Almost had a MAJOR disaster...

Last night after feeding the babies, I slid Orlando's tub back into the rack, and apparently knocked the thermostat probe off the flexwatt... it was "secured" with electrical tape under where his tub goes, and I had noticed recently that tape loses its glue from the heat. But I didn't notice it had been knocked out, until I came back down about an hour later. Luckily I'm obsessive about checking the temps, and since I keep them in my bedroom, it's checked multiple times a day. I looked at the Acu-rite in Mona's tub on top, and the warm side was reading 106!! :O

I immediately pulled all the tubs out, and checked to make sure everyone was okay... thank goodness they were fine, although Orlando was on top of his hide looking desperate to escape - in fact he popped out the second I opened his lid, LOL. I do use belly/gradient heat, and ambient temps had only gone up to ~84, so at least they had some place to escape the heat. I re-taped the probe (which then showed a temperature of over 110 on the helix), this time next to his tub, and waited until things stabilized before putting the snakes back.

To avoid this ever happening in the future, how would you suggest affixing the probe? I tried to get aluminum tape, but haven't found a place that sells it yet... planning to go to Lowe's today, so I'll pick up a roll there. Any other suggestions? And if (god forbid) I hadn't caught this right away, how quickly could those temperatures have become deadly? I was so relieved I caught that in time!! :tears:

Glad everything turned out OK

Most home improvement stores sell it. Lowes will have it. Ask for Aluminum Tape or Foil tape

P.S. I know people have mentioned using a back-up thermostat, but how does that work exactly? Does every strip have to be plugged into both of them?? :confused: And I can't really afford another helix right now, so would something like a repti-temp 500r be sufficient as a back-up?

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Originally Posted by Nate

Glad everything turned out OK

Most home improvement stores sell it. Lowes will have it. Ask for Aluminum Tape or Foil tape

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Thanks. :oops: I figured Lowe's or Home Depot would have it, but I've been having trouble getting to those... surprisingly we don't have many big-box stores around here, not to mention I've had the flu for 2 weeks (mostly better now). Didn't realize it was an urgent need until last night, but now it's on my to-do list for today!

FYI Walmart also sells it like 5 bucks for a big roll. Thats where I got mine from. Good job catching that Lolo!

wiht a backup thermostat your are plugging your current thermostat into another thermostat and setting the added thermostat to slightly higher than then what your original thermostat is set at. also then you would attach the second probe around the same place as the first one.

that foil tape can be found at most hardware stores and also poss. farm supply stores.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

P.S. I know people have mentioned using a back-up thermostat, but how does that work exactly? Does every strip have to be plugged into both of them??

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A simple on/off thermostat will be fine as a secondary - put it in-line on the power to your main thermostat, and set the high point to a couple degrees above the acceptable range on your primary. The idea is that your primary will turn on if temps are too low, and your secondary will cut the power to the primary (and thus the flex watt) if the temperature gets too high.

You should check with the manufacturer of your thermostats in either case for correct wiring, as many have two or more power connectors that allow you to cut power to the heating elements without cutting the power required by the thermostat's circuitry.

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Originally Posted by BLong7211

FYI Walmart also sells it like 5 bucks for a big roll. Thats where I got mine from. Good job catching that Lolo!

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Thanks all! Unfortunately Walmart is the hardest to get to, since it's across the bay - hence across the Bay Bridge, which is a major PITA. There's a Lowes near my favorite pet store, and I need feeder mice and cat/dog food anyway... so I'll get my butt over there later, after I go back to sleep for a while. :P

Btw, will aluminum tape hold down the probe securely? Is that what you all use?

Good god, I have always wondered what is it like to live away from the city in a nice place away from that many other people and make all the noise you could ever want and what not... But I never realised how annoying it would be if you need a last minute thing... lol

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Thanks all! Unfortunately Walmart is the hardest to get to, since it's across the bay - hence across the Bay Bridge, which is a major PITA. There's a Lowes near my favorite pet store, and I need feeder mice and cat food anyway... so I'll get my butt over there later, after I go back to sleep for a while. :P

Btw, will the aluminum tape hold down the probe securely? Is that what you all use?

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Originally Posted by nixer

and also poss. farm supply stores.

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I'm sorry, I just noticed this and it made me laugh... no offense to you (it was a good suggestion), but I wouldn't know where to find a farm supply store in San Francisco. :8:

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Originally Posted by Danounet

Good god, I have always wondered what is it like to live away from the city in a nice place away from that many other people and make all the noise you could ever want and what not... But I never realised how annoying it would be if you need a last minute thing... lol

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It's actually the opposite problem... I live IN the city, and Walmart is only in the boonies. We don't believe in Walmarts here in San Francisco, for what reason I have no idea. :weirdface But I guarantee it would be protested constantly, which is why they're all waaaaaay far from us. The closest one is in Hayward, which is across the bridge (leaving SF) plus another 15 miles south.

P.S. As I mentioned above, we also don't have a lot of "big-box" stores in the city, probably due to lack of space... so even Lowes & Home Depot are a good 20-minute drive away! It's easier to find head shops & adult video stores than a hardware store in the city, LOL.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Btw, will aluminum tape hold down the probe securely? Is that what you all use?

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Yes, that is the only type of tape that I will use for my flexwatt and probes.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Yes, that is the only type of tape that I will use for my flexwatt and probes.

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Right on... the packaging on the electrical tape claimed it did the same thing, but clearly that is not so. :colbert:

I went through the same sort of thing a couple of weeks ago where the probe became dislodged and temps shot up to 100-108. Had the thermostat dialed waaaaayyy down, and took me awhile to realize that the probe was the culprit. I also check that AcuRite at least a dozen times a day.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Right on... the packaging on the electrical tape claimed it did the same thing, but clearly that is not so. :colbert:

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The electrical tape isn't intended to deal with the heat. It's mainly for insulating from current. The aluminum tape is intended to stay secured even with the heat. It's used on heating and air ducts as well sometime, so it had better stay put! :P

That's all I have keeping my probe down and it stays just fine.

This exact thing happened to me today. Tubs were at 120 when I checked this morning and sure enough the probe fell off the heat tape when I pushed a tub back in :/

Fortunately, everyone is fine.

So as I understand it your probe sits under one of your tubs on top of the flexwatt?

If so, this is the solution I came up with as I used to have my rack set up that way.

I made a notch in the shelving for the probe and then taped the probe to the underneath of the flexwatt using aluminum tape, then taped the heat pad back down on the shelf so it lays completely flat.

By doing this it is impossible for the probe to ever move!

It is important to completely cover the probe with foil tape when taping it to the heat pad. I originally just placed the probe in the notch without taping it to the flexwatt and I noticed my temps were not as consistent as I wanted. Foil tapping the probe directly to the bottom of ther flexwatt and then positioning the flexwatt with the probe taped to it so that the probe sits in the notch has made my temps very consistent with no worries of the probe ever moving.

P.S: I used a dremel with a drill bit to carve a notch

Good idea, Chad! I'm planning to re-drill the shelves anyway (to go lid-less), so maybe I'll try to do that. :gj:

Btw, I tried to get some aluminum tape today at Office Max, since I was in that neighborhood... they didn't have any, so I'll have to schlep to Lowe's tomorrow. And in a weird twist, the near-disaster actually helped my tubs by warming up the ambient temps! I've always had trouble keeping them high enough, since my house is super cold... but now Mona's Acu-rite is reading 80/90, so maybe the incident was a good thing. :D

Thanks for sharing the story:) I have my wife check a couple times a day while I am at work as well. My best advice is directly on the heat tape and get the probe off to the side the best as possible to make sure tubs etc do not knock loose. The electrical tape is a great idea. Secure the sucker down, I personally do not tape the probe totally under the tape, i think this allows that area to give a false heat reading, I let the front tip of the probe be free from tape.

In aquariums I had really good luck hiding the probe in the hide under the bedding. This requires some attention but for the most part worked very well. I have seen probes on sides of tubs and aquariums and this does not give a true temp reading where we most need it, and that is the surface reading where the ball python lays.

It does no good to have a 94 tub bottem reading and then put paper, aspen or bedding of choice so thick that their belly heat is 86...Anyways I am getting off topic lol.

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Originally Posted by Patricia

I went through the same sort of thing a couple of weeks ago where the probe became dislodged and temps shot up to 100-108. Had the thermostat dialed waaaaayyy down, and took me awhile to realize that the probe was the culprit. I also check that AcuRite at least a dozen times a day.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

This exact thing happened to me today. Tubs were at 120 when I checked this morning and sure enough the probe fell off the heat tape when I pushed a tub back in :/

Fortunately, everyone is fine.

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Glad to hear I'm not the only one this has happened to... also glad everyone's snakes survived! :)

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Originally Posted by ChadOwens

So as I understand it your probe sits under one of your tubs on top of the flexwatt?

If so, this is the solution I came up with as I used to have my rack set up that way.

I made a notch in the shelving for the probe and then taped the probe to the underneath of the flexwatt using aluminum tape, then taped the heat pad back down on the shelf so it lays completely flat.

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ok I got a question for you chadowens


What kind of tap will sticvk to the plywood and hold:confused: I tried duct tap and it like it just floats on the wood and won't stick . I hate ot have to buy more glue andspread under the flxwatt on my rack to hold the flex down. ( spically with the shelves already screwed down)
I anm taking a empty tub and placingthe probe under it and the other probe inside to set my temps later today.

I use a melamine rack and foil tape sticks to it very well. Here are some pics of my probe set up:

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/7/flex1.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/7/flex2.jpg

Here you can see the heat tape lays perfectly flat so the shelf can be used without fear of moving the probe.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/7/flex3.jpg

Please clarify one thing for me - as I've read thru this post it appears to me that the problem came from the probe being moved from its intended location - the problem wasn't that the actual Helix therm failed - is this correct.

I run both my set ups on a separate Helix and hate the thought of now having to go buy two more Helix's to feel safe.

If I understand correctly - as long as my probe are secure then I should be fine - is this correct.

Thanks everyone.

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Originally Posted by L.West

Please clarify one thing for me - as I've read thru this post it appears to me that the problem came from the probe being moved from its intended location - the problem wasn't that the actual Helix therm failed - is this correct.

I run both my set ups on a separate Helix and hate the thought of now having to go buy two more Helix's to feel safe.

If I understand correctly - as long as my probe are secure then I should be fine - is this correct.

Thanks everyone.

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Yeah the thermostat did not fail, the probe just got moved off the flexwatt which is what caused the temperature spike. :)

Very cool, Chad - thanks! :)

And no, the thermostat didn't fail... as Kaorte said, the probe simply got knocked out of place. Btw, I finally made it to Lowe's and got the aluminum tape - only took care of the probe so far, but I'll change the rest of the tape (from electrical to aluminum) when I clean cages later. Also picked up a little hand-held soldering iron for like $12, and a new dimmer for my gecko tank. Love that place! :D

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Originally Posted by L.West

If I understand correctly - as long as my probe are secure then I should be fine - is this correct.

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In this instance, that is correct, however probes and thermostats do fail, and sometimes their failures can result in catastrophe - but it's like investing, you decide what is an acceptable level of risk.

If your probe is fixed in place well, and your collection is valued in the few thousand dollar range, the second thermostat probably isn't worth the investment to avoid an occurrence with somewhere in the small fraction of a percent probability. If however your investment dwarfs your 401k and stocks, you might feel the redundancy is relatively cheap to ensure your animals aren't put at risk of fatally overheating.