Ball Python rack temp help?

[ballpython2013]

Hey i just registered to this site now as i am having some problems with my racks temps. I built my rack out of melamine board and am using 11" heat tape all wired together controlled by a Herpstat 1. I have the temperature probe on the middle shelf set at 85F and on the top shelf the hot side temp is 95! and the bottom is 78, I am just wondering if anyone knows why this is happening and if there is a way to help the temps even out? because as of now the top two tubs are not usable because of the high temps, any advice is appreciated!

[don15681]

is this back heat and how is the probe, to the heat tape

[ballpython2013]

Sorry, It is belly heat and the probe is taped down with 2 pieces of electrical tape.

[don15681]

how many levels and what is the floor under the rack, as is it carpet or tile

[don15681]

is it one piece of heat tape?

[ballpython2013]

6 shelf rack, and the rack is in my 75F bedroom on hard wood flooring and the very bottom shelf is about half a foot above the floor, so it is not sitting directly on the floor.

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and yes there is a 11" x 12" piece on each shelf for the hot spot

[don15681]

your wire that's plugged into the wall, is it connected to the heat tape at the of the rack or bottom.

[ballpython2013]

The wiring is done staring from the bottom to the top and the thermostat sits on top of the rack

[don15681]

how did you wire each section of heat tape to the next section, parallel or series

[don15681]

so the plug wire that goes to the wall is connected to the bottom heat tape first and then how is it wired