Need to boost ambient temp...

Hi everyone --

I think I need to boost my ambient air temps in my enclosure. Here are a few pics of my setup.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_0773.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...1/IMG_0777.jpg

The temps on each side are perfect -- I have heat tape on each side controlled by a Herpstat II. Warm side is @ 92, and cool side is at 80. Humidity is usually between 60-70%. I live in Minnesota though, and last night it got kind of cool, and the ambient temp was only at about 70 degrees this morning.

What are my options to boost the ambient temps? I'm thinking either CHE, or a radiant heat panel. I'm leaning more towards heat panel, because I don't want to suck my humidity, and I want to be able to mount it inside the enclosure.

How would I hook another heat source up to the thermostat -- because the probes are currently outside the enclosure taped to the heat tape. I figured I could just hook a new heat source up to the same thermostat that is controlling the cool side, since I would want both of those temps at 80. But not sure if that would work with the current probe placement.

Thanks for any help!!

-- George

Well, I haven't gotten any responses from anyone, but I have been thinking today. Would this work?

What if I got a rhp; mount it on the right side ceiling (that would be my cool side). Then, I would leave the heat tape that is on the cool side. I would have to move the thermostat probe from the outside of the cage (on the heat tape), to the inside of the cage (on the floor of the cage). Would I then be able to hook the rhp and the heat tape up to the cool side thermosat (herpstat II).

The only problem I see with this, is if I set the thermostat to 80 degrees, what heat source is going to win? Am I going to get equal heat from the rhp and the heat tape? Or, will I get most of the heat from the heat tape, and the rhp won't heat up, and then my ambients still won't go up? Or, will the rhp heat up, and then the snake won't get belly heat from the heat tape? Or, do I just scrap the heat tape, and just use the rhp?

Thoughts? Does this make sense?

Thanks,

George

Really? No opinions?

Seriously, anyone?? Or am I so superior that no one can even touch my intelligence? :)

hahaha I wish I knew, I'm having temp difficulties as well.. but I finally got it worked out I think. I have a completely different set up though, I'm sure someone will chime in with some helpful information.. hopefully

I have the same kind of problem. I live in Canada where some winters get very cold. I have flexwatt on both bottom sides of my BPs tank with an RHP about in the middle of the tank. All 3 sources are hooked to my thermostat (Ranco) with the cool side and the RHP on dimmers. That works best for me.