flexwatt question

[warlord]

ok so probe under the substrate right? and i can just tape it to the bottom inside of the cage?

[The Serpent Merchant]

no tape inside the cage, I use hot glue personally but there are other ways as well. what type of substrate do you plan on using?

[warlord]

im gonna be using cypress mulch

[The Serpent Merchant]

I strongly advise against it, the UTH is going to have a very hard time heating through it. I use corrugated wrap, but any paper based substrate or a thin layer of aspen will work.

[warlord]

i would rather use aspen than paper, as long as a thin layer of aspen will work i will go with that

[The Serpent Merchant]

I'd keep it to about 1/2" thick.

[RestlessRobie]

The Thermostat probe is just used to regulate the heat of the UTH I would advise against placing the probe for your t-stat inside the enclosure there is a chance that the snake may move it spill water on it or take a pee on it and it could cause temps to spike. Thermometer probe definately in the substrate under the hide

[warlord]

if the t stat probe isnt in the cage than wouldnt it be trying to regulate the heat of where ever it is giving innacurate temps?

[mattb]

if the t stat probe isnt in the cage than wouldnt it be trying to regulate the heat of where ever it is giving innacurate temps?

It can be put in the enclosure BUT it is not a good idea because if the snake moves the probe off of where the flexwatt is it will stay on because it's not getting to the temp that you have it set to and that could burn our snake and melt plastic if your using tubs.

If you put it on the flexwatt itself and get a thermometer like one form Walmart for about $12 you measure your temps inside and adjust the temp on your thermostat to the correct temp. Example depending on the bedding your hot spot will be at 92 but the thermostat might be set at 98.

[The Serpent Merchant]

if the probe is on the flexwatt then it will regulate the temperature of the flexwatt and not the cage floor temperature. for instance I have my thermostat set to 105 to achieve a 91 degree hot spot on the floor of my cages.

The ideal set up is to have a proportional thermostat like the herpstat connected to the heat tape with the probe inside the cage over the hot spot. Then plug the herpstat into a non-proportional thermostat like a ranco. The Ranco's probe is attached to the heat tape and acts as a backup. you set the herpstt to your desired temperature, and the rancho to the hottest you want the heat tape to get to. If the max temperature is breached the rancho will cut power to he herpstat until the heat tape has cooled down.