for the recommendation. Unfortunately, I have to deal with the one I have until I get more cash.

I have one ahhh in a drawer someplace under a broken keyboard.

There are two schools of thought on probes some say on the heat source and some place them inside the enclosure.

In either case the probe MUST not move. Inside offers higher accuracy but more opportunity for movement as the snake might be able to dislodge it. Out side placement I use electrical tape on the UTH I place mine on the back of it so the pad heats more evenly.

interior placement I use hot melt glue over the probe and along the cord. If you are using a glass tank I'd leave the pad on for a while so the glass is warm before gluing the probe down you will get a better joint.

The probe must not move. This cannot be said too strongly. It doesn't matter if the snake moves it or the cat either is a potential life threatening even for the occupants.

Thank you for the reply! When you say "in the enclosure" does that mean "in the cage at any location", and when you say "on the heat source", does that mean "outside of the tank, right on the heat pad"?

[kitedemon]

In side the cage exactly middle of the heat source under it. This way it accounts the interior temps and ambient temp and the loss of heat to the cage is accounted for. Outside on the directly on the heat source the temp can fluctuate depending on ambient air temp of the space where the room is.

I use both methods there are pros and cons of each. Interior mounting the probe can be moved by the animal and the MUST not HAPPEN. The mounting MUST be STRONG! and difficult to pull free I test it personally if I can pull it free bare handed with out a putty knife I'd add more glue. That might shift the temp a touch but it is safer. I really would recommend a second failsafe if you can manage it it doubles the security of the system.

[SaucyBalls]

Thanks again! I seem to have it worked out.