Thermostat at 99 - temps still low!

[Lolo76]

I have a melamine 5-level rack, with flexwatt heat tape and a herpstat thermostat. The herpstat is currently set at 99.7, and temperatures are still reading 80 on the warm side! It's really cold outside, so I know that's affecting things now - but even before it got cold, I was having to keep it set between 95-97 to get close to warm enough. Anyone else have this problem, and/or suggestions on getting more effective heat?

[Vypyrz]

I'm not sure what you are using as substrate, but if possible, try reducing the thickness of it. Or, maybe raising the ambient temp up with a space heater. I've never used racks so...


Rob

[jason79]

If you have an empty tub you could put the probe in it right over the heat tape. So you will be reading the actual temp inside a tub not the temp of the heat tape.

[redstormlax12]

Go to your local lumber yard or home depot or lowes and buy a piece of foam insulation board. You can get it in 1in thick or 2in thick. Its up to you. But i had this problem and both pro products and repti-racks suggested i do this and now my temps are perfect. I put a piece between the floor and the rack, then between my rack and my cage and then a piece in the back that is squished in between the wall. It helps ALOT. And its only about 9 bucks for a 2x8 piece.

[dr del]

Hi,

How low are the ambient temps in the room and is it an open or enclosed rack design?

Is the herpstat turning the heaters on and off (or dimming it you know what I mean ) or is it running it at full power constantly?

Have you double checked the wiring and made sure all the heatmats are working ok?

Did you change the position of the probe or anything lately?

If you turn up the herpstat does the flexwatt manage to increase the temperatures?

You haven't got a dimmer between the herpstat and the flexwatt as a safety feature do you?


dr del

[thenosuchlibrary]

Mess around with the placement of the probe and make sure you cover the probe with some thing like foil tape. Covering it with foil tape will give you a good reading. You can always bump up the size of the flexwatt tape you are using or just raise the tstat til you get the temps you want.

[West Coast Jungle]

How are you measuring temps?

[juddb]

If you have an empty tub you could put the probe in it right over the heat tape. So you will be reading the actual temp inside a tub not the temp of the heat tape.

This is about the only way thats ever worked for me. In my racks (past n present) i keep one tub empty for that purpose. In a home where we run the ac in summer and heater in winter, im able to keep the temps where i want them, pretty accuratly. No space heaters etc. Good luck.