Setting up a Thermostat

I have a thermostat coming today. Nothing fancy but I was curious about the temperature probe. If it is wired to the control, how far down should the probe go? Also, how do you secure the cord that is inside the tank?

What kind of heat source are you controlling with the thermostat?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

What kind of heat source are you controlling with the thermostat?

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a UTH for a 10 gallon

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Originally Posted by Acedink

Also, how do you secure the cord that is inside the tank?

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Thermostat probe DOES NOT go inside the tank it goes outside sandwich between the enclosure and the UTH.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Thermostat probe DOES NOT go inside the tank it goes outside sandwich between the enclosure and the UTH.

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Thanks so much!

Also note that if the thermostat probe is fat and the bottom of the enclosure is glass, the floor will eventually crack under pressure - BTDT. So, you many need to come up with a way to raise the tank up a little so the weight of the enclosure isn't resting on the probe.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Also note that if the thermostat probe is fat and the bottom of the enclosure is glass, the floor will eventually crack under pressure - BTDT. So, you many need to come up with a way to raise the tank up a little so the weight of the enclosure isn't resting on the probe.

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Great, thank you. I'll come up with something for sure.

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Originally Posted by Acedink

Great, thank you. I'll come up with something for sure.

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Remember that because of this space, and also because of any substrate, any temperature inside the tank on top of such will be different than what the probe is reading, since it is on top of the UTH. You'll need to have a digital thermometer to check the surface temps, and have to adjust the thermostat accordingly

I do have a digital thermo/hygro on that side. And a temp gun. So is it ever a challenge to keep the surface temperature where it needs to be, but keep the glass itself not too hot that it burns the snake?

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Originally Posted by Acedink

I do have a digital thermo/hygro on that side. And a temp gun. So is it ever a challenge to keep the surface temperature where it needs to be, but keep the glass itself not too hot that it burns the snake?

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Set your thermostat to control the temperature on the glass only. Mine are set to 90 degrees.

Trust me, your BP will dig down to the glass surface sooner or later.

I only keep about 1/2" of substrate above my UTH so there really is very little heat loss from the glass to the surface. And once your BP reaches a few hundred grams, anything in their way gets moved aside anyway.

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Originally Posted by Acedink

I have a thermostat coming today. Nothing fancy but I was curious about the temperature probe. If it is wired to the control, how far down should the probe go? Also, how do you secure the cord that is inside the tank?

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I keep mine inside the tank against the glass for the reasons stated above, plus the snake is on the inside of the tank, where he feels the heat is the inside of the glass. so to me the important place to know the temp is on the inside of the glass. I just secure it in a spot on the heat pad that won't be messed with too often by the snake. if your substrate is layered properly (to the proper thickness) it will heat evenly and be fine. same applies for the substrate if you adhere it to the outside. I have never had any adverse occurrences with it inside the tank. you can either use one of the items to pin it to the bottom or hot glue or silicone. either works.

Also never stick tape inside the tank. And dont use reflective metal tape outside of it either for the probes. Apparently it messes with the sensor readings.

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Originally Posted by Apiratenamedjohn

Also never stick tape inside the tank. And dont use reflective metal tape outside of it either for the probes. Apparently it messes with the sensor readings.

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So I peeled up the heat mat a bit, slid the probe in, and then the heat mat wouldn't necessarily stick well, so I taped the heat pad with the aluminum tape stuff. Is that not good? It isn't touching the probe at all, just the heat mat.

Totally fine, that's how I secure my heat pads. Main thing is that the foil tape won't reflect back onto the probe

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Totally fine, that's how I secure my heat pads. Main thing is that the foil tape won't reflect back onto the probe

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Great, thank you. Now I'll just monitor the temp for a while, since humidity seems good. Then hopefully the little guy will eat. I wish I knew how stressful (on both of us) it was going to be! He didn't eat his first meal and I freaked out.

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Originally Posted by Apiratenamedjohn

Also never stick tape inside the tank. And dont use reflective metal tape outside of it either for the probes. Apparently it messes with the sensor readings.

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Totally fine, that's how I secure my heat pads. Main thing is that the foil tape won't reflect back onto the probe

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Hey, just jumping in here because I'm about to be setting up my first snake enclosure soon - concerning the foil tape, for what do people usually use it for? Is it just to supplement the cheap adhesives on some heat pads? I also thought people tape it over the adhesive (then attach the pads using tape) so the pads can be reused/easier to remove, or did I misunderstand that? I'd thought foil tape was also supposed to be for the thermostat probe but I guess that wasn't right. I saw it on a lot suggested supplies lists so I'd gone ahead and gotten a roll.

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Originally Posted by caravaggiooo

I also thought people tape it over the adhesive (then attach the pads using tape) so the pads can be reused/easier to remove, or did I misunderstand that?

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That's literally all I use it for.

Also, I've never actually heard of the foil messing with the probe, and come to think of it all my UTH's are covered in tin foil with the probe on top of them. Is that a real thing?

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Also, I've never actually heard of the foil messing with the probe, and come to think of it all my UTH's are covered in tin foil with the probe on top of them. Is that a real thing?

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i don't think so. the only thing close to that is never taping over the probe head with any type of tape; that will definitely create misreadings.

I use Gorilla Tape. It has the best adhesive I have found.

yes, it is a real thing, due to the foil in the tape. Spyder robotics (herpstat) specifically states this as a cause for incorrect readings. it is fine for the pad, but not the probe. for outside of the enclosure I use gorilla tape as well. Foil is great for heat pads. also according to Bob at Proproducts if you tape foil tape to itself, so it is two sided shiny, and then tape it to the bottom, or just use aluminum foil (shiny side up) and the tape, to cover the open space it prevents heat loss as well. apparently a tremendous amount is lost through the substrate.

Ok so I want to make sure I have things straight. Since the thermostat probe is supposed to be sandwiched between the UTH and enclosure (unless I'm mistaken), doesn't that make it lie against the foil used on the UTH? Is it ok as long as you're not taping up the metal tip of the probe? Sorry if these are basic questions! I've looked at several setup guides and there's some stuff I'm not fully clear on.

to be safe I just don't use the foil tape over the part of the mat with the probe line running under it. a small gap will hurt nothing, you could just use duct or gorilla tape on that one square if you are worried about the lack of tape.

and no need to apologize. I didn't learn these things for a long time while I was doing this. I used to make A LOT of basic mistakes. luckily my mom worked at a zoo when I was young so I never did stray too far of course.

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Originally Posted by Apiratenamedjohn

to be safe I just don't use the foil tape over the part of the mat with the probe line running under it. a small gap will hurt nothing, you could just use duct or gorilla tape on that one square if you are worried about the lack of tape.

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That makes sense, thanks! Honestly I don't know how I would've figured out any of this stuff it it weren't for these helpful forums and the Internet.

So I had peeled up a corner of the UTH fo put the probe, and the mat isnt sticking too well. I put some duct tape. Still not great. Anything better? Feel like a good bit of heat escaping.

more duct tape or gorilla tape if the duct isn't strong enough.

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Originally Posted by Acedink

So I had peeled up a corner of the UTH fo put the probe, and the mat isnt sticking too well. I put some duct tape. Still not great. Anything better? Feel like a good bit of heat escaping.

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Hot glue works well enough .. secure but not permanent.

Just to highlight that no type of tape should EVER be used INSIDE the viv / rub ..


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