Rack is Complete, a Few Questions Re Temperatures.

Alright, so my Rack is finally finished. There's 9 shelves total. 4 at the top being strips of 24" flexwatt and the bottom 5 are strips of 12" flexwatt. They both seem to be holding roughly the same temperatures.

My Herpstat's probe is placed on the middle 24" strip and is currently set at 89.7 degrees.

My Temp Gun (PE1), when placed directly on the heat tape gives me a reading anywhere between 90-95 degrees.

When I remove one of my 34 quart tubs with my big girl in there, the heat tape gives me a reading of 105ish degrees.

I get a reading of only 81-85 degrees when the temp gun is placed on top of the hot spot in the tubs. (over newspaper and 1/3" of aspen)

So here are my questions..

1a. Is it normal for the reading to jump up to 105 degrees like that?
b. Is it because there is no room for the heat tape to breath?
c. Should I do something about it or am I just being paranoid?
d. Is this dangerous to my BP's even though my temp gun only reads 81-85 degrees hot spot?

2. Is it normal for the heat tape to be hotter then what the Herpstats set to? (I thought if anything it'd be the opposite)

3. Should I raise my Herpstat up a few degrees to try to make the hot spot warmer then 81-85 degrees, or do you guys think its fine the way it is?


Thanks.

Hi,

I would probably be tempted to use one substrate instead of two.

But yes turning up the thermostat until the temps in the tub are correct is probably going to be necessary anyway.

Just remember to measure the temps on the hotspot under the substrate in case the snake moves it.


dr del

Thanks. Any comments on my 1st question? :)

Hi,

I'm not sure I know the info needed to answer it yet as I'm not sure what you mean by 24" and 12" flexwatt.

It doesn't come in those widths as far as I know and if you mean different lengths of the same width heat tape then you broke the cardinal rule and used a different wattage for the different shelves.

But mainly I don't understand where the temps of 105 are when you say it is normally 90-95?

Also which tub she is in will affect it as the top shelves are usually a degree or two higher.

I think I'm understanding your probe placement to be on the 6th shelf from the floor? Is that right - because I don't understand the middle of the 4 shelves with the 24" if it isn't?

I'm just having trouble visualising the layout of the heat tape I'm afraid. :oops:


dr del