I'm confused *thermostat*

[Dryfter]

For those of you with racks.

Do how do you heat all the different tubs?

Like in this thread. http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=58302

How can you only have 1 thermostat for 18 different tubs? Won't each row have to have a temp sensor? so it can adjust accordingly? And then what if one end of the heat tape is cool, and one end is hot? Depending on where you put your thermostat, you could cook or freeze your BP?

I'm just really confused about this.

[Freakie_frog]

Once the heat tape heats up its all the same temp. it just take some time to get big runs of it up to temp. But once it does its all good

[littleindiangirl]

Heat tape also needs to be the same length throughout to ensure the same heating.

[Ladydragon]

Once the heat tape heats up its all the same temp. it just take some time to get big runs of it up to temp. But once it does its all good

big runs would be how many tubs and what size tubs? 10 or more tubs? would this incorporate two racks or more? what would be the time span for full temp stabilization? I know there are variations and external factors to take into consideration, but is there a general rule of thumb for time frames according to size? not to hijack this thread but it got me curious.

[Dryfter]

So, in other words. I could get thermostat that only has one temp prob. And use that to control 6 different levels of 48" heat tape.

And once it all got heated up. it would be the correct temp.

[JeffFlanagan]

So, in other words. I could get thermostat that only has one temp prob. And use that to control 6 different levels of 48" heat tape.

And once it all got heated up. it would be the correct temp.

Yes, as long as you use the same amount of tape on every shelf, and your soldering is all good. A weak solder join would cause the badly soldered tape to run cooler than the rest, which would be really bad if the probe was on the cooler tape. Check your work with a temp gun.

[Gloryhound]

Yes, as long as you use the same amount of tape on every shelf, and your soldering is all good. A weak solder join would cause the badly soldered tape to run cooler than the rest, which would be really bad if the probe was on the cooler tape. Check your work with a temp gun.

Crimp on connectors can also be used, but they all have to be good as well. I like to let the rack sit for 24 hours to stabilize then I use another 24 hours to check for temp variances.

[Dryfter]

Ok, just making sure.

I'm not to concerned about my soldering. I'm pretty good at that. And I figured I'd give about a week to make sure that everything was normal.

Thanks!

[Desert]

For those of you with racks.

Do how do you heat all the different tubs?

Like in this thread. http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=58302

How can you only have 1 thermostat for 18 different tubs? Won't each row have to have a temp sensor? so it can adjust accordingly? And then what if one end of the heat tape is cool, and one end is hot? Depending on where you put your thermostat, you could cook or freeze your BP?

I'm just really confused about this.

Technically, your concerns are correct. Short of controlling every single enclosure seperately with its own local heat tape and controller, it is impossible to achieve 'precise' temperature uniformity. What determines the temperature of any given segment along a length of heat tape is the speed at which heat leaves that portion of the strip. Physical conditions are inherently nonuniform in rack designs such as these. Thus, everyone settles for temperatures that hopefully are within an acceptable range on racks like the unit in the link you posted.

[atp151415]

watch ralph davis' "how he heats his racks"

he uses freedom breeder racks but it will give you the idea of how one thermostat can control a whole rack