That's cold.

So, as some .. if not most of you know, I move out of my parents house for good on the 1st. I started packing this weekend and started with ym desk. I am a computer enthusiast (I work in the IT field) so this is a big task, and one that take me a while (I have to make sure my equipment is taken care of).

After taking my computer count in my room from 3 (2 continuous running, 1 backup) to 0 the temperature in my room dropped by 15 degrees. Which is good for me, bad for the snakes. This also just happens to coincide with our first real cold snap. Temps last night got into the 20s and tonight (just heard it on the radio) is supposed to get to low teens.

The temp in my room was 69 when I woke up at 1am. I checked the temps in the tubs and it was .. cold. Not "OMG ICE!" cold, but .. cold. They have back heat, but it still doesn't help much for the overall temps when it gets chilly like that.

I had to move my temp probe from directly on the Flex-watt to under a tub. On the flex-watt I had it set at 103 (sounds high, but that was a direct measurement of the tape .. and with my computer to aid it worked well). Now that it is under the tub (secured on the shelf the tub slide on) I have the temp set at 83.

It's working great!

The back of the tubs I would say might be getting a little warm (93-94 .. on the very .. very back inch or two) but the rest is exactly the gradient I was after. It's not the perfect solution, but at least they aren't freezing.

Long story .. so little outcome .. I know, but I had to share how I combated the cold and I wonder how you guys measure that stuff, and how winter maybe different than Summer.

Space heaters for the snake rooms.

I'd rather pay the power cost for a space heater to keep the rooms at 75 than risk a sharp temp drop at night that my heating cords can't compensate for.

I picked up an oil filled electric space heater at Home Depot for 36 bucks and it heats my snake room very well.

A single space heater connected to a thermostat will do wonders, though most of them have basic dials for the temperature so you may not even need to do that.

Personally my one computer and my snake lights keep my room well over 70 degrees, but if I turn off my computer the temperature will drop a lot, so I know exactly what you're talking about. I mean I don't have 3 computers, but my one running at 110 at all times is enough to keep my room toasty (not to mention the Antec 900 moves a lot of air through there at all times).

Quick question on this topic - if I have my setup hooked to a Helix thermostat then no matter what the room temp is the Helix will keep my tank at the temps I have set it at - correct???

The Helix will turn whatever heat devices you have on until the area around the probe is heated to the set temperature. This is the same as any other thermostat.

So in essence - it really doesn't matter if my snake room is on the cool side if the Helix is set to the right temps - correct.

thanks

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Originally Posted by L.West

So in essence - it really doesn't matter if my snake room is on the cool side if the Helix is set to the right temps - correct.

thanks

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It all depends. In my case, I had the probe on the heat panel, when the room got cold the heat panel stayed at the right degree range, but the tub got colder. So, I moved the probe closer to the front of the tubs and the heat panel got warmer to keep the new location that I had it at the correct temp.

You have to play with it, and know your own conditions and whatnot. Just remember that wherever the probe is, that is what the thermostat will read and regulate to your set temps. That doesn't mean you are 100% set .. you still need to make sure that it is heating your racks/tank correctly with a temp gun or thermometer.

Personally I stick it right on the heat tape, set it to about 94 (since over that can be dangerous) and then make sure the room in general is a high enough temperature to make up for the rest. And if the single strip isn't enough coverage, you can always put a second 3/4" section down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L.West

So in essence - it really doesn't matter if my snake room is on the cool side if the Helix is set to the right temps - correct.

thanks

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If a room is cold it can cause the Helix and flexwatt to run REALLY hot to keep up and melt tubs, happened to me once and quickly invested in a space heater.

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Originally Posted by CaneCorso

I picked up an oil filled electric space heater at Home Depot for 36 bucks and it heats my snake room very well.

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What do these & space heaters do to the electric bill? My room has been staying pretty warm, but we haven't had any kind of cold weather at all down here in SC and I am considering getting one of these for preventative purposes.

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Originally Posted by FIREball

If a room is cold it can cause the Helix and flexwatt to run REALLY hot to keep up and melt tubs, happened to me once and quickly invested in a space heater.

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I was concerned about this last night too. I woke up several times to check the temps .. EVERYWHERE, and I was comfortable with where they all sat. I had heard the horror stories, and was determined to not let that happen to me!

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Originally Posted by cuda

I was concerned about this last night too. I woke up several times to check the temps .. EVERYWHERE, and I was comfortable with where they all sat. I had heard the horror stories, and was determined to not let that happen to me!

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Pull the tub and check your flexxwatt to see what its running at, not just your tub. When my incident happened by Helix was set at 97 and probe taped directly to flexwatt, and the flexwatt was almost 130deg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FIREball

Pull the tub and check your flexxwatt to see what its running at, not just your tub. When my incident happened by Helix was set at 97 and probe taped directly to flexwatt, and the flexwatt was almost 130deg

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Did.

Done.

Running high, but nothing out of control. Like I said, it is not the prefect solution .. but until I move, I have to make due, and this seems to be working the way it is. I checked several times this morning the temps of the tubs, tape, snakes, substrate .. all over and in between, and again at noon.

well, I just set the thermostat on the wall in my apartment to 75. I like my temps a little high anyhoo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FIREball

Pull the tub and check your flexxwatt to see what its running at, not just your tub. When my incident happened by Helix was set at 97 and probe taped directly to flexwatt, and the flexwatt was almost 130deg

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:O How cold was your room?

I have my set up the same way, probe taped (with aluminum tape) to the flex watt (also covered with aluminum tape). The room is around 70 degrees and I have a thermometer on the bottom of the tub, and on the wall inside of the tub to make sure the temps stay average. Thus far I haven't seen my tub thermometer, that's directly over the flexwatt, go over 90 (I have the flexwatt set at 93).

Now you got me worried! :weirdface

I was on vacation so dont know exactly how cold it got, couldnt have been lower than 68.

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Originally Posted by FIREball

I was on vacation so dont know exactly how cold it got, couldnt have been lower than 68.

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Really?! Wow....Hmmm. We've got a couple space heaters, but I'm worried about leaving them on all the time. It worries me. Granted my snake room is in the basement on cement floors....

What's a good brand of space heater you would recommend? The two we have were expensive and you can set them to whatever temp you want (digital), but they are made of plastic. It, just doesn't seem that safe to me :weirdface

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Originally Posted by Isis

Really?! Wow....Hmmm. We've got a couple space heaters, but I'm worried about leaving them on all the time. It worries me. Granted my snake room is in the basement on cement floors....

What's a good brand of space heater you would recommend? The two we have were expensive and you can set them to whatever temp you want (digital), but they are made of plastic. It, just doesn't seem that safe to me :weirdface

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I bought a small space heater at home depot with a built in thermostat, cost me about $30 and has worked great for over a year.