VE 200 Issue. ANny ideas?

So I've had the VE 200 since Oct. It's been great. But I find one thing very annoying. When the power goes out or anything like that I have the hardest time getting the temp set where I want it. I have the probe right on the heat tape in the rack in a grove under the tub. So I have to have it set to 106 degrees to get the right temp in the tub. But for some reason, I have to tinker without for a longer time to get it to do that. Let me try to explain.

If I set it on 106 and exit the menu. It shows the set temp as 104. So I have to fiddle with putting in higher and higher temps until it registers 106 as the set temp.

Has anyone had this problem?

I cna perhaps make a video to show you if you don't understand.

It could just be where you have the probe placed. I set my ve-300 at 95 and my heat tape reads 95 with my temp gun, and my tubs sit at a perfect 90 on the hot end.

I think I understand what you are saying but a video would clarify things I think.

regardless this sounds very strange and I would call reptile basics and see if they have heard of this issue.

So let me test my understanding. You set the temp to 106 and enter it and it sets 104. You have then to re enter the 106 repeatedly to get the set point to recognize the 106?

That sounds like a firmware issue to me and a corrupt firmware or faulty chip set. I'd suggest that it needs to be returned.

I have not had that exact problem with the VE-200 although I have had to reinput the desired set temp a couple times until it finally registers as the set temp. This only happened about two times though out of the several that I've reset the temp.

I would just call/email Rich and explain it to him. You might get better technical support from the guy that designed/built it :P

Multiple units sounds like a chip set problem... It will be interesting how the manufacturer deals with this, if two unrelated units have the same issue it sounds serious. Perhaps Aaron can make a more educated guess than I ever could.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I think I understand what you are saying but a video would clarify things I think.

regardless this sounds very strange and I would call reptile basics and see if they have heard of this issue.

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Here ya go. The autofocus is going nuts but you can see it well enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPnSZaWEcAM

I think Rich frequents this site so maybe he'll see this tonight and respond. If not I'll shoot him and email.

I miss understood the question. Your probe placement shouldn't have anything to do with the problem that you are having. Sorry about that.....

That is very upsetting! You said that it also fails to remember settings during a power failure too? That is a fairly large safety issue, I am guessing it defaults to a original temperature? Jabberwocky Dragons is your unit doing a similar thing? I would send an email ASAP if it fails to hold settings and is problematic setting them that sounds like a bug in firmware or chip set.

Personally I'd return it, that is too much for me to trust it again especially with Jabberwocky Dragons mentioning similar problems, would a new unit fail as well?

Looks like the EEPROM (memory) isn't being written to properly. It could be a software or hardware issue.

i have a problem with my ve 100 i have to put it up to 103 for a steady heat and the bottom of the rack is still cold

When I was setting up a new rack and adjusting the set temp several times to get it right, I noticed a couple times that the set temp (not probe) didn't change after I exited out. It could have been user error but I am usually careful when setting electronics and remember being surprised at the time when it didn't change.

It's been working fine ever since then though but Chris's unit has to have the temp re-inputted when the power goes out which shouldn't be happening either. I didn't catch that before my other post so I think it's a separate problem since mine does save the settings.

Whats the hysteris thing set to?

I've got several of those units and they all retain their memory when they are unplugged. I'd give Rich a call and ask him to watch the video.

Should have bought a Helix!!! Sorry I had too!

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Originally Posted by slithering house

i have a problem with my ve 100 i have to put it up to 103 for a steady heat and the bottom of the rack is still cold

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That is unlikely to be the t-stats fault but something else. likely either probe placement, poor connections, dead flexwatt, thermal gain, or some combination but very unlikely t-stat failure.

Sorry you are having a problem-
The VE-100 is most likely a bad connection somewhere, not in the thermostat. Check your setup!
On the 200, The most likely thing is you are letting the menu time out without hitting enter. The new setting is not saved to the eprom unless you do so. If that does not do the trick let me know and we can discuss it further. Shoot me an email.

The default setting is 80F which was intentionally done to be a happy medium at startup the first time. After that the setting that was entered last will be saved with a power outage. If the unit is coming on with anything other than the 80 for a setting after a power outage then it is likely that the new setting is not being fully entered because the eprom memory is working. If there was a previous saved setting and after an outage you come up with 80 then there may be an issue with the flash memory in the processor which we will be glad to fix.
Another quick note here- Don't run your heat tape at 106- it will greatly reduce the life of the element.