When you say the hot side temps are 83, is that ambient or floor or both? If you are using a UTH the floor temps would proabably be muchhh higher than the ambient temps. I have a fairly standard ambient temp of about 82-85 from cool to hot side, but my floor temps get to 93 from the UTH. My heat gradient is more on the floor than in the air, which is fine and I think most have this. This is fine. So you really should monitor floor temps more if you are using a UTH, the bulb is only necessary to raise ambient temps if they drop below 78.
Thermostat probe best between the mat and the glass or plastic surface. It should be set on say about 90..? so that the maximum temperature on any surface inside is 92 - especially with on/off ones, if you set it to 90, it usually goes up to about 92-93 and drops down to 88-89. And that gives you room for the 2 degree inaccuracy.
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