Heat pads

I got a heat pad a while back and the instructions said I don't need a thermostat if the temp in the room doesn't get above 80. The room has ac to keep it cool during warm months so do I need a thermostat? (It's a zoo need uth)


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You definitely need a thermostat, always. The zoo med ones still get to 120 degrees or over, without a thermostat.

And you want your ambient temp to be at least 75, so don't keep it too cool! Ambient should ideally be 79~84 or so.

You definitely need something to regulate the temp. Without it some heat pads can get 120* +.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

You definitely need a thermostat, always. The zoo med ones still get to 120 degrees or over, without a thermostat.

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What thermostat would you recommend and also I heard if the probe on the thermostat moves, it's really bad, what would happen?


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Originally Posted by CooperSchardt

What thermostat would you recommend and also I heard if the probe on the thermostat moves, it's really bad, what would happen?


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The thermostat probe works by detecting whatever temperature around it, and regulating whether to turn the heat on/off depending on it (or adjusting the amount of power that goes into the UTH, if you get a proportional/dimmer type... which is better). So if your probe falls out and is constantly sensing that the air is 75 degrees for example, it will crank up the heat continuously/leave the UTH burning.

So you want the probe to stay fixed between the UTH and the bottom of your tank/tub, so that it is detecting the right temperature.

You can get jumpstart or hydrofarm thermostats on amazon, but those will eventually not work and get risky to use after a few months, and you'll have to buy more and more. If you want a reliable thermostat to last you years, get a herpstat.

And you want your ambient temp to be at least 75, so don't keep it too cool! Ambient should ideally be 79~84 or so.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry! The ambient temp in the tank is about 80


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CooperSchardt

What thermostat would you recommend and also I heard if the probe on the thermostat moves, it's really bad, what would happen?

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Herpstat is the brand most recommended (safe and reliable). If the probe moves, it's basically like the mat is trying to heat the whole room (not just the hot spot for your snake). It would be left running at full power and be like you didn't have a thermostat at all. For that reason, you sandwich the probe between the mat and the bottom of the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Herpstat is the brand most recommended (safe and reliable). If the probe moves, it's basically like the mat is trying to heat the whole room (not just the hot spot for your snake). It would be left running at full power and be like you didn't have a thermostat at all. For that reason, you sandwich the probe between the mat and the bottom of the enclosure.

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Since the pad can't come off, could I just use electrical tape on the probe and tape below the mat?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CooperSchardt

Since the pad can't come off, could I just use electrical tape on the probe and tape below the mat?

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You've got the right idea. Electrical tape, though, tends to lose its stickiness pretty easily when it warms up. I'd go for a stronger adhesive.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psqcouxfgn.jpg