Ok, this has me stumped. I set up my Johnson stat on Wednesday, after my rheostat finally gave up (temp was 98 ) and set it to 92 initially. I placed the probe under the heat mat, but haven't taped it in place yet. After waiting for the temps of mat and cage to drop, I watched the thermometer (an accurite)...and it never rose above 85! Ok fine, something weird. I raised the set temp of the stat to 96 (so it wouldn't get dangerously hot) and the meter still won't register any higher than 87! I only have 2 layers of newsprint with a fingernail depth of cypress on top as substrate...there couldn't possibly be a 10 degree difference between the bottom of the heat mat and the inside of her warm side hide!

I got a new accurite just in case the one in there was damaged (possibly by the PAM spraying??) but before I peel off the old meter, is it possible that those temps are accurate?