What will happen if the thermostat or UTH go wrong/stops working?

Hi guys! I've been using my current thermostat for around 2 or 3 years, so far they have no problems, but I always have this worrying that what will happen if the thermostat or UTH breaks/stops working? For example the probe goes wrong or the controller itself goes wrong, Will the UTH temperature keeps rising and kills my snakes and set the container on fire? (from top to bottom, my setup is sterilite storage bins-> probe of thermostat->heat mat-> some books-> carpet). Or it will actually cut the power?

Actually how high will the temperature of a heat mat go without a thermostat? I always have this worrying and always check their containers several times when I'm home and when I leave:rolleye2: and recently I saw a post on instagram or facebook, and a person says that something goes wrong (I can't remember if it's her heat mat or thermostat), her snakes died because of the heat and this makes me kind of worried about this question again. Thanks!

You can always install a backup thermostat to the primary, that would cutoff power if too hot. I think "too hot" is a bigger threat than "too cold", as if the heater stops working. But, either way, you can also put in an alarm that sounds if temps go outside some extreme parameters.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

The above plus now WiFi alarms that will call your cell.

Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Charles8088

You can always install a backup thermostat to the primary, that would cutoff power if too hot. I think "too hot" is a bigger threat than "too cold", as if the heater stops working. But, either way, you can also put in an alarm that sounds if temps go outside some extreme parameters.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

---

Thanks! You mean also put the second thermostat's probe near the first one's between the container and heat mat? Also I was thinking will the bulge between the probe and the heat mat make the heat mat placed unevenly and makes the heat mat go wrong more easily? The probe of my Zilla thermostat is kind of bigger than other thermostat.

Also, do you know how hot the heat mat will actually go without a thermostat? Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 303_enfield

The above plus now WiFi alarms that will call your cell.

Good luck!

---

Thank you ! May I know what is that WiFi alarms? another kind of product? Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Thanks! You mean also put the second thermostat's probe near the first one's between the container and heat mat?

---

So... The heater gets plugged into thermostat #1. Thermostat #1 gets plugged into thermostat #2. Thermostat #2 gets plugged into the wall. The probes from both thermostats get placed in pretty much the same area in the enclosure. Thermostat #1 is your control thermostat... and you dial in the high you want in the enclosure (88-90°, for example). Thermostat #2 is your backup incase the 1st one breaks. Set the second one to maybe a degree higher. So, if thermostat #1 is set to 89, then set thermostat #2 to 90. So, now, if thermostat #1 breaks, and the temps go higher, thermostat #2 cuts it off before going higher than 90.

Of course, this doesn't protect you if thermostat #2 breaks. AND... you have to test a little to make sure thermostat #1 and #2 are calibrated pretty much the same.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Thank you ! May I know what is that WiFi alarms? another kind of product? Thanks!

---

I myself don't use the WiFi alarms, but these two I've seen others recommend.... and, I'll eventually get one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AEQ9X9I..._DZYHFbXYRPNBN

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FBCTQ3L..._W1YHFb135T49H

That second one I posted, looks like it's normally $50. But, right now, with the Prime Deals, if you are a Prime member, it's only $25. I might just pick one up now.





Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

It depends on the type and brand of the thermostat. Some fail on, some fail off, some have alarms, others don't. I have herpstats which are supposed to fail off and you can set high/low temp alarms. Some people do the redundancy route as already covered.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Charles8088

I myself don't use the WiFi alarms, but these two I've seen others recommend.... and, I'll eventually get one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AEQ9X9I..._DZYHFbXYRPNBN

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FBCTQ3L..._W1YHFb135T49H

That second one I posted, looks like it's normally $50. But, right now, with the Prime Deals, if you are a Prime member, it's only $25. I might just pick one up now.





Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

---

Thank you so much!!! That's so detailed!!
Those wifi alarm looks amazing. So may I know where would you place them? In side the container above the UTH position? But my snakes will sometimes move around and may push those alarm away maybe to some corner of the container

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

It depends on the type and brand of the thermostat. Some fail on, some fail off, some have alarms, others don't. I have herpstats which are supposed to fail off and you can set high/low temp alarms. Some people do the redundancy route as already covered.

---

Wow that's pretty cool! Mine are just Zilla and jump start, not sure whether they turn off if not working. I haven't seen any posts here talking about what will happen if something wrong with thermostat, maybe it happens super rare?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Thank you so much!!! That's so detailed!!
Those wifi alarm looks amazing. So may I know where would you place them? In side the container above the UTH position? But my snakes will sometimes move around and may push those alarm away maybe to some corner of the container

---

I use the HerpStat as well. I don't use a UTH for heat. Instead, I use the RHP's from Pro Heat, which are placed on the top inside of the enclosure, the under the tank or bottom. I place the probe up against the wall, on the warm side, just about an 2 inches off the floor. This makes it about an inch off the substrate. And, the probe is set in place with a zip tie. Its attached to the wall and can't move.

If you mean placing the wifi temp monitor, and not having that moved by the snake... then I don't know. I don't have one in there (YET). But, I just ordered a few of the Govee ones I listed above, since the price was good, and will soon give it a whirl!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Charles8088

I use the HerpStat as well. I don't use a UTH for heat. Instead, I use the RHP's from Pro Heat, which are placed on the top inside of the enclosure, the under the tank or bottom. I place the probe up against the wall, on the warm side, just about an 2 inches off the floor. This makes it about an inch off the substrate. And, the probe is set in place with a zip tie. Its attached to the wall and can't move.

If you mean placing the wifi temp monitor, and not having that moved by the snake... then I don't know. I don't have one in there (YET). But, I just ordered a few of the Govee ones I listed above, since the price was good, and will soon give it a whirl!

---

Thank you so much for the information! I'm thinking placing the Govee ones maybe outside but very close to the containers, so if something goes wrong the surrounding temperature of the container should also change a lot! Then I may get some indoor camera so then I can check the situation!:)

Oh! The second I'm about to purchase it the deal is over:rolleye2:

https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Tempera...ef_=ast_sto_dp
I found this one is $35 but not sure what's the difference

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Oh! The second I'm about to purchase it the deal is over:rolleye2:

https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Tempera...ef_=ast_sto_dp
I found this one is $35 but not sure what's the difference

---

Well... funny.... it looks like exactly the same unit. Just different pages. Which is also odd, considering both show up as Sold by Govee, Fulfilled by Amazon. There IS another Govee unit that looks exactly the same, but is bluetooth instead of wifi. That one is I think like $15. But, this link you have here, looks exactly the same as the other wifi unit. I looked, and looks the same. If you see otherwise, let me know.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Wow that's pretty cool! Mine are just Zilla and jump start, not sure whether they turn off if not working. I haven't seen any posts here talking about what will happen if something wrong with thermostat, maybe it happens super rare?

---

Zilla and Jumpstart both fail wide open if they do fail. Meaning, the thermostat stops working but the heating unit does not. So, if the tstat fails the heat will spike.

Herpstats will shut the heat down if the tstat fails.


That being said, I've been using a few Jumpstarts for years with no problem. I will eventually upgrade to Herpstats across the board though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Zilla and Jumpstart both fail wide open if they do fail. Meaning, the thermostat stops working but the heating unit does not. So, if the tstat fails the heat will spike.

Herpstats will shut the heat down if the tstat fails.


That being said, I've been using a few Jumpstarts for years with no problem. I will eventually upgrade to Herpstats across the board though.

---

Thank you so much for the information! That's kind of scary but I feel relieved to know that yours are still good with years of usage! I just found a video shows that looks like heat mat can go 150F on the ground and around 120F under the tank without thermostat after an hour,(so it means the it won't go higher after one hour and it's the max?) looks like it won't cause fire or smoke, so maybe the snakes is able go to the cool spot if the worst case happens.:please: Since I haven't found many posts says that their thermostat fail and cause terrible consequences, maybe that's really really unlikely to happen. I hope my thermostat works perfect until I finally settle down and upgrade them!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alice40604345

Thank you so much for the information! That's kind of scary but I feel relieved to know that yours are still good with years of usage! I just found a video shows that looks like heat mat can go 150F on the ground and around 120F under the tank without thermostat after an hour,(so it means the it won't go higher after one hour and it's the max?) looks like it won't cause fire or smoke, so maybe the snakes is able go to the cool spot if the worst case happens.:please: Since I haven't found many posts says that their thermostat fail and cause terrible consequences, maybe that's really really unlikely to happen. I hope my thermostat works perfect until I finally settle down and upgrade them!

---

Snakes don't really have the brains to figure out what's burning them so unfortunately they don't always move when heat meats spike too hot. It does happen that they fail but I wouldn't say it's common. Usually the burns and issues you hear about more often are from people who aren't using anything to control their heat. I used dimmers on my heat mats until I got herpstats and they are well worth the upgrade, you can't really go wrong investing in high quality heating and controllers since temps and stability are so crucial for your snakes health.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Zilla and Jumpstart both fail wide open if they do fail. Meaning, the thermostat stops working but the heating unit does not. So, if the tstat fails the heat will spike.

Herpstats will shut the heat down if the tstat fails.

---

I didn't know that about the JumpStarts or HerpStat. Good to know. I don't have any backups currently installed. Just the HerpStat alarms if temps go out of whack. But, going to set up those Govees now when I get them.

On WIFI alarms (any alarms) if for heat (cold), put it inside the cage. You can hot glue, zip tie or screw them in place. Some more advanced ones have probes you place in your tank. Electric current alarms are "inline". They are plugged into the power source.

You can find 1,000 types of alarms. I know several "collectors" that have Nest cameras in APT10 tanks. If you have a smart phone your options are almost unlimited.

Years ago I had a Jack Dempsey break a 125 gallon tank. I was using a water leak alarm like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SABRE-Wa...oduct-overview

Alarm went off an everybody heard it. Now, smart alarms call smart phones with or without WIFI.

If you dream it it can be found or made.


Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Snakes don't really have the brains to figure out what's burning them so unfortunately they don't always move when heat meats spike too hot. It does happen that they fail but I wouldn't say it's common. Usually the burns and issues you hear about more often are from people who aren't using anything to control their heat. I used dimmers on my heat mats until I got herpstats and they are well worth the upgrade, you can't really go wrong investing in high quality heating and controllers since temps and stability are so crucial for your snakes health.

---

Thank you! If snakes could be more smart that's really amazing!:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Charles8088

I didn't know that about the JumpStarts or HerpStat. Good to know. I don't have any backups currently installed. Just the HerpStat alarms if temps go out of whack. But, going to set up those Govees now when I get them.

---

Thank you so much! My Govee should be delivered today!:D And I may use your double thermostat method or HerpStat in the future!! May I know which HerpStat you use? You use one per snake or is there a type can be used for multiple snakes with multiple probes?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 303_enfield

On WIFI alarms (any alarms) if for heat (cold), put it inside the cage. You can hot glue, zip tie or screw them in place. Some more advanced ones have probes you place in your tank. Electric current alarms are "inline". They are plugged into the power source.

You can find 1,000 types of alarms. I know several "collectors" that have Nest cameras in APT10 tanks. If you have a smart phone your options are almost unlimited.

Years ago I had a Jack Dempsey break a 125 gallon tank. I was using a water leak alarm like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SABRE-Wa...oduct-overview

Alarm went off an everybody heard it. Now, smart alarms call smart phones with or without WIFI.

If you dream it it can be found or made.


Good luck!

---

Thank you!! It's surprising that there are so many kind of alarms:D Maybe in the future they could be more commonly and conveniently integrated to smart house and we don't need to worry about a bunch of things anymore