Rack advice please

Hello , .sorry to post asking the same questions everyone asks , I don't have internet roght now and just got a new AP 10 shelf bellyheat rack and herpstat 4 , was wondering if someone could advise me how to set it up ...


I have my tstat set at 90 degrees , probe set on flexwatt under middle tub.
No vent holes in tubs , do I need any?

Is there anything I need to know ? Ive had it up and running a couple days , have a accurite thermometer reading pretty low at 78 inside tub.. :confused:

Only have the one rack , so have 3 unused probes...


Thanks

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Originally Posted by Minja777

Hello , .sorry to post asking the same questions everyone asks , I don't have internet roght now and just got a new AP 10 shelf bellyheat rack and herpstat 4 , was wondering if someone could advise me how to set it up ...


I have my tstat set at 90 degrees , probe set on flexwatt under middle tub.
No vent holes in tubs , do I need any?

Is there anything I need to know ? Ive had it up and running a couple days , have a accurite thermometer reading pretty low at 78 inside tub.. :confused:

Only have the one rack , so have 3 unused probes...


Thanks

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Wait, why do you have three probes? Well anyways, the probe should be place on the heat tape and the tub should hover above it with out moving it. So if u tape down your probe make sure not to tape any of the metal part of the probe. As far as tubs and holes, I put 4 holes some people do two some ppl do none some put to many lol, totally up to you. Also, sometimes the tstat has to be set up higher. Example: I have to set mines at 110 to get a reading of a 88-90 in the tub. This is of course in a room with a temp of 65 degrees. So now when my room is at 69-70 I can set my tstat at 106 to get a 88-90's in the tub.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

So if u tape down your probe make sure not to tape any of the metal part of the probe.

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What exactly do you mean by this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

Wait, why do you have three probes? Well anyways, the probe should be place on the heat tape and the tub should hover above it with out moving it. So if u tape down your probe make sure not to tape any of the metal part of the probe.

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She has a Herpstat 4, which has four probes. If she is only using one, then she will have three remaining for future racks.

Also, I tape my probes directly on the flexwatt, as do many people here. There are no problems doing that. Not sure where you are getting advice that says you cannot.

Minja777, you may want to put some holes in your tubs for air circulation. I use a soldering iron and when I poke the holes in the tub, I do it from the inside towards the outside of the tub. This causes any rough edges to be on the outside of the tub, rather than the inside.

Also, you may have to fiddle with your thermostat until you can take a temperature reading in the warm side of the tubs that reads around 90 degrees, if that is what you are looking for. Your thermostat may be set a little higher to get the proper reading, but that is OK. The important thing is to have the right temperature in the tub, not displayed on the thermostat.

What Don said. Dion the herpstat designer recommends not using metal tape on the probe but to use electrical tape in stead. I use a combination a strip of metal foil tape on the flex watt probe on top of that and then electrical tape over the probe and foil tape ver that. The foil tape sticks better the under layer helps transfer the heat to the probe and makes the whole thing slightly easier to set, the electrical tape insulates the probe from ambient room temps some and the top layer of foil helps to hold it in place better.

The ambient temps in a rack are set by the room temp. You need to provide a hot spot (88-94 depending on whom you wish to listen to) and ambient temps 78-85 personally I use what most recommend 90/80. With the room at 80 it keeps the hot spot from needing to be set so far away. With the probe on the heat source the best is to have reasonably stable room temps. KingPythons demonstrated why if the ambient temp changes the hot spot does too that can get scary quickly the best bet is to maintain the correct room temps and be done with it.

Ventilation is often underplayed, most of the top experts (Dr. J Rossi DR. R Klingenburg, VPI ect.) all suggest more is better than less. Too little ventilation and heat and humidity generate perfect breeding conditions for fungus, mould, and bacteria. All of them can pose serious health risks there are people here whom have racks that have no holes just a gap at the top whom repeatedly post about RI in multiple snakes (3 or 5 last time I noticed) clearly that is not a good practice. I can't tell you how many but I can tell you I use 1/4 holes 1.5 inches apart one inch from the top and a second set one inch from the bottom 2 inches apart on the front and back. I have not had a case of RI or any health other health issues. My advise is avoid the petri dish tub.

You can use the HS-4 's extra probes as thermometers they are more accurate that the accurite ever will be.

I'd also suggest a Western instruments hygrometer (http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Hygrome.../dp/B0007VWEQA) they are calibrate-able and can be checked and altered if found to be incorrect. I have seen them on ebay for 2$ plus 2$ shipping.

I tape the probe not the metallic part of the probe. I didn't know many of us taped the metallic part as I thought this would mess with the actual tempature.

few probes have a metallic part most I have seen are encased in plastic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

She has a Herpstat 4, which has four probes. If she is only using one, then she will have three remaining for future racks.

Also, I tape my probes directly on the flexwatt, as do many people here. There are no problems doing that. Not sure where you are getting advice that says you cannot.

Minja777, you may want to put some holes in your tubs for air circulation. I use a soldering iron and when I poke the holes in the tub, I do it from the inside towards the outside of the tub. This causes any rough edges to be on the outside of the tub, rather than the inside.

Also, you may have to fiddle with your thermostat until you can take a temperature reading in the warm side of the tubs that reads around 90 degrees, if that is what you are looking for. Your thermostat may be set a little higher to get the proper reading, but that is OK. The important thing is to have the right temperature in the tub, not displayed on the thermostat.

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I don't think you understand, I am talking about the probe being taped. I don't think you can tape the probes metal part and tape it right on the heat tape when the heat tape gets hot. If you tape the whole thing I'm surprised you get a good read of temperature. I've never seen plastic ones to be real with you and the again I don't think you would tape that whole thing.???!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

I don't think you understand, I am talking about the probe being taped. I don't think you can tape the probes metal part and tape it right on the heat tape when the heat tape gets hot. If you tape the whole thing I'm surprised you get a good read of temperature. I've never seen plastic ones to be real with you and the again I don't think you would tape that whole thing.???!

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Yes, I do understand. The probe that sends a signal with the temperature reading to the thermostat is taped directly to the Flexwatt. All of my racks are done this way. In fact, I have two probes in every one of my racks taped directly to the Flexwatt. One is a primary thermostat and one is a back up thermostat for safety. It works very well.