help with my thermostat

[MissKayla]

im needing help with my Hydrofarm Digital Thermostat. i have my uth hooked to it and i set it to 90 degrees is that good or bad? i wasnt sure what to set it to and also i dont know if im supposed to put the probe in there or not. right now i dont have it in there. the Thermostat is reading 72.5. if ive done anything wrong let me know. im just trying to get my temps and everything right so i can go buy my snake. my acurite is reading 82 outdoor(probe on the hot side with uth) 84 indoor (side with 24hr infrared bulb and the thermometer) and 34% humidity. ive been having trouble with humidity. cant seem to get it from 34-36%

[satomi325]

The thermostat itself will probably have to be set to a higher temperature. The set temperature doesn't mean the actual heat mat is going to put out that much heat. It just means that's the temperature the thermostat will turn off at.

So for example, the thermostat is set to 90. The heat mat will continue to heat until the prob reaches 90 degrees. The actual mat may or may not be 90 degrees, just the prob.

My hydrofarm is set to 93 and actual temps range from 89-91. But back when I was using UTH and not flexwatt, I think I had to set my hydrofarm to 100 to reach 89-91?

I'm going to assume you're using a tank? I like to place the prob directly over the heating element(but not under the enclosure as it traps heat, unless you have a space between the uth and enclosure).


For humidity, you can place damp towels or a plexiglass over your tank lid. You can also mist your tank or get a larger water bowl and put it closer to the 'hot side' if not over it directly.

[MissKayla]

Thanks

[kitedemon]

The problem with the hydrofarms is the probe accuracy is very poor this type of thermostat needs a deceint reasonable accurate thermometer as the one that is with the probe is very poor (+/- 2ºC range that is very close to 4ºF If it reads 90 it could truely be between 86-94 this is a large amount. The reading on the unit cannot be trusted and must be checked with an accurate thermometer. I suggest that you buy at least 3 thermometers 5 would be better and check them against each other and use the ones that read the same and return or dispose of the others. I tend to buy cheap ones for this for obvious reasons I usually pay on ebay between 1-4$ a unit with shipping look up aquarium thermometers.

[MissKayla]

The problem with the hydrofarms is the probe accuracy is very poor this type of thermostat needs a deceint reasonable accurate thermometer as the one that is with the probe is very poor (+/- 2ºC range that is very close to 4ºF If it reads 90 it could truely be between 86-94 this is a large amount. The reading on the unit cannot be trusted and must be checked with an accurate thermometer. I suggest that you buy at least 3 thermometers 5 would be better and check them against each other and use the ones that read the same and return or dispose of the others. I tend to buy cheap ones for this for obvious reasons I usually pay on ebay between 1-4$ a unit with shipping look up aquarium thermometers.

i will try this also. thanks

[RestlessRobie]

I tape or secure the UTH to the bottom of the tanks and then tape the probe tot he middle of the UTH with foil taps. But I also have spacer feet ont he bottom of my tanks so they have 1/4 inch space for air flow hope this answered your question

[mr.spooky]

The problem with the hydrofarms is the probe accuracy is very poor this type of thermostat needs a deceint reasonable accurate thermometer as the one that is with the probe is very poor (+/- 2ºC range that is very close to 4ºF If it reads 90 it could truely be between 86-94 this is a large amount. The reading on the unit cannot be trusted and must be checked with an accurate thermometer. I suggest that you buy at least 3 thermometers 5 would be better and check them against each other and use the ones that read the same and return or dispose of the others. I tend to buy cheap ones for this for obvious reasons I usually pay on ebay between 1-4$ a unit with shipping look up aquarium thermometers.

serious??????? suggesting someone to buy 3 thermos, and 5 would be better???? all over 4*F?????? I agree with most of your post, but this???????????
spooky

[Mike41793]

serious??????? suggesting someone to buy 3 thermos, and 5 would be better???? all over 4*F?????? I agree with most of your post, but this???????????
spooky

I think you missed the part where he said return the ones you dont use. Also $4 for 5 units is $20. Id be more than willing to shell out $20 to be able to get accurate temps...

[mr.spooky]

I think you missed the part where he said return the ones you dont use. Also $4 for 5 units is $20. Id be more than willing to shell out $20 to be able to get accurate temps...

thats fine,,, you get what you pay for, and at $4 each, i wouldent expect too much out of any of them. and remember, all over 4*F..
sometimes we (and iv been guilty of it too) dont give enough credit to these guys. Ball Pythons arent like bacteria being grown in a petree dish in a controled enviroment,,, there animals that live in the same world as you and I where tempratures fluxuate every day.
spooky

[kitedemon]

Yes!!

Accuracy in low priced digital is based on electrical resistance poor joints and junk during manufacture will alter the readings the manufacturer knows this and quotes in the specs. 98% of the sub 50$ thermometers all quote the same the correct temp will be with in 2 degrees up or down from accurate (+/-2ºF) that is 4º range if an thermometer reads 90 the true temp should be somewhere inside 88-92º If everything is perfect in production.

I tested accurites and the three I had 2 were more than 2ºF high and the other one was 1.7 high. Cheney to their credit did return 2 no questions asked the third was with in the expected range. Thermometers need to be replaced when the probe wire is bent, squashed or damaged in anyway (peed on ect.) all this will change the micro resistance and alter the temps. I actually just replace them all once a year either way. The last set I bought were 20$ for 18 shipped it is not a problem. I have an accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5ºF) and that is another route but if you think 20$ is too much an platinum RTD traceable will cause you to pass out.

This is the biggest reason I never recommend accurites they are too expensive and they are no better than a 1$ unit. The 5$ units also track hi/lows so they are the same and digital hygrometers that are reasonably priced are often become so bad they are useless in 6 months.

Look at it this way the hydrofarm is off 3ºF high, it reads 93º. you place a thermometer inside (my worst accurite I bought for example ) it says the temp is 94º you drop the temp 4º The real temp inside is 87 then the shift drops it another 2º now the temp on the hot spot is 85-4º there is nothing that can be relied on so you actually have no idea what the true temps are. If you have a reliable accurate tstat like a herpstat when the temp is screwy it becomes clear something is off. With nothing that can be trusted there is no indication or reality my snakes are simply too important to guess.