Heat cable + temp gun

I'm having trouble gauging the inside temperature level of the hot side of my tubs. Currently I have heat cable hooked up to a Herpstat Basic+. I have two lines per level of rack that are an inch and a half apart from one another with 4" of foil tape over them to help spread the heat. I put one of my thermometer probes under the tub on top of the heat tape between the heat cable to get an idea of the temp there. I'm just wondering how the temperature will differentiate between the bottom outside of tub and the bottom inside of tub. My idea was to use a heat gun and hit the inside bottom of a tub and raise the temp on thermostat till it was 93F. Will this accurately gauge the hot side of the tubs interior? Also, what is a good temp good to buy?

Any information that can be given on the heat gradient between outside of tub and inside of tub (on the hot side) would be great.

P.S. I have just recently wen to this rack system from a tub and lid system that I was able to get more accurate temperatures on.

Your method should work, but keep in mind that the temp guns ( and digital thermometer that we use in the hobby aren't extremely accurate, so you should shoot for a more mid-range hot side temperature instead of 93. (I would recommend 90)

Every setup is going to be different so you will have to find what works for your setup.

Here are some good temp guns: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermometers

I use the 412L

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Your method should work, but keep in mind that the temp guns ( and digital thermometer that we use in the hobby aren't extremely accurate, so you should shoot for a more mid-range hot side temperature instead of 93. (I would recommend 90)

Every setup is going to be different so you will have to find what works for your setup.

Here are some good temp guns: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermometers

I use the 412L

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Thanks for the link! I'll be doing some research on that gun to figure out just how accurate it is.

Do you think that the prob under the tub will give a good reading as to what the inside bottom of the tub is?

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Originally Posted by cory9oh4

Thanks for the link! I'll be doing some research on that gun to figure out just how accurate it is.

Do you think that the prob under the tub will give a good reading as to what the inside bottom of the tub is?

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No, the probe under the tub will consistently be a few degrees above the actual inside of the tub, but this is where your thermoSTAT probe should be for safety reasons.

The 412L has an accuracy of +/- 4 degrees F

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

No, the probe under the tub will consistently be a few degrees above the actual inside of the tub, but this is where your thermoSTAT probe should be for safety reasons.

The 412L has an accuracy of +/- 4 degrees F

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Right now I have the thermostat probe taped to the heat cable but it's not on the part under the tub.

So what you're saying is, put the thermostat probe between the two head cables under the tub?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cory9oh4

Right now I have the thermostat probe taped to the heat cable but it's not on the part under the tub.

So what you're saying is, put the thermostat probe between the two head cables under the tub?

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Where you have it is fine, as long as its not inside the tub.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Where you have it is fine, as long as its not inside the tub.

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Okay great, I used the micro-pore tape to attach the probe to the heat cable, I figure that would be better than foil tape or duck tape.

A good choice indeed, there's nothing worse than duct tape residue on thermostat probes and foil tape can alter readings.

Can anyone else give there opinion? Thanks!

I have the probe taped to the heat cable with electrical tape and since I have two tubs per shelf the probe is between tubs. I keep my stat at 92 and the temps inside the tubs hold around 90ish (hotspot)
Hope this helps

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