What temp to set my t-stat on

What do I set my rheostat to for my undertank heaters? (Ball python)

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Originally Posted by Kyleeg

What do I set my rheostat to for my undertank heaters? (Ball python)

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Use a temp gun (or thermometer if temp gun is not available, but temp gun preferably) to measure the temperature of the the cage floor above the UTH, and adjust the rheostat until that surface is consistently 88-90* or so (hot side) or 78-80* (cool side).

Make sure you measure on the glass without substrate. As said above use a temp gun. Do not measure on the substrate. Move the substrate and measure the glass.

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Originally Posted by alittleFREE

Use a temp gun (or thermometer if temp gun is not available, but temp gun preferably) to measure the temperature of the the cage floor above the UTH, and adjust the rheostat until that surface is consistently 88-90* or so (hot side) or 78-80* (cool side).

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Make sure you measure on the glass without substrate. As said above use a temp gun. Do not measure on the substrate. Move the substrate and measure the glass.

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They said it all. There's no set temp, it's trial and error and different for every situation.

I usually have to set my t-stats at 92-94 to get a surface temperature of 86-88.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I usually have to set my t-stats at 92-94 to get a surface temperature of 86-88.

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OP has a rheostat not a thermostat. OP needs to bear in mind that if the ambient room temp increases or decreases throughout the day, which is fairly common in the spring and fall if you aren't running the HVAC, the temperature of the pad will rise and fall also.

My rheostat starts at the lowest setting before off. I adjust up from there to get a proper temp.

With a rheostat you will be readjusting unless you have a very stable room temperature.