Got a Thermostat! But...?

[Fae]

So I got a Vivarium Electronics VE-200 for the heatpad and set it to be 91, but now.. oddly enough when I point my IR Gun into the hide, its colder than my cold hide?
I have the probe buried beneath the substrate inside the tank since I couldn't put it in between my UTH, its in in a way where it can't be moved much unless she digs straight to the bottom, and even then its snug enough to stay onto the ground no matter what. It's about 1 inch depth of new cypress mulch, to which I replaced/put the probe in earlier today, about 6 hours ago.
Though, shes sitting in the cold hide and I can't get a good direct hit down into the substrate, but regardless the ambient temps in the "warm" hide is slightly lower than on my cold end now?

I did end up buying another hide that is the same exact hide as the one on the cold side now, but since it has two entrances, maybe the ventilation is off and I should set it higher..?
I'm not sure whats going on with my temps anymore to be honest lol, tonight I'm going to try keeping alum foil over the tank to see if itll better trap the heat in, since now the temps are starting to dip into the 70-74s even though I have a blue light.

[Ba11er]

Fist check to see if the uth is on, if it's warm or not. If it's cold there are a few possibilities and I would start trouble shooting by following all the cables to make sure their plugged in propperly. uth to the thermostat , thermostat to surge protector, surge protector to wall...ect. If their is a surge protector check that its also switched to the on position.

I would double check the cables again to make sure it's not a cord unplugged. if everything seems good and plugged in the next step would be checking the outlet your using , plug in a lamp or a known working appliance, if they work then it might be the uth is broken or possibly the thermostat is.

With your snake safely removed from the cage unplug your uth from your thermostat and plugg it into an outlet of see if it heats up.
if it does heat up then your thermostat has an issue. check the manufactures manual for settings or if possible call them to report the issue. let us know what happens, someone here can probably help you figure out what's going on.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Having the probe in the enclosure isn't the greatest idea.
If your animal overflows the water bowl OR pees on the probe you can have problems.

Second you want to temp the glass UNDER the substrate as it is the hottest surface your animal can touch.

[Fae]

Having the probe in the enclosure isn't the greatest idea.
If your animal overflows the water bowl OR pees on the probe you can have problems.

Second you want to temp the glass UNDER the substrate as it is the hottest surface your animal can touch.

The probe is buried under the substrate and touching the glass, its also like fed under the EXO terrarium background so it can't move either (though I guess I could make sure the probe is stuck under that background so theres no chance that she could pee on it if she does dig down into it), the water bowl is on the other side as well so it can't really be that either.

Going to go ahead and troubleshoot it like Ba11er has mentioned, I guess if it is warm to turn it up a bit more since the heats trapped in the substrate and also around the probe? Then again, if I do turn it up then the temperature of all that substrate will go up to that temp as well. Hmmmmmm

[ballpythonluvr]

You really should heed Pit's advice and not have the thermostat probe inside of the enclosure. It should be on the outside between the heat meat and the enclosure. Do what you want but I don't think it is a good idea.

[Fae]

You really should heed Pit's advice and not have the thermostat probe inside of the enclosure. It should be on the outside between the heat meat and the enclosure. Do what you want but I don't think it is a good idea.

I probably will end up doing this, my only worry was damaging the heat mat itself from removing it off the tank (or the probe as well?).
I was worried about putting the probe directly onto the mat cause it may melt onto it or something, so I'll have to run to the store to grab alum tape.

[Eric Alan]

I probably will end up doing this, my only worry was damaging the heat mat itself from removing it off the tank (or the probe as well?).
I was worried about putting the probe directly onto the mat cause it may melt onto it or something, so I'll have to run to the store to grab alum tape.

At this point, don't worry about sandwiching the probe between probe and glass - there's not enough benefit versus the risk involved. The back side of the heat mat gets warm too, so just secure the probe flat to the back of the heat mat and set the thermostat based on that temp.

As far as the melting concern goes, would you be worried about it being outside on a warm summer day? Because those will be the warmest temperatures the probe will be exposed to when functioning properly. Translation: nothing to worry about.

[Fae]

As an update, the thermostat does work, and setting it at 91 actually makes the bottom of the tank read to about 88 instead, so at least now i know temps should be good now!

I probably worry too much for my own good

[Eric Alan]

As an update, the thermostat does work, and setting it at 91 actually makes the bottom of the tank read to about 88 instead, so at least now i know temps should be good now!

I probably worry too much for my own good

Perfect! Probe's on the outside now, right? I love when a plan comes together.

[Fae]

Perfect! Probe's on the outside now, right? I love when a plan comes together.

Yep! I have it duct taped so it stays in place but also doesn't get affected by the heat of the pad so everythings all good now haha