Added a UTH now having trouble with temp and t-stat

[ohyeahnow]

All summer I had a UTH for the cool side, and an overhead heat lamp for the hot side. I set the hot side t-stat to 92 and according to the acurite probe the temps stayed between 90-93. Last night it got cold here and the lamp was not enough to properly heat the hot side. To keep temps up I used a second lamp until I could get another UTH. Again the t-stat kept the temperatures the same.

I have now added a UTH to the hot side this morning. Now the t-stat cuts off when the acurite probe reads 88. I tried adding the lamp above with the uth and the same thing happens. I would switch back to just the lamp, but the temperatures here are now getting to cold. Both the t-stat probe and the acurite probe are placed together under the hide, as they have always been. The t-stat can only go up to 94 unless it is set on "hot". any ideas on what is going on, or what I could do?

Thanks

[ohyeahnow]

Now that it is getting dark, I checked again and the temp was down to 86 with the UTH on. I watched for a few minutes and it droped to 85.8. I have plug the heat lamp back up as it appears the UTH cannot warm it enough. Just call me frustrated and concerned in Virginia.

[Argentra]

Ok, first you have to place the t-stat probe UNDER the tank against the UTH. Only the thermometer probe goes inside under the hide against the floor.

Also, you will probably have to set the stat anywhere from 2-10 degrees above the desired temp in order to reach it: the colder the room the higher it gets set usually. Use your thermometer to keep an eye on the temps and tweak the settings until you have the right numbers.
Most UTHs except those made for small animals can get up to 120+, so there shouldn't be a problem with it not getting warm enough. You just have to rearrange your probes.

[ohyeahnow]

Thanks.

But if the t-stat is cutting off too soon inside the tank, placing it directly on the uth would cause it cut off even sooner. My main confusion is due to the fact that the tank is set exactly as it was before adding the UTH as far as temp, substrate and t-stat probe, yet it cuts off sooner. Using the light I was able to get the temp back to 90 after turning up the t-stat. When I turned the light off it dropped to 85. Tomorrow I am going to wrap three sides of the tank with reflectix. It is used to to keep radiant heat in.

Here is a quote from Home depots site: "Reflective insulation for use in a crawl space, attic, wall, metal buildings, and post and frame structures. Fiber free, environmentally safe, easy to install, and it is lightweight. No protective gear needed to install. Reflects 97% of radiant energy."

Hopefully using this and replacing the plastic wrap on top used for humidity control with the insulation will help out. If not I will remove the aspen and just use the reptile carpet or would it be a better idea to put the probe directly on the UTH and remove the reptile carpet. I have the carpet in there because I did not want direct contact with the class and snake.

[Argentra]

You should have wrapped the back and sides from the start. That helps a ton with stability. Foil treating the screen also keeps moisture and heat in as well.

The lamp shouldn't have been the main heat source at all. Having that lamp get the floor temps to 90 meant that the air temps around it were even higher, not to mention it was probably doing murder to the humidity. Lamps on t-stats run VERY differently than UTHs, also, so don't be surprised by the changes in setting. Just tweak the stat until you get the desired temps inside on the warm side.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm berating you... I'm certainly not trying to sound that way. I'm just tired. Hope you can get everything stabilized soon!

[ohyeahnow]

No need to apolologize, you are helping me and looking out for the welfare of my snake. His hide would reach 90 because it was heating up by the lamp. The ambient temps stayed lower, but I definately hear and understand your valid point. Last night was the first night that temps got low outside, and the lamp was no longer working. I atill have to use the lamp unfortunately, hopefully wrapping his home will help eliminate this. With the t-stat all the way up, the temp won't reach 90 without the lamp. Cut the lamp off and the temperature drops to 85.6 and the t-stat will not shut off. Thanks again for your help.