Need some help with my hydrofarm thermostat.

Fantastic! I set my t stat to 104 and it's holding 90 strong :D

What is a thermal burn so I can better understand why the probe doesn't go in the tank?

Burns 1 and 2nd degree burns o nthe snakes belly and or back depending if you use uth or lamp


http://www.exoticpetvet.com/images/Picture%20637.jpg

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Do as you wish, in 17 years of snake keeping/breeding I seen enough of the easy way, costing a ton in the long run.

Probes do NOT go in the tank, or tub regardless your setup.

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Amen and x2 to both points.

I'm not trying to stir anything up I simply put the idea out there and why the probe in between the heat pad makes no sense to me. I thought the whole idea behind forums was to learn and ask questions......the original post was asking about probe temp being so high. So obviously if the probe was in tank it made more sense to me is all.

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Originally Posted by hogleyripper

I thought the whole idea behind forums was to learn and ask questions......

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Probes placed in the enclosure are left to the mercy of the enclosure's inhabitant. The last thing you need is your probe getting displaced by the animal you are trying to heat properly.

In addition, the manufacturer of my rack system specifically states that the probe should be placed directly on the heat tape.

Since properly regulated heat tape usually doesn’t get much hotter than 110 degrees on the high side, there is no reason not to mount the probe there. It allows the T-Stat to directly control the item that is producing the heat.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.

But a thermostat is used to take in the temperature of the hot spot. If you control only the heating device itself than you have to set the temp of the stat higher to achieve the temps you want. Therefore you could actually control ambient temp of the cage if the probe is inside the enclosure right in the hot spot it would more accurately set the temp on the stat to 90 and it would not take outside of the cage ambient temp into effect therefore you shouldn't have to even change your thermostat setting ever again. It would work like your house thermostat. You set your house thermostat to 70 degrees and your house is 70. You don't set your stat to 104 to achieve 70. Then change it the next day to go to 106 to achieve 65 because its 10 degrees colder outside. You set it and it is 70 no matter what. So this what I mean by it not making sense. So with out knowing the safety part of what you where trying to say this is why I was confused.

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Originally Posted by hogleyripper

But a thermostat is used to take in the temperature of the hot spot. If you control only the heating device itself than you have to set the temp of the stat higher to achieve the temps you want. Therefore you could actually control ambient temp of the cage if the probe is inside the enclosure right in the hot spot it would more accurately set the temp on the stat to 90 and it would not take outside of the cage ambient temp into effect therefore you shouldn't have to even change your thermostat setting ever again. It would work like your house thermostat. You set your house thermostat to 70 degrees and your house is 70. You don't set your stat to 104 to achieve 70. Then change it the next day to go to 106 to achieve 65 because its 10 degrees colder outside. You set it and it is 70 no matter what. So this what I mean by it not making sense. So with out knowing the safety part of what you where trying to say this is why I was confused.

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It doesnt work that way, The thermostat is only reading the Temp of the heat tape. You need to use a thermometer or temp gun to read the actual temps. You want to keep the heat tape from getting to a certain degree which will reduce the risk of overheating and or fire.


With it inside, the heat tape now has to heat up higher, and heat though the plastic to reach the set temp of the thermostat. Resulting in a higher reading on the Heat tape. Which if the probe is moved cause the snake wanted to mess with it(and they will) will now result in a spike in temps causing burns, death and or fire.

Like i said I have my thermostats set at 88 and i get a 89 in the tubs, my probes are OUTSIDE taped directly to the heat tape. My racks hold 9 snakes each, Putting the probe inside one tub over the other will throw the entire rack off top to bottom.


You will learn the hard way keeping the probe inside the tank or tub. They WILL move it eventually and when they do its just disaster waiting to happen.

I disagree with Rich on this one. The first and foremost is a probe must not move period. if the snake moves it it is bad news if the dog moves it is is bad news... It does not matter where it is it must not move or be moved. The stories of burns I know of have all been on racks in fact with the probe on the heat source and been pulled off during cleaning or with the movement of the tub.


The exterior placement allows a greater swing it is dependant on a grab bag of conditions but room temp being a huge one. I have test set ups that I can get ten degrees of swing with this type of placement. It is not safe in all conditions.

Interior placement can be used as long as the probe CANNOT be moved. Tape does not belong in a enclosure. I use hot malt glue and place the probe FIRMLY in place I push and pull at it if it wiggles at all I cut it off and start over. It must not move. I would also recommend a failsafe t-stat with interior placement. This is a second on off t-stat with its probe placed on the heating devise and set at a level that prevents interior temps to be over 97º. in the event of a a glue failure or something the secondary will shut off the power to the primary preventing burns.

The idea that pee or poo on the probe causes massive spikes I have run a test enclosure and dumped water at room temp and pudding on the probe and did not get a spike large enough to trip the secondary t-stat. Some modern t-stats will shut off it the probe temp triggers a hi or low alarm adding to the margin of safety with an interior placement.

Interior or exterior the probes should not be able to be moved away from the heat source. Interior placement provides much more temp stability in variable environments. Not everybody can spend the money required to heat an environment to the ambient cool side temp needed.

just for the record I do not suggest the hydrofarm as a primary t-stat it is simply too inaccurate to be trusted completely I would suggest it as a failsafe t-stat not a primary.