Herpstat Question

I plugged in my herpstat nd a while ago and the thermostat reads the desired temp 93 degrees but when i point my temp gun at the heat tape, it reads 87 degrees. Whats going on?

With most thermostats, you don't set it to the number you want, but to the number that gives you the temperature you want. For example, my Herpstat is set at 100 to make the temp on the warm side 95. There is often a difference between the reading and actual temperature, which is why a good temp gun or digital thermometer (or even better - both) are needed.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

With most thermostats, you don't set it to the number you want, but to the number that gives you the temperature you want. For example, my Herpstat is set at 100 to make the temp on the warm side 95. There is often a difference between the reading and actual temperature, which is why a good temp gun or digital thermometer (or even better - both) are needed.

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+1

THANK YOU! So in order to get it to be 90 degrees I will have to set it a few degrees higher..right?

I have mine set at 106 to achieve 90 in my rack...I'd set it to about 93 and work from there and adjust as needed.

All of my thermostats read the actual temp in the tubs...Adjust the probe around until the thermostat and the tub are the reading the same.

This is kinda funny to me cuz I'm a college student and don't have the cash to buy a herpstat nd. Instead I bought a cheap digital one made by hydro farms, it was only $30 and meant for plant heat mats. I hooked it up to my heat tape, taped the probe directly to the heat tape and set it for 94 and it keeps the tape at 94 and the tubs at 91 on the bottom and 93 at the top. Maybe try covering the probe in tape, taping it down to the heat tape? I use electrical tape and i think covering the top of the probe insulates it from the room temp air making more accurate. If that makes sense?

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I have mine set at 106 to achieve 90 in my rack...I'd set it to about 93 and work from there and adjust as needed.

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+1 - I have mine set to around 103 to reach 90 degrees.

I also have the probe to all my stats (I also use a Johnson) taped directly to the UTH with foil tape and it still requires 'off' settings. :) The number you need to heed is the temp gun or thermometer reading, as that is taken where the snakes are. :D Just tweak the stat settings until you get the desired 90-95 inside.

Mine used to do that when I used foil tape but I read what Deon said and switched to normal cheap clear tape. I set mine now to exactly what I want and it is always dead on. What's your ambient temp? Heat tape can only accomodate so much temp change.

Regards,

Brian

My thermostats read what the heat tape does. I still have to set it higher than the temps I want because it'll lose some heat between the tape and what the tub will actually read. I set my Herpstat for 95 to get a 92 degree hot spot inside the tubs. I lose 3 degrees between the heat tape and the inside of the tub's surface.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I have mine set at 106 to achieve 90 in my rack...I'd set it to about 93 and work from there and adjust as needed.

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Having to set a thermostat for 106 to get a 90 hot spot sounds a little off... :confused:

Is this a rack system? What kind of setup?

I run all my stats at 95 to get about 92 in the tubs. Then again it is a spare room with the a/c vent only cracked a little.

Op let me clarify my understanding here.

You have heat tape and a herpstat probe on the tape correct? The temperature measured is directly off the tape correct? They should be the same or very close. You should not be seeing much of a difference most of the comments are the temp from inside to outside the tubs in a rack.

IR guns are very poor at measuring shiny things basically it reflects off and measures something else (for example the ceiling) try placing a small bit of plain brown masking tape on the heat tape give it some time to warm up and measure that not the tape. If you are still seeing more than a degree maybe two (the accuracy of the gun is likely +/-2ºF) there is something wrong and I'd email Dion at spyder robotics he is very very good to deal with.