thermostat question

I've got this -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

question is- probe on cool or warm end of tank? I've read people doing both, I use a medium 16w UTH by exo terra, and a 100w lamp(which is set extremely low on the dimmer switch, without this slight dim the tank sits at ~6-8F below what I need) I want to say the obvious spot is the warm end under my cypress mulch, but I just don't want to risk overheating or underheating my new and first snake.

Hey There...

I am not familiar with that specific thermostat, but this is your typical setup...

You want your thermostat probe located in whichever spot you would like to monitor and set temperature. Put your thermostat probe on the hot side of your tank and attach it to the bottom of the UTH, *not knowing your setup* Make sure that your UTH is under your enclosure and not in your enclosure. ;P Your thermostat and probe will regulate temperature, but you will need a digital thermometer inside your tank, on your hot spot to ensure that you know the exact temperature and are able to adjust your thermostat accordingly. Keep in mind that you do not want to use any sort of tapes or adhesives inside of your enclosure as they can possibly injure your snake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by el8ch

Hey There...

I am not familiar with that specific thermostat, but this is your typical setup...

You want your thermostat probe located in whichever spot you would like to monitor and set temperature. Put your thermostat probe on the hot side of your tank and attach it to the bottom of the UTH, *not knowing your setup* Make sure that your UTH is under your enclosure and not in your enclosure. ;P Your thermostat and probe will regulate temperature, but you will need a digital thermometer inside your tank, on your hot spot to ensure that you know the exact temperature and are able to adjust your thermostat accordingly. Keep in mind that you do not want to use any sort of tapes or adhesives inside of your enclosure as they can possibly injure your snake.

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I've got a glass tank with screen lid, left side is cool side with a water dish, right side has a 100w lamp on top set on low dim and a UTH on the bottom part (making a sandwich). This is a 15 gallon tank.

Am I peeling the mat back under the tank and putting the probe in it or am I putting the probe inside of the tank on top of the glass covering the UTH from inside the tank. I'd prefer to do it outside if that is viable otherwise I might have trouble closing my lid properly

Stick your thermostat probe to the underside of your UTH on the outside of the tank, no need to peel off your UTH - just use some "tinfoil' tape and adhere the probe to the UTH. The digital thermometer will go on the inside of the tank!

Make sure your husbandry and everything are in check, read the Caresheet
Enjoy! =)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by el8ch

Stick your thermostat probe to the underside of your UTH on the outside of the tank, no need to peel off your UTH - just use some "tinfoil' tape and adhere the probe to the UTH. The digital thermometer will go on the inside of the tank!

Make sure your husbandry and everything are in check, read the Caresheet
Enjoy! =)

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X2 tape it to the bottom of the UTH never put a T-stat probe inside yout enclosure if it gets wet or moved it can cause the UTH to get to hot and burn your snakes :O

There is a lot of ideas about probe placement. The probe on the uth is one idea it often leads to decidedly variable temps if the room temps are not stable. As the room changes the enclosure changes with it but the probe is protected against change by the uth and tape so it carries on.

The interior placement, probe placed on the bottom of the enclosure it will adjust temps based on the room temps and provide higher accuracy. The issue is the probe in either set up MUST not move and tape should never be placed inside the enclosure I usually recommend hot malt glue to fix probes.

I personally use both method they both work I have tested 'liquid' on the probe yes it dumps the temp. But it dumps the temp of everything the temp comes up equally and there is no spike and poo is not that cold out of the snake so the 'spike' is not as great as people thing I set 90º and the biggest spike I managed was 95 for 25 min. The advantage of stable temps IMO out weights the concerns abut a snake pooing exactly on top of a probe under the substrate.

I also will add that I believe a failsafe t-stat is as important as a primary T-stat. A secondary will protect against a pulled probe, t-stat failure, short circuit ect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

There is a lot of ideas about probe placement. The probe on the uth is one idea it often leads to decidedly variable temps if the room temps are not stable. As the room changes the enclosure changes with it but the probe is protected against change by the uth and tape so it carries on.

The interior placement, probe placed on the bottom of the enclosure it will adjust temps based on the room temps and provide higher accuracy. The issue is the probe in either set up MUST not move and tape should never be placed inside the enclosure I usually recommend hot malt glue to fix probes.

I personally use both method they both work I have tested 'liquid' on the probe yes it dumps the temp. But it dumps the temp of everything the temp comes up equally and there is no spike and poo is not that cold out of the snake so the 'spike' is not as great as people thing I set 90º and the biggest spike I managed was 95 for 25 min. The advantage of stable temps IMO out weights the concerns abut a snake pooing exactly on top of a probe under the substrate.

I also will add that I believe a failsafe t-stat is as important as a primary T-stat. A secondary will protect against a pulled probe, t-stat failure, short circuit ect.

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My UTH is now my fail safe coupled with the thermostat. I use my ceramic lamp with red nocturnal light so it is:
-aesthetically pleasing for me the insomniac
-has a dimmer switch so I can use less power and keep a constant temp MANUALLY which I like.

seeing as how I can't afford a Herpstat after purchasing a new snake, and the entire setup with backup equipment, an on/off t-stat as a failsafe seems like the cheap way to go :cool: (as long as I get the tank to optimal temps with just the UTH.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RestlessRobie

X2 tape it to the bottom of the UTH never put a T-stat probe inside yout enclosure if it gets wet or moved it can cause the UTH to get to hot and burn your snakes :O

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This is were I'm confused. It says on the UTH "DO NOT BEND" and by putting the UTH on top of the probe you're bending it, correct?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gpoop

This is were I'm confused. It says on the UTH "DO NOT BEND" and by putting the UTH on top of the probe you're bending it, correct?

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How would placing a probe under a UTH be bending it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by el8ch

Stick your thermostat probe to the underside of your UTH on the outside of the tank, no need to peel off your UTH - just use some "tinfoil' tape and adhere the probe to the UTH. The digital thermometer will go on the inside of the tank!

Make sure your husbandry and everything are in check, read the Caresheet
Enjoy! =)

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To the OP you should NEVER use tinfoil (aluminum) tape on a thermostat probe. aluminum tape will mess up the probes readings by acting as a heat sink. Hot glue is a much better choice. just don't put glue on the probe itself.