installing new ReptiTemp500R and Repti Therm UTH

[casper]

I just received the items in the title. I have read that people put the probe from the Thermostat directly on the UTH and then attach it under the cage. The problem is the sensor is kinda large diameter and the UTH will not go on the tank without bending it where the sensor is. Any suggestions before I go any farther?

[mooingtricycle]

Sure you got the right size heat pad then? or are you talking about the probe for the thermostat?

Pics might help too....

You should have gotten little rubber riser things for your tank, with the heat pad. Use them and they should give you enough room.

[mrshawt]

The UTH will have a flex a little bit for the probe to fit properly. I know from experience that a 30-40g UTH can fit a 500r probe under it. Did you happen to get a 10-20g UTH?

You should use foil tape instead of the UTH's glue to secure it to the bottom of the enclosure. That way, it will allow the flex needed for the probe to fit.

[casper]

Sure you got the right size heat pad then? or are you talking about the probe for the thermostat?

Pics might help too....

You should have gotten little rubber riser things for your tank, with the heat pad. Use them and they should give you enough room.

The probe for the thermostat. It is about .250 inch diameter. The UTH instructions say to make sure the UTH is flat against the glass with no bubbles. If I was to place the thermostat probe between the UTH and the glass it would create a large bubble in the middle and where the wire is.

I went ahead and placed the probe inside the tank against the glass about in the middle of where the UTH is. I used heavy duty scotch box tape to tape the probe to the glass. I know I’m not supposed to use tape inside the cage but I had no way else to stick it to the glass. I don’t have a hot glue gun.

Now I have an even bigger problem as the ambient temps are way too cold. The surface - belly heat is currently 93 deg and the hot side ambient is 75 deg and the cold side is 69 deg. My house is air conditioned and I don’t' know how to get the ambient temps up. I hate to think about using that dreaded heat lamp again that loves to suck out the humidity.

[casper]

The UTH will have a flex a little bit for the probe to fit properly. I know from experience that a 30-40g UTH can fit a 500r probe under it. Did you happen to get a 10-20g UTH?

You should use foil tape instead of the UTH's glue to secure it to the bottom of the enclosure. That way, it will allow the flex needed for the probe to fit.

I have a 10-20g UTH.

[mrshawt]

The probe for the thermostat. It is about .250 inch diameter. The UTH instructions say to make sure the UTH is flat against the glass with no bubbles. If I was to place the thermostat probe between the UTH and the glass it would create a large bubble in the middle and where the wire is.

I went ahead and placed the probe inside the tank against the glass about in the middle of where the UTH is. I used heavy duty scotch box tape to tape the probe to the glass. I know I’m not supposed to use tape inside the cage but I had no way else to stick it to the glass. I don’t have a hot glue gun.

Now I have an even bigger problem as the ambient temps are way too cold. The surface - belly heat is currently 93 deg and the hot side ambient is 75 deg and the cold side is 69 deg. My house is air conditioned and I don’t' know how to get the ambient temps up. I hate to think about using that dreaded heat lamp again that loves to suck out the humidity.

The UTH instructions also say to not put them on plastic, but us tub users have no problems.

Please don't use tape, it's an accident waiting to happen. Glue guns are $5 at any Walmart or Target.

You may need a second UTH or a heat lamp to raise the ambient temp. That's why I love tubs - no such thing as ambient temps because there's no unneeded empty space. You could try to switch to tubs?

[casper]

There is also is another problem as the surface of the substrate is nowhere near the temp of the glass. I'm using repti bark as substrate and it's about 1 inch thick. I was recommended to use repti bark to help with humidity.

[mrshawt]

Dial the tstat higher until the temp of the substrate is 92-94. The temp at the UTH and what the snake is on never match exactly. Hence the reason for having a thermostat to know what the temp really is.

[casper]

Dial the tstat higher until the temp of the substrate is 92-94. The temp at the UTH and what the snake is on never match exactly. Hence the reason for having a thermostat to know what the temp really is.

I have no way of dialing in the exact temp on the surface of the substrate.

You know of a good temp to set the UTH at to get a good temp of the substrate without the use of a temp gun or another thermometer probe? I have to make use of what I have until next week then I will have more money to spend on more equipment.

I had to plug my heat lamp back in because the ambient temps are in the lower 70's. Now I will have humidity problems again and now I wish I wouldn't have spent the $50 on that UTH and thermostat. This is getting very frustrating.

[mrshawt]

I have no way of dialing in the exact temp on the surface of the substrate.

You know of a good temp to set the UTH at to get a good temp of the substrate without the use of a temp gun or another thermometer probe? I have to make use of what I have until next week then I will have more money to spend on more equipment.

I had to plug my heat lamp back in because the ambient temps are in the lower 70's. Now I will have humidity problems again and now I wish I wouldn't have spent the $50 on that UTH and thermostat. This is getting very frustrating.

That all depends on your own situation, your house temp, weather, etc. There's no way of guessing unless you have the proper equipment to test it out.