Quick Questions Regarding Racks and T10 AP Cages

[mebigbadbrat]

Hey everyone!

I am finally getting ready to finish my AP T10 cages. I found a great deal online for three more RHPs. I have one out of three cages set up currently. It has a 80w RHP on a Helix thermostat with the probe.

My question is if I get another 80w RHP I can still hook it up to the helix correct? What do I use for another probe though? What thermostats have multiple probes?

The other RHP will be two 40w, so I know I have to get a double thermostat like the Herpstat correct? As it would have the 40 and 80w running on the same thermostat?

Rack: I am looking at getting a 5 slot 32qt rack but wondering also where do I put the probe? I was told the middle shelf but would that have accurate readings for the other shelves?

Hopefully my questions made some sense.
Thanks in advance,
Nichole

[BHReptiles]

Hey everyone!

I am finally getting ready to finish my AP T10 cages. I found a great deal online for three more RHPs. I have one out of three cages set up currently. It has a 80w RHP on a Helix thermostat with the probe.

My question is if I get another 80w RHP I can still hook it up to the helix correct? What do I use for another probe though? What thermostats have multiple probes?

The other RHP will be two 40w, so I know I have to get a double thermostat like the Herpstat correct? As it would have the 40 and 80w running on the same thermostat?

Rack: I am looking at getting a 5 slot 32qt rack but wondering also where do I put the probe? I was told the middle shelf but would that have accurate readings for the other shelves?

Hopefully my questions made some sense.
Thanks in advance,
Nichole

I don't know much about RHP so I will leave that to someone else with a little more experience.

As for the rack, I place my probe on the middle shelf. The temps will be a little cooler on bottom an a little warmer on top, so you just have to be diligent about your temps until you can get things stable. If you are wiring the heat tape yourself and want to make sure the temps are closer to the same temp, you can wire each shelf individually. It's completely up to you.

[mebigbadbrat]

Thanks for the reply. For the rack, I think I will put the probe in the middle and eyeball the rest to be safe.


Anyone else for the RHPs though?

[Inarikins]

Every heat source should have its own thermostat channel. Let's say you have a divided enclosure. You have 1 strip of flexwatt and 2 RHPs with the same wattage. Could you run both the RHPs on one channel? Sure, you just have to make sure you're monitoring temps in case things go wrong. The better thing is to make sure each heat source has its own thermostat channel. 3 heat sources means 3 thermostat channels. You can either run each one on its own thermostat, or you can buy one unit to run them all, like a Herpstat 4.

[mebigbadbrat]

Why is this hobby so expensive? -_- Well I guess I may just have to save up some more then.

Thank you!
Nichole

[Inarikins]

You could do it on a Herpstat 2, you just have to be aware of the risks, since you're only able to monitor one RHP with the thermostat's probe.

[mebigbadbrat]

Yeah but I may just save up some more for the Herpstat 4 to be extra safe. I would hate to spend 100's on these snakes and something bad happen due me trying to save some money.

I was trying to avoid a rack because the room gets in the high 60 to low 70s. I am not sure how to up the ambient temps. I am still in between setting up the cages versus getting a rack.

I think the cages would of course cost more but I wouldn't have to worry about ambient temps at all.

Nichole

[Inarikins]

You could run a space heater in the room to get your ambients up. A lot of people do it. That will raise your power bill, though. A rack will save you space and then you can get a nice Herpstat 1 to run a rack off of easily.

[mebigbadbrat]

I have another question for you about the ambient temps. Would it be better to get a shorter rack then a tall rack? A friend is selling four different racks for under 175 with a thermostat (helix, ranco, herpstat 1). He has a 3 tall by 2 (6 tubs altogether), a 9 tall and a 10 tall. The ten holds two different size tubs (28 and 16qt). All the others hold 28qt as well. He ran into some family issues and has been forced to sell everything. Thoughts? Would I have to run the heater year round though?


Nichole

[Inarikins]

The thing with two different tubs is they can give different hot spot temps depending on the thickness of the bottom of the tub. I don't think it makes much of a difference either way between the shorter rack and the taller. There will be some variation in temps just due to the fact that heat rises so tubs at the top will be warmer and tubs at the bottom will be cooler, but that's nothing new. Unless your temps are going to be at least 70 degrees inside without the heater, I would say yes you probably would have to run the heater year round.