UTH Questions

Well said PitOnTheProwl.. was going to type that lastnight but eh hate posting off iphone, I would like to add some thermostat probes are pretty big and no very convenient to put between the glass and the mat, when I came across this i put the probe on the back side of the mat and dialed in the temp with a temp gun and also always had a probe on it. But when a snake pees or poops on the probes just on my accurite ones there is a 2-3 degree difference just in that reading alone, so normally its 90-91 and when they to there stuff on it I get a reading of 86-89 and if this was a thermostat probe my uth would just keep heating untill it was the 92 degrees its set at, also good reminder that he has done it...

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

This is a bad idea.
You NEVER want the thermostat probe to be in a position to be altered.
Everyone tried to over complicate this and I cannot figure out why...............................
Heat pat(UTH) covered in aluminum tape (sticky side to sticky side), probe between pad and bottom of enclosure. Use foil tape on edges to secure pad to bottom of enclosure. Set temperature on thermostat to 90 (this is my starting point) and after an hour or so of run time check the inside temperature with a no contact gun. Adjust till you get the temp you are shooting for. Make note of your actual settings. FYI I have a couple racks running 102 degrees to have a 93 degree inside the tub temp.

Now back to why a probe inside the enclosure is almost as bad as not using a thermostat at all........
Have you ever had your snake tip, dump or over flow the water bowl?
Does your snake pee and poop in their enclosure?
If none these have never happened and you want to gamble that they never will then your probe inside the tank is safe.

I however have seen and know that any of these fluids can alter the probes reading and cause it to read lower than actual temps. This will cause the thermostat to fire up and more than likely run the mat hotter than you planned until the probe is at the set temperature it thinks it should be at.
Wiring and cables inside an enclosure can also add to other potential problems. Why give the opportunity to happen?
Not only this but I like to be able to clean my tubs and tanks. ;)

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So you wouldn't recommend encasing the probe/wire in hot glue? I'm glad several people are commenting on this, so I get a bunch of different opinions! ^u^

Is there a difference between aluminum and foil tape? And could I tape the probe to the bottom of the pad so it doesn't slide around while I'm placing the pad on the tank?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

This is a bad idea.
You NEVER want the thermostat probe to be in a position to be altered.
Everyone tried to over complicate this and I cannot figure out why...............................
Heat pat(UTH) covered in aluminum tape (sticky side to sticky side), probe between pad and bottom of enclosure. Use foil tape on edges to secure pad to bottom of enclosure. Set temperature on thermostat to 90 (this is my starting point) and after an hour or so of run time check the inside temperature with a no contact gun. Adjust till you get the temp you are shooting for. Make note of your actual settings. FYI I have a couple racks running 102 degrees to have a 93 degree inside the tub temp.

Now back to why a probe inside the enclosure is almost as bad as not using a thermostat at all........
Have you ever had your snake tip, dump or over flow the water bowl?
Does your snake pee and poop in their enclosure?
If none these have never happened and you want to gamble that they never will then your probe inside the tank is safe.

I however have seen and know that any of these fluids can alter the probes reading and cause it to read lower than actual temps. This will cause the thermostat to fire up and more than likely run the mat hotter than you planned until the probe is at the set temperature it thinks it should be at.
Wiring and cables inside an enclosure can also add to other potential problems. Why give the opportunity to happen?
Not only this but I like to be able to clean my tubs and tanks. ;)

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Good point, and the reason why the probe should be encased and insulated with hot glue, it's in contact with the glass, but won't be in contact with fluids spilled right over it. I've had good results with a probe between flexwatt and glass or a tub, and it's thin enough that you could get a good read on the back of it. The zoo med pads are a little more problematic, they heat uneven anyway, bubbles cause cool spots, and the backing is thick and insulates the temp by a few degrees.

Sigh.. Even if it's covered in hot glue pile of poo.. Spilled water and such will still affect the temp reading the probe will get..

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Originally Posted by ChronicDreamer

So you wouldn't recommend encasing the probe/wire in hot glue? I'm glad several people are commenting on this, so I get a bunch of different opinions! ^u^

Is there a difference between aluminum and foil tape? And could I tape the probe to the bottom of the pad so it doesn't slide around while I'm placing the pad on the tank?

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No the foil and aluminum are the same thing.
You can use all the tape you want OUTSIDE the enclosure.

No I dont and wont glue anything in anymore.
Took one mite outbreak to open my eyes.

Ideally you want to be able to take everything out of the enclosure when doing the 'monthly' cleaning, which would be impossible with anything hot-glued into it.

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Originally Posted by michaelt

Sigh.. Even if it's covered in hot glue pile of poo.. Spilled water and such will still affect the temp reading the probe will get..

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This is why I think it's better to tape the thermostat under the UTH. If it is between UTH and glass and water is spilled in the enclosure the glass floor will cool down, the thermostat will read that temp, and the heat will stay on until the water has evaporated.

I meant it's better to tape the probe under the UTH.

Okay, I've got everything ready, two last questions, and the first is basically for Kaorte/The Golem and PitOnTheProwl: Thermostat probe between glass and pad or on backside of pad? And is the tape on the pad (sticky side to sticky side) really necessary? Is it to make removing the pad easier for cage cleaning?

Yes,tape on UTH is so that it can removed. Putting probe between glass and UTH is most common method, it will be secured in place and get accurate temp readings.
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