Thermostat question

[Maddumpling]

So I have my thermostat set at 92 degrees and it does have -/+ 2-3 degrees. I taped the thermostat probe to the flexwatt and I also taped a thermometer probe on the flexwatt also. But the thermometer is reading like 96-99 degrees for my small bp flexwatt and 97-100 for my big bp. Why is it doing that?

[PitOnTheProwl]

1st are they the exact same sizes of flex-a-watt?
2nd the temp of the mat is not always going to be what you set the stat to, you will need to play with it to get it just right for your house.

[snake lab]

Do your snakes live on the flexwatt or in tubs? Put the probe in a tub so you knoe exactly what temps your getting where your animal lives. I dont understand the theory behind putting the probe on the heat source directlly.

[kitedemon]

There can be a lot of reasons. Flexwatt varies edge to edge it has hot and cool spots.

You have a hydrofarm if I recall correctly? My best one is just under 2º high the worst one is just over 3º high. so set at 92 mine produces an average temp 95.3ºF measured accurately. That could be why.

Cheap thermometers often read high or low by as much as 2º add this to the mix and it is quite possible to see a 5 degree difference between them. I always recommend cheap thermometers but multiple ones so you can check them against each other and pick the ones that read the same (mostly) and not use the other ones. Personally I'd not buy less than 5 copies and likely only use 3. (I actually buy lots of 25 cheaper that way I pay just over 1$ each)

most on off t-stats swing. They have a set point but also have an on off points for example if you set 92 it will kick in at 90 or 91 and kick off at 93 or 4. The three hydrofarms I have shut down quickly one degree over the set point (mostly one degree) but fail to come on until 2 degrees under (mine is the new improved greater accuracy version I don't know what the older ones were like). This problem is made worse if the room is cool. Especially this design. It is in the probe the metal is a fairly heavy for the size so it holds heat reasonably well. Tubs do not so the tub heats and cools faster than the probe does and the delay can in my first set of tests added 2 degrees up and down to the swing.

Keep in mind I was hired to test them for another purpose, and to really understand how bad something can be it means setting up conditions to make it fail. I suspect that the culprit is not a single place but a small amount on each one.

What are your ambient room temps?

What are the temps inside the tub?

[TheSnakeEye]

If im not mistaken, Rich had a nice little write up as to why you shouldnt place the probe in the tub. Imagine your snake passes urates on the probe and immediately cools it. Your thermostat will read that and work OT to heat up, raising flexwatt heat drastically.

[snake lab]

None of my probes come in contact with the animal. I have made a probe cavity that works excellent. Ill take some pics in a few and show ya

[snake lab]

[IMG][/IMG]

[mr.spooky]

i tape my probe on the flexwatt, and measure the temps with a temp gun inside the tub and adjust acordinaly (adjustments are made about every hour so temps can "settle"). but, the temps in every tub seem to be a little different,,, maby the flexwatt, maby the temp gradients in the room, i dunno..
i just try to find a happy medium.
spooky

[snake lab]

Thats the problem with taping it to the heat source. Its all a guessing game and theres always flucuation

[mr.spooky]

Thats the problem with taping it to the heat source. Its all a guessing game and theres always flucuation

this might be true... i like the way you did the cavity for the probe.. do all of your tubs have this cavity on them? can the probe be removed and put in another? also,,, if the probe is dedicated to one tub, where is the tub located on the rack( middle, top, or bottom). oh yea does all the tubs hold the same temp when shot with a gun??? sorry for all the questions, but i like the your invention
spooky