Let me guess you put the thermometer under the panel? To measure the air temp hold it off to the side so it is not directly under the panel then turn it off and measure the difference in 15 min. The difference is from the RHP. It heats objects not air. Much like a UTH it does not in a significant way effect air temps just surface temps.

"RHP's are similar to Ceramic Heat Emitters (CHE) - they both project IR heat into the cage. Unlike CHE's that get very, very hot on their surface, these RHP's maintain temperatures safe to use inside the cage. This Infrared Heat tends to heat objects more than the air, much like the natural sunlight outdoors. This type of heat mimics real sunlight both in the direction it comes from and its penetration into the muscle tissue. IR heat has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on sick and injured animals as well. Your reptiles will spend less time basking and receive a much greater benefit from it. The RHP has been the heat of choice for the bird community for years due to these benefits. We at Reptile Basics Inc want to see the RHP gain this popularity in the reptile field!"
Reptile Basics FAQ

Royal pythons don't generally bask. It is a true radient heat source like a UTH is a conductive source either heating air significantly my RHP only heats the air a few degrees much like the UTH does. For thoes who don't remember grade 10 physics...
http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/V...aspx?ID=sce304

To effect ambient air temps significantly you need a convection source like a light bulb or enclosed heating element.

I only mention the RHP as many try to use them to heat air and discover they behave much like a UTH does. A RHP replaces a UTH.