I got my rack!!

I went to Ben's where my mojave is to take new pics of her and make another payment (Shes coming home friday, im so excited) and there was a 5 drawer reptile basics rack! It had the johnson thermostat with it (complete with cooling) It has back heat and came with most of its bins. After lots of disinfecting and setting up we put the three snakes we have now in it. The temps arent right so the animals wont stay over night in it but for the sake of the pic i put them in there.

i do have a question, we put a call and an email into rich at reptile basics, we cant figure out how to get the cooling setting off of there. its stuck at 70's despite our putting the sp setting to 90. anyone have some insight as to how to reset the thermostat?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2071/...3349640f85.jpg

congrats on the new rack and new additions coming on Friday. wow your collection is growing quick. I am so green with envy on your new rack, searching around to get one myself. Cant wait to see updated pics of the rack filled. really can't wait to see pics of the new additions when they arrive.

we made a plan and are running with it :D I just couldnt believe how everything happened, like it was meant to be. I know we have to grow our girls up to breed them so we had to start somewhere. I cant wait until Friday the anticipation is killing me!

the top right bin has my pastel, the second shelf left bin has cameron and third rack is arion our normal female.. so the top left is for either the spider or mojave and the second right rack for the other.

Inside the back of the johnson control.

On the top pair of pins on BLOCK P4. The cooling mode consists of removing the jumper.

Heating mode the jumper is installed

Not sure what the jumper consists of. Maybe just a wire. Or a special adapter. But that's what it is.

That's what it says in my manual.

You need the jumper. OHHHHH!!! Read more!! Open the back of it up. Top pins on BLOCK P4. The jumper is only hooked into 1 pin. Which will be the top one. Move it over so it goes into both pins.

That will enable it to run at heating mode. And cut off at your setpoint.

Good luck!!!

wow ashley you have a GREAT RACK lol had to say it

The jumper is inside of it. You just have to move it over so that it rests on both pins.

The picture shows what looks like a little black jumper. Almost like its plastic.

But the manual says that the way yous is running that the jumper is still inside. You just need to move it over.

Make sure you unplug it first.

thank you 2kdime. that helped alot.. the pins in the back were set wrong. were rereading the manual again and hopefully we can start getting some heat :) what do you set your sp at? I have mine set at 88 right now.

The teardrop is still there though.


we did restart it when we were done also...


420boa thank you were very excited about it :)

That should have fixed it.
Other than that I don't know.

I set mine at 85 or 86. Differential set at 1. Asd is set at 0. Sf is set at 0. Ofs is set at 0.

Also depends where you et your probe. I put mine on the flexwatt. On the outside of the tub. With a paper towel folded up neatly just big enough to cover the probe. And taped down with a piece of duct tape. Works like a charm.

thats what we have too.. its electrical taped to the back since we have back heat instead of belly heat.

Is it covered with anything like a paper towel like I mentioned?

I notice if its not there. The stat will run more and more because the ambient room temps will cool it down a bit. And my temps inside the tubs will get higher than my set temps.

Which is no good!! Haha

See how it works for you. But I've tried EVERYTHING probably 30 times. And this way gets the best results.

there is no paper towel right now, its just taped to the flexwatt. We will see what happens tonight with our temps. thanks so much for your help youve been a lifesaver!! we SOOO owe you

Haha no problem!!! I saw it was a johnson control. So I ran to my room and grabbed the manual.

Glad to have been of some help :)

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

there is no paper towel right now, its just taped to the flexwatt. We will see what happens tonight with our temps. thanks so much for your help youve been a lifesaver!! we SOOO owe you

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well you have been a tremendous help, words really cant begin to explain how greatfull we are! We can start disassembling the makeshift bins we had for our snakes and look forward to a good long life of racks. NO MORE RHEOSTAT!

Yeah booo on rheostats!!! Haha. They work like magic in my climate controlled room though. If its not climate controlled. Then they're a headache.

And Johnson controls aren't bad. I had mine controlling my cold side temps on 3 tubs. In a room heated to 82 degrees. And I got maybe a 2 degree temp swing with mine. I use it to bump the temp up just a tad. I've since switched to Ranco brand for the cold sides. They're a little more temp steady in my experience.

The helix's are good too. I love em.

But a properly setup johnson control or ranco is just fine :)

Does that rack sag at all in the middle? I've heard those sideways ones tend to sag over time. And did you pick it up used? Brand new? Mind me asking what you paid for it?

I picked it up used. The man had it for just under a year, was trying to breed and decided to breed dogs instead :rolleyes: :O :confused: so he sold it to the store It doesnt sag at all, its really in amazing shape. the bins were a bit yucky but we washed them up really well and my husband is on his way to buy two more bins for the bottom two slots. We just got really lucky. I dont mind sharing what we paid for it as it was an absolute steal.. we got everything for $225. Needless to say im beyond thrilled. The store guaranteed it would work too or they would take it back.

Even if we have to replace the flexwatt, bins and thermostat in a year its still a deal :D

there is one pit fall... It doesnt have the locking pins and we have little people. Thankfully the bins are nice and snug but we might do our own locking pins if it becomes an issue. Our kids are usually pretty good but like anything else, they too can be unpredictable and with pet snakes and pet rats in the house we cant be too careful.

Just make sure they know not to put little things in they're mouths.

I don't know how old the kids are. But you never know. Haha. Some kids just aren't smart. Haha

Butyeah that's a heck of a bargain!! Thought I'd say you'll obviously have to set your stat higher than say; mine. I'm using belly heat. Your using back heat.

Hope you can get it working!!

Im sure it will work fine once we get things situated with the proper temps. Our kids are almost two and three and half (2 kids) they dont put things in their mouths anymore.. its more my fear of them opening one of the drawers up when were not looking. lol

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

I picked it up used. The man had it for just under a year, was trying to breed and decided to breed dogs instead :rolleyes: :O :confused: so he sold it to the store It doesnt sag at all, its really in amazing shape. the bins were a bit yucky but we washed them up really well and my husband is on his way to buy two more bins for the bottom two slots. We just got really lucky. I dont mind sharing what we paid for it as it was an absolute steal.. we got everything for $225. Needless to say im beyond thrilled. The store guaranteed it would work too or they would take it back.

Even if we have to replace the flexwatt, bins and thermostat in a year its still a deal :D

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Oh you lucky dog you!!!! Darnit!!!! I almost stopped in their shop today! I would have carried it home strapped to my back.

Good for you, gratz on the rack. :banana:

Staci thats so funny you say that! I was talking to Brian saying we would be back for it and if it was still there it would be meant to be, if not it wouldnt be... then he was telling me about how he was going to buy something and someone else got it within minutes of him being back there. So go figure lol.. bet your booty we drove right back over there and got it lol!! Thanks for the congrats. i would make the drive up there just to see that Madagascar tree boa lol

Holy wow, I have the thermostat set at 105 and its still only giving me 86 on the warm side. I have a temp probe on the outside of the bin and one on the inside of the bin against where the heat is above the substrate. we have been slowly increasing the thermostat heat. good lord its going to be 115 before I get my warm side temps where i want them

What's the room your keeping it in's ambient temp?

Back heat isn't as effective as belly heat. It doesn't make as good a contact with the tub. There's always that big gap.

What you could do is set up a dummy tub. Put the thermostat probe in it on the back wall of the tub. Set it to what you want the temp to be in all your tubs. Whah-lah.

Protected a little from ambient room temps. Gets you the temp you want in all the other tubs. And there's no risk of an animal moving it.

Hope you get everything squared away.

Ashley.............your DOOMED! Your Hooked like a 15pound SeaBass! NIce Rack! :gj:

Put the Thermostat probe slightly in front of the flexwatt.............and turn the flex watt down to 95 for now.


If you have your old enclosures you might want to put the snakes back in there, until your temps are stable!

I'm charging my camera give me a second and i'll get a picture of how i do it up...............i also use back heat!

LOL reediculous.. my husband said i have a nice rack now too hahahahhahahaha... ok back to PG rating. thank you, im defiantly hooked in the worst way, almost tempted to buy another rack since i got this one at such an awesome price. but i know if i have more slots ill get more animals and that is NOT the plan right now lol. thank you for the help.. ill get crackin at it lol

2kdime. the house is kept pretty cool, I think our ambient in the house is around 72? :rolleyes: i know its cold! If i move the probe then i wouldnt know how hot the flexwatt is would i? does that really matter since i need to get the temp inside the bins right.. (did that make sense?) is there anything actually wrong with having the thermostat set so high (kinda like a dummy temp since i have to make the temp inside the bins right) as long as the temps inside the bins arent that high? I know back heat isnt as ideal but for the price i paid how could one say no? I suppose we could redo the flexwatt and make it into belly heat, not that i would really want to if we can get it working right this way though.

the flexwatt doesnt feel hot at all to the touch. is it possible the probe is misreading?

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

LOL reediculous.. my husband said i have a nice rack now too hahahahhahahaha... ok back to PG rating. thank you, im defiantly hooked in the worst way, almost tempted to buy another rack since i got this one at such an awesome price. but i know if i have more slots ill get more animals and that is NOT the plan right now lol. thank you for the help.. ill get crackin at it lol

2kdime. the house is kept pretty cool, I think our ambient in the house is around 72? :rolleyes: i know its cold! If i move the probe then i wouldnt know how hot the flexwatt is would i? does that really matter since i need to get the temp inside the bins right.. (did that make sense?) is there anything actually wrong with having the thermostat set so high (kinda like a dummy temp since i have to make the temp inside the bins right) as long as the temps inside the bins arent that high? I know back heat isnt as ideal but for the price i paid how could one say no? I suppose we could redo the flexwatt and make it into belly heat, not that i would really want to if we can get it working right this way though.

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I thought the same thing......but moving the probe was the only way i could get my temps right. I used foil tape to secure it......and my Helix thermostat is set to 96 and the temps inside the tub are always 92-93 (perfect) I'll get a pick up in two minutes.

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

the flexwatt doesnt feel hot at all to the touch. is it possible the probe is misreading?

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It shouldn't feel HOT, but it should feel warm.

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Originally Posted by reediculous

I thought the same thing......but moving the probe was the only way i could get my temps right. I used foil tape to secure it......and my Helix thermostat is set to 96 and the temps inside the tub are always 92-93 (perfect) I'll get a pick up in two minutes.

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mine is secured with the foil tape also. but again the flexwatt doesnt feel friggin 106 degrees lol. it feels warm but certainly not hot by any means

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

mine is secured with the foil tape also. but again the flexwatt doesnt feel friggin 106 degrees lol. it feels warm but certainly not hot by any means

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and your thermostat probe is taped on the flexwatt?

it does feel warm but certainly no where near hot

edit: yes it is

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

it does feel warm but certainly no where near hot

edit: yes it is

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I have read and some people do it this way....i was never able to get the temps right doing it that way.....i emailed rich and he also suggested i put the thermostat probe slightly in front of the flex watt! I haven't had a problem after i made the switch!

here's a picture of how i do it

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0664.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0660.jpg




and one of these bad boys can be your best friend.........

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0665.jpg

we dont have a room dedicated to the snakes yet so a space heater wouldnt do us any good lol.. im gonna try moving the probe slightly away from the flexwatt thats a great idea. now my question is, do you put a bin over the top of it or leave that space open?


edit: aha!! moving the probe away from the flexwatt is already making the temps more realistic! I lowered the thermostat down to 90 and the temps are getting better already and i can still put my bin in there! great info, thanks!

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

we dont have a room dedicated to the snakes yet so a space heater wouldnt do us any good lol.. im gonna try moving the probe slightly away from the flexwatt thats a great idea. now my question is, do you put a bin over the top of it or leave that space open?

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Oh yea.....the tub slides right over top of that! and if your tubs don't have a space to slide over that way....just move the probe in the crease on the side of the tub......hope this makes sense. it's kind of hard to explain

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

we dont have a room dedicated to the snakes yet so a space heater wouldnt do us any good lol

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As of right now, i don't either.....that is my bedroom! Gets a little hot sometimes but i can deal with it

Plus I'm naturally Hot anyway! :D

reediculous, what is your real name so i dont have to keep calling you rediculous lol?

Do you use hides in your bins? If so where do you put them with the back heat? Do you use one near the flexwatt and one on the other side closer to the front?

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Originally Posted by reediculous

Oh yea.....the tub slides right over top of that! and if your tubs don't have a space to slide over that way....just move the probe in the crease on the side of the tub......hope this makes sense. it's kind of hard to explain

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yes, it did make sense and thats exactly what i did lol

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Originally Posted by reediculous

As of right now, i don't either.....that is my bedroom! Gets a little hot sometimes but i can deal with it
Plus I'm naturally Hot anyway! :D

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:rofl: your too funny!!!! thanks again for all your help! My husband is crazy and he turns the friggin AC down to like 69 at night

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

reediculous, what is your real name so i dont have to keep calling you rediculous lol?

Do you use hides in your bins? If so where do you put them with the back heat? Do you use one near the flexwatt and one on the other side closer to the front?

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Tyree*

and i use hides for my snakes up to 2000grams........One on the warm side.

when they want it cooler, i see them hanging out by the water bowl up front.

Ive noticed with rack's the dark keeps them secure, and most of the time they don't use the hide. But the smaller guys always use them.

**remember this is just how i do it. I'm no expert, but it works very well for my guys, without any problems. I have one problem feeder, and she has been that way since i brought her. The guy i got her from even had problems with her.....But that seems solved now since ASF's baby! (african soft furred rats)

thanks Tyree lol.. I appreciate your words of experience. I know everything is just a suggestion but i appreciate it more than words can explain. ive never had a rack before so everything (the idea of breeding mostly) is really becoming a reality now. I have hides in with everyone currently and they all use them I was just wondering what others do also.

to be honest (going backwards here) i dont even know if you can get space heaters in south florida lol ive never seen one in real life

For example this guy seems to hate hides....never goes inside of his!

by the way there is a lot more room in this tub then it seems.....the tub is not all the way pulled out, and it's a 32qt tub.....and the snake is 1200grams



http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0333.jpg

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

thanks Tyree lol.. I appreciate your words of experience. I know everything is just a suggestion but i appreciate it more than words can explain. ive never had a rack before so everything (the idea of breeding mostly) is really becoming a reality now. I have hides in with everyone currently and they all use them I was just wondering what others do also.

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You'll be learning forever........Same with everybody even the big guys! You'll be fine!

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

to be honest (going backwards here) i dont even know if you can get space heaters in south florida lol ive never seen one in real life

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I forgot you live in FL......lol, maybe you don't need a heater! lol

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Originally Posted by reediculous

For example this guy seems to hate hides....never goes inside of his!

by the way there is a lot more room in this tub then it seems.....the tub is not all the way pulled out, and it's a 32qt tub.....and the snake is 1200grams



http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0333.jpg

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Killer ghost Tyree!

I use the same hides in my 32qt tubs, most of my snakes will use them...but some of them don't use em at all, but I leave them there for something for them to shed against.

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

Killer ghost Tyree!

I use the same hides in my 32qt tubs, most of my snakes will use them...but some of them don't use em at all, but I leave them there for something for them to shed against.

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Whats up J......thanks man! that jasballs, has some killer snakes!

Jason where is your thermostat probe?

Tyree, that animal is BEAUTIFUL! We use the same hides and thats a great idea about using them for shedding. The hides really dont take up much space either, especially not in the bigger bins

moving the probe was just the ticket! my thermostat is set at 90 now and the temps are slowly stabilizing.

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

thats a great idea about using them for shedding.

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Jason is full of ideas..........glad those temps are stabilizing

full of good ideas and handsome to boot! have you seen his profile picture?!

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Originally Posted by reediculous

glad those temps are stabilizing

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:) thanks again!

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

full of good ideas and handsome to boot! have you seen his profile picture?!

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I can't keep up with this guy :bow: Swede