zoomed rheostat question

hey everyone,

so i picked up a zoomed rheostat for my UTH from Petco the other day and have a digital therm with a probe over the glass in the middle of the UTH. Even with the lowest setting it gets a minimum of 110-113 degree's. This isn't the actualy temp over where my snake is laying though right? I do have about an inch of Eco Earth over it and it does not feel hot at all to the touch, but im just afraid of burning him.

Are you sure you have it turned down and not up? I have one that I'm still using (all the others have been replaced with Helix) and it would be that hot if it was turned all the way up. Turned down, it holds the temp at 90 (this is for my L. macklotti) and would go even lower if I turned it all the way down.

If you do have it turned down, I'd take it back and get another one. It sounds like the one you have is defective. Even though you have a layer of substrate over the bottom of the tank you can't be sure that your snake won't dig to the glass. I always set mine to the highest temp I'd want them to be on, and then let them decide how far down they want to dig in the substrate.

I used to use one of those and it did get hot. I noticed if I turned it on so it just clicked and kept it at it's very lowest setting it worked. I'd suggest saving up your money and getting something very reliable such as a helix or a herpstat.

yeah i have it on the lowest setting where it just clicks, and still it never goes down to 90. This is the problem with the other side as well i just click it over and it goes to 110-113

Is the heat pad adhered to the tank?

yes its on the underside of the tank

Are you able to unstick it and just let it sit under the tank?

i should peel it off and let it sit like on the table under the tank?

That's what I would try...

be careful 'unsticking' it though. I tried this with an UTH once and and it quit working. I guess the wiring inside isn't always
the best. just my two cents. :D