Help

[Rhapsody]

I just got my thermostat and the directions scare me. It's a Johnson Controls on/off and I can't figure out how to set it...Can someone give me some plain english step by steps?

Here's the link to it: http://www.mgreptiles.com/johnson1.html

I got it with a power strip attatched to it. So far I plugged the heat lamp into it, should I plug in the heating pad too? How do I set the temps? Does the probe go next to the bulb or in the tank or on the heating pad?

*seizure*

[Adam_Wysocki]

On/off t-stats like Johnsons should never be used with heating lamps ... it will stress your snake.

-adam

[Rhapsody]

On/off t-stats like Johnsons should never be used with heating lamps ... it will stress your snake.

-adam

it's a red bulb...how will it stress him out?

[elevatethis]

The snake can see a little bit of light, but would be more noticable turning on and off.

Additionally, constantly flicking on and off will dramatically shorten the life of the bulb. You'll be going through those puppies left and right.

I would control the heat pad with the tstat, and just let the heat lamp run 24/7. Hope that helps.

[Rhapsody]

I left this alone for a couple days because I thought more people would reply and help out...still confused on how to set this thing up..

[joepythons]

I left this alone for a couple days because I thought more people would reply and help out...still confused on how to set this thing up..

I can guess why no one else has posted any other info.Its because you have allready been given advice from 2 people and basicly ignored them.Just my opinion here.

[Rhapsody]

They helped I didnt ignore it, but there are a lot of questions I posted that weren't addressed at all. They just told me I shouldnt use it for the bulb, but I still dont know where to put the probe or how to set the temps and I was waiting for some more people to throw their two cents and advice in.

[JLC]

I just got my thermostat and the directions scare me. It's a Johnson Controls on/off and I can't figure out how to set it...Can someone give me some plain english step by steps?

Here's the link to it: http://www.mgreptiles.com/johnson1.html

I got it with a power strip attatched to it. So far I plugged the heat lamp into it, should I plug in the heating pad too? How do I set the temps? Does the probe go next to the bulb or in the tank or on the heating pad?

*seizure*

Try and call Matt and ask him to talk you through the actual process of programming your t-stat. I thought the directions that came with mine were pretty clear, so I'm not sure how to help you with that part, other than regurging the written directions that you already have.

As for the rest...as has already been said, don't plug the lightbulb into the power strip...just the heating pad. Where to put the probe is something that everyone seems to do differently. Some people tape it directly to the heating pad. Some people put the probe in the tank/tub on top of the substrate. Personally...I've got mine inside the tub, over the top of the flexwatt, but in between the two sheets of newspaper I use for substrate. I try to keep the warm-side hide over the top of it as well, but the snake rearranges her hides too much to keep it that way. It still works fine the way I have mine set up.

[elevatethis]

The probe should be fixed to the area where you seek to control the temperature of. This doesn't have to be exactly where the snake is- you can use a secondary location to control, affecting the area you need controlled. To illustrate that, I don't use a probe inside any of my tubs, I fix the probe directly to the heat source. In my application, I'm found that attaching the probe directly to heat tape and setting the stat to 95.3 gives me a 94 degree basking spot where the snake would be, which I measure with another thermometer.

With heat lamps, you can't really do that. I would just use your heat lamp 24/7 and run a heat pad/heat tape for belly heat, which you'll control with the thermostat.

[Rhapsody]

ooook, so heat lamp 24/7, belly heat on thermostat, and probe inside or outside my choice.

thanks guys