Re: Questions about Thermostats
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LGray23
Thermostats are for temperature control, not humidity. I use a DIY rack, and RBI rack, and a tank and I don't need anything other than a water dish for humidity in any of them. You tape the probe on the heat tape because you are controlling the heat tape. You control the maximum temp it gets to, if it's not in direct contact with the heat source then you aren't controlling the heat source....
Thermometers go inside to read temps, thermostats go outside to control temps...
This is a very good description let me add a little to it. With the probe on the heat tape you set the heat tapes temp but the inside of the tub will be different. This is certainly one method but unstable room temps can toss it off some. With an enclosed rack (solid sides, and mostly solid back) the variation even in an unstable room temps (my situation as well) is not huge just a degree or two here and there. I use 91 degree on the taped probe and get 89-92 inside the tubs as the room temps change.
The alternative is to place the probe into the middle tub. In my opinion this can work quite well in a static enclosure does not work well in a rack. There are guidelines that really should be followed.
The Probe MUST not MOVE It must be firmly fixed over the middle of the tape inside the enclosure. I use hot melt glue in my enclosure to do this. The problem with a rack becomes evident with a fixed probe it means basically the middle drawer become unusable as the probe cannot be removed easily from the tub and so cleaning becomes a problem.
The second thing I personally do is use a second on off t-stat (hydrofarm likely would be great for this) as a back up incase a big poo was to land exactly on top of the probe. a link to how to do that...
http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/s...edocument.html
here is a great how to vid with a compromise to solve both issues,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2jgkjJ0cHY
The problem is you cannot run a tub over the probe and the bit of tub bottom as described unless you make a low spot or something for it. You still have to give up some space to the probe.
In both methods the probe must be firmly fixed to the flex watt. it cannot come loose! The back up protects against failure and probes floating around. I really recommend a back up it is 40 bucks for safety system that will save everything in your rack.
I hope this helps clear some points sorry it is so long.
