T-stat probe placement for dummies...

Howdy,
I just got a herpstat and am going to set up a tank enclosure as soon as I get a couple of hours to get it all right. I have found several threads about where to place the probe for several different situation (flexwatt, tubs, for lamps) but I was hoping to get an exact answer on how to do this for my set up.

It is a tank with a zoomed uth already stuck to the bottom as the only source of heat. The overhead light is one of those 13 watt economical bulbs and provides little, if any additional heat. I am currently thinking attach the probe to the bottom of the uth with packaging tape, between the table and the uth. I have read this setup will cause temp swings on the t-stat monitor but I do have a solid temp gun so I can monitor belly temps. I am worried about the stability of the probe. Glue seems like it would melt and I dont know if foil tape conduct too much heat or something.

Sorry for yet another probe placement question...

UTH are too hot for snakes as it is, so I dont think loss of heat is too much of a problem, as long as you hit your mark with your temp gun inside. If I were you, I would put the t-stat probe directly on the UTH, that way you dont risk cooking your snakes because of overheat :). I think most people use foil tape, since it gets the job done and it's safe.

The probe is supposed to go between the glass and the UTH on the bottom of your enclosure. This is so the temp probe is away from any draft or cold air that could cause the probe to cool off thus making your t-stat heat up your UTH more and cook your snake. If at all possible, Peel off a bit of your UTH and stick the probe under. Get as close to the middle of it as possible.

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Originally Posted by knott00

The probe is supposed to go between the glass and the UTH on the bottom of your enclosure. This is so the temp probe is away from any draft or cold air that could cause the probe to cool off thus making your t-stat heat up your UTH more and cook your snake. If at all possible, Peel off a bit of your UTH and stick the probe under. Get as close to the middle of it as possible.

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Very well put, that was spot on. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by knott00

The probe is supposed to go between the glass and the UTH on the bottom of your enclosure. This is so the temp probe is away from any draft or cold air that could cause the probe to cool off thus making your t-stat heat up your UTH more and cook your snake. If at all possible, Peel off a bit of your UTH and stick the probe under. Get as close to the middle of it as possible.

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How about if I cover the probe with foil tape? This would keep a breeze from hitting the sensor and the foil would hold heat pretty well. I will be upgrading to a larger tank within a few months and will likely just leave the peel away attached to the uth and tape the whole think to the bottom of the cage. Think that will be alright?

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Originally Posted by stinker2009

How about if I cover the probe with foil tape? This would keep a breeze from hitting the sensor and the foil would hold heat pretty well. I will be upgrading to a larger tank within a few months and will likely just leave the peel away attached to the uth and tape the whole think to the bottom of the cage. Think that will be alright?

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If you would rather not peel off your UTH, I believe this would be your best alternative. The aluminum in foil tape is actually a pretty good insolator and should keep the probe from being affected by the envroment too much.

Hi,

Where are you talking about taping it down? - it's not inside the tank is it?

I would read the sticky on removing a stuck down UTH and see if you could loosen it enough to get the probe in between it and the bottom of the tub first.


dr del

Is there anything wrong with having a thermostat sensor in the tub? I have mine attached inside the tub with packing tape and my rack is heated by a heat cable in a routed channel in the rack. My temps on my thermostat are pretty close to my temp gun readings +/-1 degree of the bottom of the cage. Is this wrong?

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Originally Posted by DM1975

Is there anything wrong with having a thermostat sensor in the tub? I have mine attached inside the tub with packing tape and my rack is heated by a heat cable in a routed channel in the rack. My temps on my thermostat are pretty close to my temp gun readings +/-1 degree of the bottom of the cage. Is this wrong?

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If the snake urinates or spills water on the tstat probe it could drastically change your temps.

Not to mention the wonderful time you'll have when the snake gets caught up in the tape. This seems unlikely but with ball pythons you never know. It does seem like the best place to place it when you're monitoring the temperature of the floor, it can just create too many complications. I think I'm just gonna go with foil tape on the back (non tank side) of the UTH and spend a couple hours adjusting the thermostat for the swings. Thanks for the help everyone

Wouldn't having it under the tub cause it to read higher than what it is in the tub? And what about a smaller container that just holds the probe sitting in an unobscured place on the rack over the heat element? Wouldn't that give a better reading or no?

Hi,

Yup - the chances of it getting moved or the snake interfering with it mean it is possible to cause real problems. And of course for anyone who feeds live inside an enclosure you will soon be aware of how much those pesky rodents love eating thermometer and thermostat cables. :rolleyes:

As well as the example given above it could move the thermostat probe off the heated area causing it to run the heater full bore causing severe overheating. This can kill animals extremely quickly and cause neurological damage as well. :(

And of course any tape aside from low tack painters tape inside the enclosure with the animal always carries the risk of the animal getting stuck to it.

None of these things are definately going to happen obviously - I just prefer to plan the set ups to minimise possible problems.

It really isn't a problem if the probe is outside the enclosure, directly on the heater, and the thermostat has to be set higher to achieve the desired temps inside the snakes habitat.


dr del

I do not want to mess with having to ajust me temp to an off setting to get the inside of the cage correctly heated. I would like to have my thermostat real the temp I need to run. Now if that is not possible or not a good idea I will change it. I do not feed live, and I have the probe stuck in place real well, but their is the chance.

My question is if I take a smaller rubbermaid container (real small) and poke some holes in it, if I have a place to fit it over the heat cable would this be a good choice? Or not?

Hi,

I remember seeing pictures where someone had cut a scrap rubermaid and had a section of it the same size as the probe between it and the heatmat.

But this was in a rack setup with a bit of space at the backwhere the tub didn't cover all the heatpad.

I have simply taped the probes directly onto the heatpads in a place the movement of the tubs does not interfere with them.

The temp it shows on the thermostat when the in-tub temps are perfect doesn't really matter as long as you would notice when it changed. :)

Also since you are checking with a temp gun you should be ok - I still occasionally leave a probe thermometer inside a tub now and again just to double check everything but for reassurance you can't beat the temp gun.

You can use things like a hot glue gun to stick the probe down inside the tub with no risk to the snake once it has cooled and set.

It won't avoid the temp swing risk but at least the snake can't get stuck to it and rip it's skin trying to get free or anything.


dr del

Thanks, I have a bit of space between tubs where the rails holding the rack up are. I just now took a small tub I had laying around (4"X6") and taped the probe in it and placed it in that space and taped it down. Maybe this will be the answer, kindof like a control for the rest of the rack and tubs.

Well, so far that has seemed to do it. My temps from my thermostat compare with that from my temp gun in my tubs, and it is in a secure location, not to be disturbed by the rooms ambient temp or drafts or spills or anything else.