Thermostat help!

I just bought one of those hydrofarm thermostats off of amazon, for the past month I've just been using a dimmer for my uth but through my research on there I realized I should go with the thermostat.

I've read that I should place the thermostat probe between the glass bottom of the tank and the uth, the only problem is that my uth is already stuck on my tank. I tried pulling up a small section and realized it would not stick back down if I did this, so instead I have taped the thermostat probe to the bottom of the uth with duct tape. I placed the duct tape over the probe hoping that would help it be less affected by the temperature fluctuations in the room. Is this an ok way to set up my thermostat? Also will it be adversly affected by occationally having a fan on in the room, like will it cause the probe to read lower and then heat the uth up to much?

I'm just kind of confused about the best way to set this up as it is my first time, any advice would be great! Thanks so much!

Thats how I have mine setup, it works great. =)

I think that is really how you are suppose to do it. It's how i set mine up anyway.

Yea, I taped my Thermostat and a Probe Thermometer to the bottom so I could check the temps and the Thermostat could maintain it. I really only did this cause thermostats can be off a little and don't tell you the temps. I would recommend this just to be safe.

Thanks! It's good to know other people hve theirsthe same way and it's working well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brstin2flames

Thanks! It's good to know other people hve theirsthe same way and it's working well.

---

Alright, good. Do you have a Probe for a Thermometer taped down there to, to check the temps yourself. Like I said above Thermostats can be off a little. Also what kind are you using?

I have a thermometer probe in the tank on the glass under the substrate so I can monitor the temp that way, then adjust the thermostat as needed. I'm using the hydrofarm thermostat and not sure on the brand of the thermometer, I bought it at a local pet supply store and it seems to be working well. I made sure to test the accuracy of the thermometer by comparing it with one I have in the house.

The thermometer probe is supposed to tell you the temperature the snake lays on inside of the tank.
It can't do that when it's taped to the bottom of the tank :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

The thermometer probe is supposed to tell you the temperature the snake lays on inside of the tank.
It can't do that when it's taped to the bottom of the tank :P

---

The way I have it works perfect.

Do what you will but the thermometer under the tank isn't needed or useful because there is no need to know the temperature of the UTH outside the tank, only inside ;)

Have a great 4th :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Do what you will but the thermometer under the tank isn't needed or useful because there is no need to know the temperature of the UTH outside the tank, only inside ;)

Have a great 4th :gj:

---

Eventually it would warm up to 93 degrees on the inside. Remember heat builds up in hides.

I need help too lol.
I bought the the Zilla 1000w thermostat and after reading this thread I set it up different now. Sooo is this right, I have the thermostat probe suction cupped to the glass on the bottom of the tank right on the UTH. Then I have a separate thermometer probe between the glass and substrate to get an accurate temperature of what he is laying on.
Am I doing it right?
Originally I had the thermostat probe where the thermometer is too.
/endthreadjack.
Sorry Brstin2flames :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bRy

I need help too lol.
I bought the the Zilla 1000w thermostat and after reading this thread I set it up different now. Sooo is this right, I have the thermostat probe suction cupped to the glass on the bottom of the tank right on the UTH. Then I have a separate thermometer probe between the glass and substrate to get an accurate temperature of what he is laying on.
Am I doing it right?
Originally I had the thermostat probe where the thermometer is too.
/endthreadjack.
Sorry Brstin2flames :(

---

Haha its cool bRy! I currently have my thermostat probe taped to the UTH but my thermometer probe inside the tank under the substrate. So far its working well, and I have to say there is definitely a difference in the readings from the probe and the actual temp inside the tank, so in my (novice) opinion it makes more sense to have the thermometer probe inside the tank because you need to know the temp the the snake is experiencing, and the thermostat probe outside on the UTH, then adjust accordingly.

But, I'm kind of confused as to why I couldn't just put the thermostat probe in the tank under the substrate along with the thermometer probe (which i think is how you had yours set up before?)

Lets see what the experienced people have to say! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brstin2flames

But, I'm kind of confused as to why I couldn't just put the thermostat probe in the tank under the substrate along with the thermometer probe (which i think is how you had yours set up before?)

---

Because if the snake moves the thermostat probe the temperature will spike creating a hot spot that can burn your snake ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Because if the snake moves the thermostat probe the temperature will spike creating a hot spot that can burn your snake ;)

---

Thanks!! That makes perfect sense now, never thought of the possibility of that happening. So far mine doesn't burrow down or anything but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I made sure to really get the probe stuck under that uth for the same reason. Don't want that probe falling off causing the thermostat to continually heat and potentially burning the little guy.

Thanks again. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brstin2flames

Haha its cool bRy! I currently have my thermostat probe taped to the UTH but my thermometer probe inside the tank under the substrate. So far its working well, and I have to say there is definitely a difference in the readings from the probe and the actual temp inside the tank, so in my (novice) opinion it makes more sense to have the thermometer probe inside the tank because you need to know the temp the the snake is experiencing, and the thermostat probe outside on the UTH, then adjust accordingly.

But, I'm kind of confused as to why I couldn't just put the thermostat probe in the tank under the substrate along with the thermometer probe (which i think is how you had yours set up before?)

Lets see what the experienced people have to say! :)

---

Haha thanks. I definetly feel ya on the totally different readings between the thermostat and thermometer. I have the thermostat set at 90F and the thermometer reads 83.6F and the thermostat shuts down then turns on when it drops to 82.5F.

my uth is already stuck to the bottom of my terrarium too. there is a little bit thats not stuck on & thats where i plan on inserting the thermostat probe. i've been told to do this...
thermostat probe - between uth & bottom of terrarium
thermometer probe - underneath substrate on warm side
thermometer unit - on cool side
there that should sum it up nicely.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brstin2flames

I just bought one of those hydrofarm thermostats off of amazon, for the past month I've just been using a dimmer for my uth but through my research on there I realized I should go with the thermostat.

---

Does anybody use lamp dimmers instead of thermostats? What is the difference between the two?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reno-cg

Does anybody use lamp dimmers instead of thermostats? What is the difference between the two?

---

I was using a dimmer for my uth but the problem with dimmers is that it does not adjust for the changes in temperature within the room. I would have the temp at a constant 93* and then if I change the temperature in my house, such as turning the AC up when I leave for the day, I'd come home to find the temperture on the hot side reading over 100*! this is because the temperature in the room got hotter therefore the uth is hotter because with the dimmer on uth it just keeps heating at the same rate regardless.

The thermostat will adjust the uth in accordance with the temps in the room, the room gets cold, the thermostat turns on and heats the uth, room gets hot, thermostat keeps the uth off until needed. A dimmer just keeps it on constantly.

Hope this helps!

That helps a lot! I'm going to start shopping for one. What are typically good names for thermostats?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reno-cg

That helps a lot! I'm going to start shopping for one. What are typically good names for thermostats?

---

HElix and herpstat go with herpstat its cheaper and ive heard better from it i love my herpstat nd http://www.spyderrobotics.com/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reno-cg

That helps a lot! I'm going to start shopping for one. What are typically good names for thermostats?

---

I bought the hydrofarm thermostat off of Amazon, only $25...I've only had it hooked up for a few days but it does seem to be working well. I bought it because I saw a few others recommend it on here saying it was decent for the price, but not the best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brstin2flames

I bought the hydrofarm thermostat off of Amazon, only $25...I've only had it hooked up for a few days but it does seem to be working well. I bought it because I saw a few others recommend it on here saying it was decent for the price, but not the best.

---

ya but is that a proportional therm or on/off .proportional is nice if u have the 125 to drop on it because it keeps the temps are accurate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bpmike1208

ya but is that a proportional therm or on/off .proportional is nice if u have the 125 to drop on it because it keeps the temps are accurate

---

I'm not quite sure what the difference is as this is the only thermostat I have owned. This one you set the temp on the thermostat where you want it and it will turn on when the temp drops below that point and will turn off once the temp is reached.