Measuring temperatures in the tubs

[hungba]

I have littered my question in my other threads but they were going no where and bits and pieces of my question here and there, so I am sorry but I start a new thread to ask this question and consolidate it into one.

While I was testing my new rack, I put newspaper (which is the substrate I will use) into the tubs, and then TAPED the thermoMETER probe onto the newspaper. PLEASE don't say tape it to the heat tape, because it is NOT the thermoSTAT probe (THAT'S on the heat tape), it is the THERMOMETER probe, inside the tub. There are NO snakes in there so the tape can not hurt anyone, I was just testing the rack.

So I taped the probe down to secure it, and I got the rack temperatures just right, with each tub around 89F showing on the thermoMETER, and the thermoSTAT set to 93.

Now, since tape isn't good in a tub with snakes, I took the tape out, and placed the thermoMETER probes in the same places. WOW the temperatures measured dropped! The thermoMETER probes are slighly oval shape, sensitive part in the front, so since they are not taped down now, some face up, some face down with the tip touching on the substrate. Regardless, the thermoMETERS now show much lower temperatures, ranging from 82F (where the probe is pointed up slightly about 1mm away from the newspaper), and 86F (where the tip is touching the newspaper).

I have now set the thermoSTAT to 99F in order to get the temperature (where the tip is touching newspaper) back up to 89F! The ones pointed up (not touching substrate) are still at 85F.

YES I do have a temp gun, and I am trying to check them as well, but I practially have to pull the tub all the way out to check as these are relatively shallow and deep tubs (4 inches tall). Besides, I want to set the thermometers up right anyway.

So,

1) Should the oval shaped thermoMETER (NOT THERMOSTAT) probes, which are inside the tubs, be put so that the tip of the probe is touching the substrate, or such that it is, because of the shape of it, and the wire, be raised slightly off the substrate, like 1 mm?

2) Why is it that the probes in exactly the same positions, even with the ones touching, have SO MUCH greater temperatures when there is tape? It is just normal cello-tape, and I am not covering the whole probe and trapping heat either, just a piece to tack it down.

3) When I taped the thermoMETER probes down inside the tubs, it only took the thermoSTAT to be set at 93F to get the temps inside to 89F. But without the tape down, I need to set the thermoSTAT to 99F to get the temps up to 89F, and that's just for the ones where the thermoMETER probes' tips are touching the newspaper. I usually read people don't need to set their thermoSTATS that high.

[Skittles1101]

In my RBI rack my thermostat is set at about 103 degrees to get 90 degree temps in the tubs. I know you're aware but be sure to remove the tape before placing any snakes in there.

Now, why are you fumbling around with thermometers and where to put the probe and obsessing about this if you have a temp gun? Lol no offense but I'd think depending on what type of temp gun you have it'll be much more accurate than most cheap digital thermometers. Just set the thermostat to 95 and test the temps in the tubs after a few hours with your temp gun, and adjust as needed. Once you find the proper temp to keep the thermostat at you shouldn't need to adjust it that often, if at all. Just check the temps with your temp gun every few days

[hungba]

In my RBI rack my thermostat is set at about 103 degrees to get 90 degree temps in the tubs. I know you're aware but be sure to remove the tape before placing any snakes in there.

Now, why are you fumbling around with thermometers and where to put the probe and obsessing about this if you have a temp gun? Lol no offense but I'd think depending on what type of temp gun you have it'll be much more accurate than most cheap digital thermometers. Just set the thermostat to 95 and test the temps in the tubs after a few hours with your temp gun, and adjust as needed. Once you find the proper temp to keep the thermostat at you shouldn't need to adjust it that often, if at all. Just check the temps with your temp gun every few days

1) Like I said in the post the tubs are really shallow at 4 inches tall so I basically have to pull the tubs out to check the temperature at the back, not just a gap.
2) I am crazy and I will end up pulling them out to check with a temp gun 1000000 times a day when there are snakes in there which will disturb the snakes. I need something to check by a glance to see it's pretty much ok the other 999999 times so I only pull them out once a day or so.
3) When I was obsessing over the thermometers and I tried to check if they were right using the temp gun, nothing was consistent. In order to get a semblance of what I was seeing on the thermometer I had to pull the tub out and measure at 90 degrees, then it was the same. So I don't want any more problems by adding another device that I can mess up.

I just want to know how to put the darn thermometers right, and why that with tape and no tape is such a big difference and which is the right one.

I don't know how can it be that I spent all day getting the temperatures right and consistent with every level and now took the tape off and with the same probes in the same positions, every level is completely different by 10 degrees or something and cold.

[Skittles1101]

Well I can't answer why it's different with/without the tape. Honestly, if you really want thermometers secure in there, just hot glue the probe to the bottom of the floor (under the newspaper, inside the tub) and just raise the thermostat a degree or two. Have it read about 92 degrees on the floor of the tub that way it should be about 88-90 above the newspaper. Problem solved

[hungba]

Well I can't answer why it's different with/without the tape. Honestly, if you really want thermometers secure in there, just hot glue the probe to the bottom of the floor (under the newspaper, inside the tub) and just raise the thermostat a degree or two. Have it read about 92 degrees on the floor of the tub that way it should be about 88-90 above the newspaper. Problem solved

THe thing is now without the cello tape the temperatuers are all different on each level! I don't know what the heck.

Also, since i use newspaper I can't hot glue the probe there because I can't lay the newspaper down flat if I do that it will leave a bump the probes are quite big and oval shape. I have to sort of just loop tie it to the side wall and then let it lay down. UGH it's crap anyway I suck at this.

[hungba]

I'm thinking something must be wrong, because it seems more logical that when the temps were all the same on each level, that that is less likely to be by chance than what I am seeing now, where the temps are all different. Same heat tape wired in parallel.