Where do you place your thermostat probe?

I was wondering where everyone places their thermostat probes and why.

Here I go:

I have a strong opinion that it is best to put your thermostat probe directly on the heating element that the thermostat is supposed to be controlling. I have put the probe on the bottom of the enclosure directly above the UTH. I found that this does not work well with plastic enclosures because the bottom of tubs tend to 'sag' when snakes or water bowls end up on top of the UTH and this will cause the temp to vary in different levels in the rack and in the individual enclosure when the snake moves. I also hear of alot of people that like to put the thermostat on top of the substrate. I have never tried this because my snakes would 'move' the probe.....one minute you have a substrate surface temperature of 95, then the snake bumps the probe up a bit and you end up with a 95 deg. air temp in the enclosure. IMO...The probe should be in a 'fixed position', directly attached to the heating element, and insulated from the air for the best temperature control.

I also put mine directly on the flexwatt. I fasten it so it lays completely flat on top of the heat tape. I've had great results. I would hate to put the probe in the enclosure.. what if the snake moves it? eek..

yea i have been wondering this myself.the safest place to put one.humm now where is that?

Slapped it right on the flexwatt - thanks to this forum. Works very well.

Taped right on the bottom of the enclosure (on the outside of the enclosure) sealed up tight with aluminum tape, then the flexwatt is taped with aluminum tape over the probe, on the bottom of the enclosure (on the outside, of course!)

After trying various ways I found that taping it directly to the center of the flex-watt covered with foil tape works well.

I us aspen as substrate but under my hides i use a small towel that i cut out to just a bit larger than the hide. I run the wire for my probe under the substrate and i have a small hole cut in the towel. i tape the wire to the underside of the towel and stick the sensor end of the probe through the hole so that it gets the temperature of the floor of my substrate. it works for me and my BP cant move the probe.

I rig my probe to "hang" about a 1/4" above my flexwatt. On thermostats that run in on/off it seems when the probe touches the heat tape it turns on and off way to frequently. By having that small gap it allows for a much more smoother transitions, so it doesn't cause the thermostat too work as much. Just my :twocents:. With proportional thermostats this doesnt effect it as much.


Bill

Bill....can you go into how your probe is mounted a bit more and your enclosure setup? I had seen the picture the other day, but still had some questions. What keeps the probe from moving around? so you are techniquely measuring the air temp just above(or below) the flexwatt and not the flexwatt itself....I would be would be very nervous that the probe would move and cause temp problems.....have you ever tried using some type of spacer to put the probe in a more fixed position?....just wonderin....I really like to hear about how people have their enclosures setup and their reasons beind it ;)

My T-stat probe is under the newspaper substrate, taped to the bottom of the tub, directly underneath the warm hide.