Where do you place your thermostat probe?

[Maddumpling]

Now I know that you are supposed to put it on the heat tape. The question is, FOR A SNAKE RACK, where do you put the thermostat probe? Now I'm not talking about which level but where on the heat tape. In the middle under the tub, on the edge of the flexwatt besides the tub, or somewhere else?

[mattchibi]

I too would like to know the answer to this.

I think a better question would be, does the flexwatt heat up equally and evenly throughout every connected strip? Because if it does, then it shouldn't matter where the probe is. Someone correct me though, Im very usually wrong. In my research for building a rack, I have seen it done various different ways.

Ive seen it placed directly under a tub (although if you have 10 tubs, it would seem redundant to only put it under one tub), Ive seen it placed on the extra part of flexwatt next to the tub near the attaching wires, I've seen it placed between tubs on the extra exposed flexwatt.

Also, is 3" flexwatt enough to heat up a hatchling if you are using belly heat? What about for sub adult and adult tubs? What is the most common uses for the 11" flexwatt tape? And what is the most common way to keep ambient temps in a room?

Justin from youtube suggests using close-air racks such as boaphile rhino or animal plastics, if you dont want to heat an entire room to 80 degrees. Because of the limited air flow, temps will keep better, and the flexwatt will do its job to keep the hotspot, as well as making sure the ambients are okay.

[mschmied]

I personally have a back heated rack and dont like to mess with figuring out how the temp on the tape relates to the temps in the tubs so I literally place my probe about 2-3" from the back wall of my tubs INSIDE THEM. That way I know that in that spot on the tubs my temp is what it is supposed to be. The only drawback is that you have the probe in the tub with the animal so there is a risk of the snake knocking the probe loose, but as of yet I have not had an issue. I either place it in an empty tub or a tub with the smallest snake (one least likely to knock it loose).

[isanta666]

I too would like to know the answer to this.

I think a better question would be, does the flexwatt heat up equally and evenly throughout every connected strip? Because if it does, then it shouldn't matter where the probe is. Someone correct me though, Im very usually wrong. In my research for building a rack, I have seen it done various different ways.

Ive seen it placed directly under a tub (although if you have 10 tubs, it would seem redundant to only put it under one tub), Ive seen it placed on the extra part of flexwatt next to the tub near the attaching wires, I've seen it placed between tubs on the extra exposed flexwatt.

Also, is 3" flexwatt enough to heat up a hatchling if you are using belly heat? What about for sub adult and adult tubs? What is the most common uses for the 11" flexwatt tape? And what is the most common way to keep ambient temps in a room?

Justin from youtube suggests using close-air racks such as boaphile rhino or animal plastics, if you dont want to heat an entire room to 80 degrees. Because of the limited air flow, temps will keep better, and the flexwatt will do its job to keep the hotspot, as well as making sure the ambients are okay.

flexwatt does not heat up evenly. there is usually a +/-5% variation. i usually place my probes in the center on the flexwatt because this tends to be the hottest spot. flex watt isn perfect and is not designed to give a uniform temp. even a close air rack may not work in unheated room. my room is 70 and i need to insulate my rack with foam insulation to hold the temps.

[mattchibi]

flexwatt does not heat up evenly. there is usually a +/-5% variation. i usually place my probes in the center on the flexwatt because this tends to be the hottest spot. flex watt isn perfect and is not designed to give a uniform temp. even a close air rack may not work in unheated room. my room is 70 and i need to insulate my rack with foam insulation to hold the temps.

Do you have a close air rack? Where do you put the foam insulation ? My snake room is about 70 as well, but it is very small. My space heater gets it up to 75 within an hour even in the morning. So I am not sure whether to go with a close air rack from AP or the economy Sterilite racks, but those dont have a back or side wall. Ive heard they dont hold humidity or temps as well as the ones with solid walls.

[lasweetswan]

I routed a slot out in one of my shelves and tapes the probe on the underside of the heat tape. No friction from the tubs sliding in and out of the rack and no danger of the snake moving the probe inside of the tub.

[kitedemon]

I have a closed insulated rack and place the probe in channels under the centre of the flexwatt middle of the lengh and middle of the width and the middle of that probe set). I run a rack in a cool room and from experience it is very difficult to keep the ambient air temp (inside the tubs) and cool end temps correct. I have managed it but it is not easy. Most if not all rack control problems can be resolved by using a heated room.

Cool end temps Ideally are close to 80 and ambient air temps should not be allowed to dip below 77 for too long for correct thermo-regulation.

[isanta666]

Do you have a close air rack? Where do you put the foam insulation ? My snake room is about 70 as well, but it is very small. My space heater gets it up to 75 within an hour even in the morning. So I am not sure whether to go with a close air rack from AP or the economy Sterilite racks, but those dont have a back or side wall. Ive heard they dont hold humidity or temps as well as the ones with solid walls.

yes, i use a closed rack system. I put the foam insulation on the outer sides and outer back of the melamine rack. you may also wont put a piece between the bottom of your rack and the floor. Like kitedemon mentioned, it is a whole lot easier to have a rack in a heated room. the open rack systems only work in heated rooms. Since you are in a small room I would use an oil filled radiator to heat the room to 80. I use an oil filled but I'm in a big room and the room is also my bedroom so heating to 80 is not practical.