Where do you place your thermostat probe?

[Shelby]

Just wondering where you guys get foil tape? Can I find it in the hardware store somewhere?

[daniel1983]

Yep.....and I got mine from Walmart.

[Shelby]

Cool.. what section do I look in?

[daniel1983]

In our walmart it is by the paint and duct tape

[Wild Bill]

Bill....can you go into how your probe is mounted a bit more and your enclosure setup? I had seen the picture the other day, but still had some questions. What keeps the probe from moving around? so you are techniquely measuring the air temp just above(or below) the flexwatt and not the flexwatt itself....I would be would be very nervous that the probe would move and cause temp problems.....have you ever tried using some type of spacer to put the probe in a more fixed position?....just wonderin....I really like to hear about how people have their enclosures setup and their reasons beind it

Hi Daniel,

I took a paper clip and bent it to support the probe at the right spot and taped it down with the aluminum tape to the shelf. It is taped to the wire just before the probe with electrical tape. The picture I posted before it is hard to see it, it is hard to get it in the pic. That picture was taken from my rack setup, it is about an inch to the right of the tub (when looking from the front), and approx. 1/4" off of the heat tape. So it is in a rather well guarded space, it would have to move quite a bit to cause a big change in the temp. Yes I am measuring the air right above the heat tape, which seems to be approx the same as the temp inside the tub. I haven't really tried any other type of spacer as this was recommended to me and has worked quite well. I asked many questions of many people when I was switching to racks, so I dont mind them.

Bill

[lurch]

That brings up a question i have with my tanks with flexwatt. It seems like I am always adjusting the thermostat for the right temperture. Everytime I look at the cage it is a different temp. I have my probe on top of the substrate. Maybe I should put it on the flexwatt it self. It sucks one minute the substate is 95 deg then 100 deg then 85 deg

[Shelby]

Lurch - check the settings on your thermostat. Make sure it's set to kick on at one degree below your set temp, and turn off at one degree above. When you have an on/off thermostat instead of a proportional one, the temps are going to vary more. I'd put the probe on the flexwatt though..

[ivylea77]

When I had a Johnson T-stat I had temp swings all over the place. I could never get my temps just right. The probe was originally taped to the flex-watt, then it was suggested to put it in the hide. Finally, I ordered a Herpstat My temps vary from 1-2* and I notice I can set the temp lower on the herpstat and get more accurate readings than I could with the Johnson. I used to set the Johnson to 103* to get readings of 92-94 in the cage. Now I set the herpstat to 98 and get the 93-94.6 readings.

[alexrls]

oops i voted for the wrong one i meant to click the on the heating element one(stupid ball mouse- i gotta get an optical)

[wendyhoo9]

After some extreme fluxuating temps I called in for reinforcements and asked advice. I was told to put my probe on the flexwatt and I haven't had problems since. I have my corns in a rack and my bp in a glass aquarium for now. Breena's aquarium is controlled by two tstats, one ranco and one helix. I have to say I have much lower temp fluctuations with my helix (not by too much though), but since it's proportional I did notice a lot less "work" by turning off and on as well. When I can afford it it'd be nice to pick up another.