Where do you place your thermostat probe?

[lord jackel]

Yep, water messing up your temps [in most cases] isn't something to worry about. Unless your t-stat is old and unreliable, it should not be a problem.

I don't think the original poster if referring to the probe shorting out by getting wet (in which case you are correct that if it did the thermostat should shut down) but I think he meant to say that water being put on the probe would cause the probe to register a lower temp (the water temp) and therefore turn the heating element on to raise the temp...if the water temp is significantly cooler then the heating element could be turned on for quite awhile risking a potential burn.

[Morphie]

what about in the case of back-heated racks (such as the 15qts from RBI)? Should i tape the probe to the Flexwatt?

[SGB_74]

when users mention using foil tape to tape down the probe, are they wrapping the probe itself in foil tape and then taping it down to the heatsoure? or just taping the probe to the heat source using foil tape?

[dr del]

Hi,

the latter - just using the heat resistant tape to hold it in place.


dr del

[PythonWallace]

I put mine over the heat tape in a spare tub in one of my racks. I always see that a lot of people tape it directly to the flexwatt, but that only keeps the tape consistant. What about changes in ambient room temperature? Why not just use a rheostat, since the temperature of the tape doesn't change with changes in ambient temperature? If you have the probe on the tape, and the floor of the tub reads 95 at a room temp. of 73 degrees, doesn't your hot spot hit 98 if the room temperature hits 76 degrees?

[nixer]

I put mine over the heat tape in a spare tub in one of my racks. I always see that a lot of people tape it directly to the flexwatt, but that only keeps the tape consistant. What about changes in ambient room temperature? Why not just use a rheostat, since the temperature of the tape doesn't change with changes in ambient temperature? If you have the probe on the tape, and the floor of the tub reads 95 at a room temp. of 73 degrees, doesn't your hot spot hit 98 if the room temperature hits 76 degrees?

well yes and no. i put mine on the tape on belly heat racks and set the temp by the temp inside the tub so say i set my therm. at 95 it wont be 95 in the tub but maybe 89 then i adjust fro my liking.

on backheat models iput my probe about aninch or so from the flexwatt and set it towhat i want the tempinside should be.

its always a plus to have a temp gun, especially with racks

[Larry Suttles]

I put the probes directly on the heat tape secured with foil tape. I do make sure to not cover the actual probe with the tape.

[bearhart]

On the substrate inside the hide. It is easy to prevent movement of the probe by anchoring the wire a few inches away.

[starmom]

My Helix probe is taped right to the flex watt on my rack systems and on my 3 cages. Works like a charm!

[BostonMacK]

You don't need to compensate for heat making it up through the substrate. Your snake will burrow down in the substrate if it feels the need for additional heat. You do not want to overheat the bottom surface of your enclosure just to make the substrate surface your desired temp. You do not want any part of your enclosure that your snake can possibly come in contact with getting over your desired temp. Just dial in your bottom hot side surface (not substrate surface) and your ambient temps and your good to go.

I have my probe foil taped to the inside bottom of my enclosure directly under the hot side hide with about 3/4" of substrate over it. The surface of the substrate reads about 89/90 while the bottom of the enclosure reads about 95. If he needs the additional heat he'll burrow down.