t-stat probe placement-what do you do & why

Where do you put your t-stat probe? I'm using uth, hydrofarm t-stat, and glass aquarium, I've saw posts where people put them directly on the uth, others on the glass above, I have mine just under the top of the substrate with my thermometer probe. Also why you put them where you do would be nice to know. Like are your temps regulated better with the probe directly on the uth?..

I like to put the probe right between the UTH and the enclosure so it's reading the UTH output directly. If the probe is in the enclosure you run the risk of the animal moving it which can cause your UTH to heat up full blast.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Very shortly someone will come along and tell you it's fine to hot glue your probe to the bottom of the tank right over the UTH. That method works as well, if you want to mess with hot glue, an extra wire running into your tank, and the possibility that your animal could move the probe anyway or get caught in the wire.

The method you choose is up to you, but I would advise against your current arrangement as your snake can easily move your probe if it's just stuck in the substrate.

It is much safer to put the probe directly on the UTH. If your probe is inside the tank your snake can move the probe around and this can have terrible consequences. If the probe is moved off of the UTH the thermostat won't know how hot the UTH is so it will apply full power to the UTH to try to reach the set temperature. But it won't ever get to the set temperature. Ecause the probe isn't reading the UTH's temperature. This poses a severe risk of burning your snake.

Putting the probe inside the tank can be done, but the probe must be secured to the bottom of the tank. Otherwise the. Ottom will get hotter than you want it to ( plus it is the only way to secure it so it cannot move) DO NOT EVER use tape to secure he probe or anything else inside the tank as your snake can get stuck to it. I use hit glue to secure my thermostat proves in or out of the cage. (just don't put hot glue on the probe itself.

My PVC cages have the best system I have seen so far, they have a slot in the bottom where the UTH goes. This way the thermostat probe is secured to the UTH and also allows the cage to sit flush.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0441.jpg

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Originally Posted by Slim

I like to put the probe right between the UTH and the enclosure so it's reading the UTH output directly. If the probe is in the enclosure you run the risk of the animal moving it which can cause your UTH to heat up full blast.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Very shortly someone will come along and tell you it's fine to hot glue your probe to the bottom of the tank right over the UTH. That method works as well, if you want to mess with hot glue, an extra wire running into your tank, and the possibility that your animal could move the probe anyway or get caught in the wire.

The method you choose is up to you, but I would advise against your current arrangement as your snake can easily move your probe if it's just stuck in the substrate.

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Couldn't agree more! Great post.

Regards,

B

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Originally Posted by Slim

I like to put the probe right between the UTH and the enclosure so it's reading the UTH output directly. If the probe is in the enclosure you run the risk of the animal moving it which can cause your UTH to heat up full blast.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Very shortly someone will come along and tell you it's fine to hot glue your probe to the bottom of the tank right over the UTH. That method works as well, if you want to mess with hot glue, an extra wire running into your tank, and the possibility that your animal could move the probe anyway or get caught in the wire.

The method you choose is up to you, but I would advise against your current arrangement as your snake can easily move your probe if it's just stuck in the substrate.

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This ^

I knew there had to be a reason other than it was one less wire, I will probably put it directly on the uth and adjust it by that, would it be ok to use foil tape and tape it to the uth, does this risk damaging the uth if I remove it? Those AP cages are nice I've looked @ them a few times along with ur write up, I'll definitely be going pvc.

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Originally Posted by tlich

I knew there had to be a reason other than it was one less wire, I will probably put it directly on the uth and adjust it by that, would it be ok to use foil tape and tape it to the uth, does this risk damaging the uth if I remove it? Those AP cages are nice I've looked @ them a few times along with ur write up, I'll definitely be going pvc.

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If you use foil tape do not put it on the probe itself as it will act like a heat sink and mess with the probes readings. You and use it in the probes cord though. I would use another type of tape or hot glue if possible.

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Originally Posted by slim

i like to put the probe right between the uth and the enclosure so it's reading the uth output directly. If the probe is in the enclosure you run the risk of the animal moving it which can cause your uth to heat up full blast.

That's my story and i'm sticking to it...

Very shortly someone will come along and tell you it's fine to hot glue your probe to the bottom of the tank right over the uth. That method works as well, if you want to mess with hot glue, an extra wire running into your tank, and the possibility that your animal could move the probe anyway or get caught in the wire.

The method you choose is up to you, but i would advise against your current arrangement as your snake can easily move your probe if it's just stuck in the substrate.

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x2.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

If you use foil tape do not put it on the probe itself as it will act like a heat sink and mess with the probes readings. You and use it in the probes cord though. I would use another type of tape or hot glue if possible.

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Electrical tape? I don't have hot glue gun, I could get one if it would make much of a difference

Uth is already on bottom of the tank and I would rather not try taking it off and damage it or I would probably have just put it in between..

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Originally Posted by tlich

Electrical tape? I don't have hot glue gun, I could get one if it would make much of a difference

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Electric tape should work. Whatever you use just don't cover the entire probe as doing so could trap heat and effect your probes readings.

Thanks everyone for the replies

I just have the t-stat probe and the temp probe on the inside of my hot hide held down by the hot hide since its heavy. There both on top of the substrate to measure surface temps. Havn't ever had a problem.

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Originally Posted by viper8940

I just have the t-stat probe and the temp probe on the inside of my hot hide held down by the hot hide since its heavy. There both on top of the substrate to measure surface temps. Havn't ever had a problem.

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You are playing a very dangerous game.

He cant move the hide at all or n he cant move the probe cuz the wires held down by the hide.

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Originally Posted by viper8940

He cant move the hide at all or n he cant move the probe cuz the wires held down by the hide.

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That might be true, but all it takes is one slip up to have BBQ'd BP. Say you lift up the hide to grab your snake or somehow your snake manages to move the hide and you don't notics. The probe then gets moved and the thurmostat starts running the UTH at full. Not only is your BP at risk, but the UTH is now at a much higher risk of starting a fire. UTH's are not to be messed with.

In the end, it's your life and your BP. I can't tell you what to do, but please at least consider my warning.

Ok, so I moved my probe taped to uth, it seems to regulate the temp better also, using accurite probe (that was dead on with tstat when they were together) its not fluctuating a single degree between on/off cycles, question is it ok to read this temp with Bp in hide on top of thermometer probe? I mean the trapped heat the snake will cause gives me a more accurate reading correct? And by that I mean a safer "max" temp

it shouldn't make a big difference either way, but yes in the hide will give you the hottest spot (as long as it is directly over the UTH)

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Electric tape should work. Whatever you use just don't cover the entire probe as doing so could trap heat and effect your probes readings.

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So is it okay to put tape on the tip of the probe? Just to get it to lie flat against the UTH? When I first glanced at this I took it to mean no tape on the probe itself whatsoever. So just thought I'd clarify, as being able to put a little strip of tape over the end of the probe would be very helpful :)

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Ashleigh91

So is it okay to put tape on the tip of the probe? Just to get it to lie flat against the UTH? When I first glanced at this I took it to mean no tape on the probe itself whatsoever. So just thought I'd clarify, as being able to put a little strip of tape over the end of the probe would be very helpful :)

Thanks

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some tape at the tip is fine, the less you cover the probe the better, but a small strip isn't going to be an issue.