Heating issue?

[Pidgeon]

I wasn't sure if this is a normal issue to have, but I've been having a problem when it comes to the heating for my plastic bin. My setup, heating and lighting wise, is a 40 watt heating lamp (but I haven't installed like a little wire mesh thing for it) and a National Geographic Under Tank Heater who's only settings are on and off and it gets pretty hot pretty fast. The problem is, I have to monitor it at least every three hours to make sure its not too hot or too cold. Is that normal? I'm trying different solutions, like having a fan blow in my room, turning off or pulling away the UTH, and putting a towel over the heater (which seems to be working the best). Is there anything else I can do?

[TheLuftGator]

Do you have a thermostat? Because it's necessary to have your UTH plugged into a thermostat to prevent it from getting too hot and you can set it to the temperature you want it to be at.

[zachbinger]

I agree thermostat needed

[Pidgeon]

Yes I have a thermostat, that's how i know it's getting too hot :/

[thegamejr]

what you more than likely have is a thermometer, which reads the temp. a thermostat regulates the temp of the heat pad to a temp you set it to by turning it off automatically when it gets to hot and on when goes below the temp you set

[Pidgeon]

what you more than likely have is a thermometer, which reads the temp. a thermostat regulates the temp of the heat pad to a temp you set it to by turning it off automatically when it gets to hot and on when goes below the temp you set

Oh! That's my bad. Do you have to buy one with a thermostat? Most UTH's I saw online didn't come with one. If not, how would you hook up a thermostat to turn it off? Sorry for all of the questions ><

[CryHavoc17]

Oh! That's my bad. Do you have to buy one with a thermostat? Most UTH's I saw online didn't come with one. If not, how would you hook up a thermostat to turn it off? Sorry for all of the questions ><

You have to buy a thermostat separately. You plug the uth into the thermostat, and the thermostat into the power outlet. The thermostat comes with a temperature probe. You set the temperature you want on the stat, then the stat uses its temperature probe to apply power to the heater to keep the temp in the acceptable range of that unit. Depending on the stat you use that temp range can be as big as 4 degrees or as precise as .1 degrees. A budget friendly option is the hydrofarm thermostat, available on amazon.com for around 20 dollars shopped. The best thermostat in the industry is made by a company called spyder robotics, their herpstat line is second to none but fairly pricey.

Another cheap, quick fix is to use a rheostat AKA dimmer switch. Thus allows you to manually control the power to the unit to keep the temp in range. Its not as safe or easy as a thermostat, as you will have to regularly check the temp of the cage throughout the day and turn the power up or down as the room temperature fluctuates. The thermostat is much preferred, but you can make the dimmer switch work

Sent from my SM-G730V using Tapatalk 2

[PitOnTheProwl]

Start with UNPLUGGING THE UTH!!!!!
Do not use it till you can properly regulate it with a THERMOSTAT.
The temp probes go between the mat and the tub, plug the mat into the thermostat and the thermostat plugs into the wall.
If you are putting a towel between the tub and the heat mat, that is a huge fire hazard.

[grcforce327]

Read and study on how to properly keep a ball python before buying one.

[Pidgeon]

Okay okay I got a thermostat. My issue was that I thought thermometer and thermostat were the same thing and that's my fault. Thanks for the help!