Simple snake noob questions

[redshepherd]

Uuuugh sorry guys I’ve always struggled with those terms but yeah a temp gun sounds right.

I use it to monitor the temperature and turn on/off the heat lamp when it gets too hot. When I saw those could be used I was just like “OK YEAH I GOT THAT”

redshepard, in that forum, it mentions a thermometer you don’t use and a thermometer you do use?
from what I understand it needs to be one with a probe. So would I need one for each heat source plus the tank itself?

thermostats if I’m understanding correctly measure the temp using a thermometer, so do they cool/heat as well? I think I’m having trouble understanding how it works. I don’t think google explains it in depth enough.

Or can someone link me an in-depth forum JUST for thermo things?

A thermostat and thermometer are two completely different things- a thermostat is actually what you plug your heat source into (not sure if you use a UTH or heat lamp), so that your heat source isn't plugged into the wall. If you get the $30 thermostats, it does automatically what you're currently doing manually: turns the heat source off when it hits the desired temperature, and turns it back on when the temperature gets too low. So it prevents the heat source from becoming extremely hot, which they do very quickly when they aren't plugged into a thermostat. You can set the thermostat to a desired temperature.

All thermostats come with a probe attached, that's their function- you dont need to buy a probe

the probe is placed between the bottom of your tank and the UTH. If you have a heat lamp/above heating, the probe should be hanging in the air under your lamp.

the probe tells the thermostat what the temperature is, which is how it determines when to turn it off or on

Basically the thermostat CONTROLS your heat source's power.