Helix Question

What do you have the thermostat set at? Got my rack in the other day and went ahead and just turned it on and set it at 95. Checked today and the tape doesnt feel that hot. My IR thermometer isnt in yet so I cant tell you the temp but it doesnt feel like 95. Also the probe is taped to the flexwatt.

I'm running back heat on my racks so I have to run the helix a little high 98 to get the hot spot up to 88. You won't know for sure what the temps are inside the tub until you use your temp gun. No worries, at 95 the tape doesn't feel very hot to the touch. Belly heat or back heat 95 is most likely pretty close to where its going to end up when you start checking with the temp gun.

any digital thermometer like accurites, taylor, oregon scientific, etc. will get you in the ballpark too!:)

the UL listed accuracy on most IR thermometers are about the same as those 2-3 deg. +/-.



vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

any digital thermometer like accurites, taylor, oregon scientific, etc. will get you in the ballpark too!:)

the UL listed accuracy on most IR thermometers are about the same as those 2-3 deg. +/-.



vaughn

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Thats what i do. I even use multiple digital thermometers to double check them too.

While I was at Home Depot today getting a soldering iron I picked up a $7 digital thermometer which includes humidity. Currently the temps are 85 under the hide and humidity around 30% but I just through in the aspen and water bowl today so we'll see in the morning. No snakes in there yet.

i have my probe taped to the UTH on the back of the tank. That is, it's placed between the UTH outside the cage and the plexiglass. I have to set my helix at 98 to get 94 surface temp inside the cage. some people recommend keeping your probe on the inside for this purpose, but i worry too much about my snakes moving it. i'd rather just settle for being off by a few degrees to get the correct inside temp. While it's true that as my ambient air temps vary so will my temps inside the cage, I sleep better knowing that my snakes vary by a couple of degrees rather than having that probe bumped and cooking them.

Remember, these are wild animals which have existed for thousands of years throughout wild temperature swings.

JonV

Well just got my IR thermometer in and my hot side is around 89 and cool side is around 80, this is with my helix set at 100. Room temp is usually around 78deg. Should I bump up the helix to maybe 102 or keep at 100.

i have my helix probe taped to the heat pad outside the tank. i set the helix at 98 to get 94 inside the tank.

JonV

IMO it's never a good idea to have your thermostat set at high temps...Set the helix to your desired temp then move the probe closer or further from the heat source until the Helix and temp gun read the same thing...

The probe is taped to the flexwatt, cant get much closer that.

I just went to double check and make sure everything is still taped down and it is. I used the IR on the flexwatt and its reading 129. Flexwatt is obviously working just curious why my temps arent that high in the tubs. I dont have to do anything to the probe before I tape it do I? Its a Reptile Basics 4 tub 32qt rack with aspen substrate.

I have my helix set at 96 and I get about 90-93 in the tub.

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Originally Posted by FIREball

The probe is taped to the flexwatt, cant get much closer that.

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You need to move it further away from the heat if you want it to get hotter...

Hi,

Or possibly try putting a leyer of plastic between the probe and flex to better simulate the tub? Just an idea so no idea of it would work at all. :(


dr del

Moved off the flexwatt and placed about an inch behind it and the temps have risen. Currently my Helix is set at 98 and my hot side is around 90 and cool side around 80. Went to Eugene Bessettes facility (OS) and with nearly 10,000 snakes he doesnt use heat at all and the room temps are around 80. He told me 90 was too hot and to be careful with the heat.

Keep that probe on the flexwatt. Check your temps with a temp gun just to be sure! Don't want to cook them.

Brock

When I had on the flexwatt I had the helix set at 100 and tub temps were mid 80s. I then moved the prob just behind the flexwatt, lowered the helix temp and am now getting upper 80s in the tub. The flexwatt temp though is well over 100 when I used my IR on it.

with racks i like to keep the stat probe taped directly to the flex.


so you are controlling the temp of the flex directly.

adjust accordingly to get the tub temps right.

just curious , what are the room temps day/night??


vaughn

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Originally Posted by FIREball

When I had on the flexwatt I had the helix set at 100 and tub temps were mid 80s. I then moved the prob just behind the flexwatt, lowered the helix temp and am now getting upper 80s in the tub. The flexwatt temp though is well over 100 when I used my IR on it.

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Check your connections..

Im getting heat and the flexwatt is working fine, I moved the probe around noticed the flexwatt getting hotter. The room temp in the day is around 80 at night 76.

OK everything has been working great the last three months with temps and my probe being about an inch behind the flexwatt. I was cleaning my tubs the other day and smelled something burning, what had happened was the flexwatt temp was around 130 (Helix was set at 96) and had gotten so hot it started melting a hole in the Iris tub (thank god no snakes were harmed!). The rack is a RB so the tubs arent sitting on the flexwatt but since then I placed the probe back directly on the flexwatt and set to 98. Temps are back down to mid to upper 80s on warm side and 80 on cool side. Room temps get no lower than 74 at night and no warmer than 80 during the day.

I would call Rich at RBI and run this past him. He is very knowledgeable about heating issues and obviously knows his product. He'll help you out so you can get it right! :)

this is a prime example of how 10 watt flexwatt is potentially dangerous.when you can get working temps with 6 watt why use 10 watt? not only is there a overheating potential but when running several racks there is a real cost savings to using 6 watt.

to the original poster you were wise to go thru the tweaking process with a empty rack,many people don't.have fun !

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Originally Posted by FIREball

OK everything has been working great the last three months with temps and my probe being about an inch behind the flexwatt. I was cleaning my tubs the other day and smelled something burning, what had happened was the flexwatt temp was around 130 (Helix was set at 96) and had gotten so hot it started melting a hole in the Iris tub (thank god no snakes were harmed!). The rack is a RB so the tubs arent sitting on the flexwatt but since then I placed the probe back directly on the flexwatt and set to 98. Temps are back down to mid to upper 80s on warm side and 80 on cool side. Room temps get no lower than 74 at night and no warmer than 80 during the day.

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Originally Posted by twh

this is a prime example of how 10 watt flexwatt is potentially dangerous.when you can get working temps with 6 watt why use 10 watt? not only is there a overheating potential but when running several racks there is a real cost savings to using 6 watt.

to the original poster you were wise to go thru the tweaking process with a empty rack,many people don't.have fun !

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Oooops!~ not so fast!!
I don't see that we were told whether he has back heat or belly heat for the rack system from RBI. On Rich's website he says: "Heating is accomplished with 11" Flexwatt heat tape on the back OR 3" Flexwatt in the shelves for the belly heat. Heat tape is fully recessed into the shelves for long product life and safety." This is for the 4-drawer 32-qt rack system that he says he has. So, if he has the belly heat, that is 3 watts. Also, on Rich's site under Flexwatt FAQ's, he states that putting the t'stat probe directly on the tape is the way to do it.
I really believe that he needs to get in touch with Rich and figure out what is going on.
My 2 cents (sense?!)

the original poster mentioned several times that he moved the probe BEHIND the flexwatt in his tweaking process,this would be impossible with back heat,so it's reasonable to assume he's using 3" belly heat which comes in 6 watt or 10 watt per foot (not 3 watt as you mentioned).RB only lists the 10 watt at there site.

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Originally Posted by starmom

Oooops!~ not so fast!!
I don't see that we were told whether he has back heat or belly heat for the rack system from RBI. On Rich's website he says: "Heating is accomplished with 11" Flexwatt heat tape on the back OR 3" Flexwatt in the shelves for the belly heat. Heat tape is fully recessed into the shelves for long product life and safety." This is for the 4-drawer 32-qt rack system that he says he has. So, if he has the belly heat, that is 3 watts. Also, on Rich's site under Flexwatt FAQ's, he states that putting the t'stat probe directly on the tape is the way to do it.
I really believe that he needs to get in touch with Rich and figure out what is going on.
My 2 cents (sense?!)

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Yes, you're right, I see that now on Rich's FAQ page. I still feel it is important for the poster to contact Rich and see what is going on since he is having big problems. We don't know how many racks he's got hooked up and since he moved the probe off the tape....well, we just don't know enough about his situation. Really, I would have called Rich right away; but that's just me! :P

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Originally Posted by twh

the original poster mentioned several times that he moved the probe BEHIND the flexwatt in his tweaking process,this would be impossible with back heat,so it's reasonable to assume he's using 3" belly heat which comes in 6 watt or 10 watt per foot (not 3 watt as you mentioned).RB only lists the 10 watt at there site.

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I did call Rich right away and got his voicemail, still havent heard back. I have (2) of his 4 unit 32qt tub racks hooked up to one Helix. Also I do have the belly heat.

Shoot him an email from his site. He has always responded to me well within 24 hours! Also, one Helix can easily deal with 2 stacked racks. Huh, I wonder what the heck is going on?? Keep us posted....

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Originally Posted by FIREball

I did call Rich right away and got his voicemail, still havent heard back. I have (2) of his 4 unit 32qt tub racks hooked up to one Helix. Also I do have the belly heat.

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