Help with heat mat thermostat please

[ThyArt]

Right so I’ve always had a heat lamp on a thermostat, but I’ve just got a new heat mat and I’m using that now with a thermostat, so I’ve set it up put the thermostat on top of the heat mat under the vivarium, but doesn’t seem to be heating up properly. I take the thermostat out
of the equation and it works perfectly fine.

I'm really confused 🤔

[cletus]

For tubs, I use heat tape to tape the UTH to my rack. I use the same heat tape to secure the tstat probe to the top of the UTH. Then I just set the tub on top and set the tstat based on temps on the floor of the tub. Same thing with aquariums except I use heat tape to secure the UTH to the bottom of the tank. Everything else is the same.

[cletus]

Something to keep in mind. The reason its heating up without the tstat is because its running wide open. If you want the surface temp of the floor of the tank to be 90, you are going to need to set the tstat much higher. You just have to experiment with it to get it right.

[ThyArt]

Thank you for the advice, I’m using a glass vivarium so would I do the same as you stated or would I do something a bit different?

[cletus]

Thank you for the advice, I’m using a glass vivarium so would I do the same as you stated or would I do something a bit different?

Yes just secure the probe to the top of the UTH with heat tape. Then secure the UTH to the bottom of the glass viv with heat tape. Probe should be in between the glass and the UTH. Was going to try to get a picture but I couldn't.

[ThyArt]

Does it have to be heat tape or can I use normal tape?

[bcr229]

A picture is worth a thousand words:

[ThyArt]

That is a massive help thank you very much, how long should I expect to wait for it to heat up with the thermostat? Does it take its time

[cletus]

Does it have to be heat tape or can I use normal tape?

I use heat/foil tape because it doesn't melt. That black electrical tape can melt on a UTH. Also, and this is REALLY important. Make sure you secure that probe really well. Not just to the UTH but somewhere else as well. If it comes loose, your UTH will heat up really fast and you could burn your animal. I use zip ties to secure my probe to the side of my rack to be extra safe.