thermostat probe placement

i used NO tape to attach my t-stat probe to the u.t.h, i actually see no reason to do that. when i was sticking my u.t.h to the bottom of my terrarium i just placed the probe on the middle of it and then used duct tape to keep the edges of the u.t.h attached to the terrarium. the adhesive on the u.t.h just didnt wanna work good enough by itself and i found the u.t.h just chillin' a couple times on my dresser surface underneath the terrarium. i have that side elevated a little to allow ventilation for the heat pad.

I tape mine to the UTH.

don't use foil tape to tape the probe to the UTH it can deliver false temps as the aluminum tape conduct temps too well I use electrical tape for the probe and al. tape for the flex watt.

If you have large temp swings in the room the probe placed on the UTH can still cause large temps swings (quite large in some cases depending on the efficiency (insulating value) of the enclosure ie tubs that cool very quickly can shift quite a lot.

If you place the probe inside DO NOT USE TAPE! hot melt glue or zip ties work well (zip ties will need a pair of small holes) If it is firmly anchored the snake will not be able to move the probe however pee/poo on the probe can cause high temps inside the enclosure diligence is required to check to make sure this does not happen. The alternative is a second controller (safety back up) with the probe placed on the UTH and its set point set higher than the primary but not so high as to allow interior temps of over 96 or so. If the animal poos on the probe (the worst temp case) the temps will start to climb but the second will switch off the primary before serious burns and will regulate things that way until the poo becomes warm or is removed.

Next question what kind of T-stat do you have? Some have a wide swing tolerance (how far from the set point before it changes) On/off types sometimes have 2 or 3 degrees others have 1 degree but the accuracy of the probe (+/-2ºF) and slow probe response can also lead to wide swings. The other issue is that if the room is quite cool some T-stats will try to over come the cool room and over shoot due to slow sample rates. IE it checks the temp once every min.

My guess is you have an on/off type?

Typically they do much better in a not too extreme room temps. And with enclosures that are slower to heat up. A tub which heats and cools very quickly and a slow response can and over shoot quite a lot before it shuts down.

IF you are using a tub and say a ranco johnson hydrofarm and you feel that the probe is delivering a reasonable accurate AVERAGE temp (they are spec'd at a +/-2ºF accuracy so it could be 2 degrees high and be operating correctly) you might try placing the UTH on a sheet of glass just bigger than the UTH and place the tub on the glass as a buffer against the spikes. The glass will even off the spikes and average off the overshooting.

If you feel that the average is higher than the set point I'd replace the unit the probe could be high reading.

Tape it to the uth...I use the foil tape on flexwatt no problems. There is more than one way. Just check your temps afterwards with a reliable thermometer and adjust accordingly....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Strick

Tape it to the uth...I use the foil tape on flexwatt no problems. There is more than one way. Just check your temps afterwards with a reliable thermometer and adjust accordingly....

---

I know that Dion at spyder robotics (herpstat's designer) recommends against using foil tape on his probes. I changed from foil tape on his recommendation and found the temps actually stabilized after the change I don't need to have the set point much higher than the actual temps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kitedemon

I know that Dion at spyder robotics (herpstat's designer) recommends against using foil tape on his probes. I changed from foil tape on his recommendation and found the temps actually stabilized after the change I don't need to have the set point much higher than the actual temps.

---

I havent had any problems with the foil tape at all, then again I check mine several times a day AND had my rack up and running for two weeks before animals were in it.
I have not found any reason not to use foil tape yet.:gj:

***I also only have a 2-3 degree difference between set temp and actual temp***

I am only repeating what Dion has mentioned more than once, I don't have his experience with thermostats which is why I repeated his recommendations. I had 2.5 degrees difference on my rack when I had foil tape, now it is set to 90.5 and I get 90.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...robotics+probe

I saw his post too.
Question is, why change what has worked for most everyone here unless there is a problem?

I know people who have extra empty tubs that place the probe in the tubs, but I would never recommend placing a thermostat probe inside a tub that houses a snake, that's just asking for trouble.
Clear packaging tape works very well for holding the probe against the flexwatt.