What cheap thermostat do you recommend?

herpestat is the cheapest id recommend ;)

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Ummm im confused. Am i reading this right? Put the probe directlly in the heat tape? Heat tape warms up to 115 degrees plus when it cycles on so it would never keep tubs at temps and constantly cutting on and off

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Not if you use a proportional thermostat, which controls the amount of power going to the tape to control the temp and doesn't turn off/on.

Besides, when you tape directly to the flexwatt, you're going to set your thermostat higher to account for the density of the tub and substrate to get to the desired temp inside the enclosure.

Whether you choose to measure the heat inside the temp by taping the probe inside the enclosure (not recommended under any circumstance) or you tape it directly to the heat tape, the amount of output will be the same to achieve the same temp on top of the substrate.

IE, if you were to temp gun the tape to see how hot it really is if you're a "thermostat probe inside the tub" person, you'll see it's the same temperature as it would be if you were a "thermostat on top of the flexwatt" person. Either way, the actual heat tape itself has to reach a certain set temp to effectively heat inside the enclosure.

There are two schools of thought on probe placement inside the enclosure with the animal or in direct contact with the heat. Interior placement is way more accurate. Exterior varies more with ambient temp variations.

I use both, as Robin says tape is unwise. I glue mine it MUST NOT MOVE no matter the placement.

The discussion with racks is different than everything else. My logic behind direct heat placement I use with a rack is easy.

safety over temp. I feel (my opinion here) Probes can be secured so that a snake simply cannot move then so ignoring that we come to cleaning. One tub is attached to the temperature control for the whole works. If you remove it to wash you either need to unplug the probe (if you can) and kill the heat to the rack while that is cleaned. Not too bad unless it is very slow. Or you could remove the probe every time. My probes are hard to remove as it is so very critical that it can't move that makes it difficult to remove too. Or you could just leave that tub empty all the time.

The second issue I have with this is if there is animal in that tub it needs to be checked everyday or so, and sliding out that tub and back in has a potential of breaking or damaging the probe cord some units have a fail safe that if the probe goes dead the unit shuts down ... no heat you then need to have a replacement probe fast. OR the unit will try to get the temperature correct by adding more heat but as the probe is not responding it can never get hot enough. It runs the potential to cook your collection.

The third option is to cut the bottom out of an old tub and fix the probe to that and then that to the heat and try to run a functional tub over top of it. My rack there is no way that would work as there is not enough clearance.

Normally I prefer interior probe placement (glued firmly in place) but with a rack the potential for damage to the probe and the issues surrounding cleaning over shadow the desire for easy spot on temps. At least in my way of thinking.

If there is a solution I missed please post it I would like a 4 better option but I can't think of one.

Maybe Dion or one of the others can make a wireless adaptor for the probes but to my knowledge no one does.

I type to slow...

All my racks have the probe on the top underneath of the middle drawer in each rack. I use a router to make the channel and then cover it with clear packing tape. My stat always sits on 89 and every tub sits at 89 to 90 in the back of the tubs. I have never had nor seen 11 inch flexwatt burn or melt anything. Now if your using smaller flexwatt that has to work too hard on inadequate setups then i could see stuff happening.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snake lab

All my racks have the probe on the top underneath of the middle drawer in each rack. I use a router to make the channel and then cover it with clear packing tape. My stat always sits on 89 and every tub sits at 89 to 90 in the back of the tubs. I have never had nor seen 11 inch flexwatt burn or melt anything. Now if your using smaller flexwatt that has to work too hard on inadequate setups then i could see stuff happening.

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Now I am confused didn't you were you not questioning why someone would place a probe in direct contact with the heat tape and not IN the tub???

Yes. It doesnt make sence why you would put the probe on the heat tape. Let me specify clearer. Maybe this makes it easier to understand cause i can see where the confusion is. My probes sit in a channel in the ceiling of the middle drawer. Therefore it is in the box on the ceiling. I dont use tops on my bins. This way i get an exact reading from in the tubs. I get the same temps all the way through the rack. Now obviouslly there is a couple degree flucuation as the thermostats cycles but not much and not for long. All my racks are 6 ft tall and i never hook more then one rack per thermostat. If i can figure out how to post picks on here ill show you what i am talking about

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