RBI Radiant Heat Panels

[kitedemon]

Martin that is quite cool I suppose a dab of hot melt inside the fitting before placing the probe would hold it quite well. I have been using the dangle method dangling from out of reach of the snake from the centre of the panel.

[norwegn113]

I have always wondered if one of those plastic vented thermostat covers you see in commercial buildings would work if you put a probe in it or would you get a false reading? I know the snake definitely would not be able to get to it!

[kitedemon]

Rhp are hard to get sorted the probe surface and colour effects the temp they record. (how much and quickly ir is absorbed) much like a white plastic or black plastic in the sun. Jacketing the probe (not sure if you mean a jacket / sheath or a security box?) could improve or worsen the accuracy. It depends on the ir absorbsion related to the objects in the enclosure. They are not simple tools.


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[Dark Lady Kat]

I used a hot glue gun to glue the thermostat probe directly to the surface of the radiant heat panel. It is very secure and impossible for my snakes to get to it to bump it loose.

The only problem with putting it directly on the panel is the panel is going to get hot first so it may not have time to heat the surrounding objects in the enclosure depending on the height

[norwegn113]

I used a hot glue gun to glue the thermostat probe directly to the surface of the radiant heat panel. It is very secure and impossible for my snakes to get to it to bump it loose.

Im no expert here but I can say that mounting the probe right to the face of the panel is totally wrong. Those panels are designed to run at temps about 190 deg. or so. Lowering those temps to the 80-90 deg. range, renders them useless. IMO

[Exotic Ectotherms]

Im no expert here but I can say that mounting the probe right to the face of the panel is totally wrong. Those panels are designed to run at temps about 190 deg. or so. Lowering those temps to the 80-90 deg. range, renders them useless. IMO

Who said I was running the panel in the 80-90 degree range??? I have my Herpstat 2 set at 140 degrees with a Acurite digital thermometer on each side of the enclosure. Temp inside of the warm side hide is 90 degrees. Temp inside the cool side hide is 80-82. Ambient temp is 82-84 throughout the enclosure. Where is the problem??????

We mount thermostat probes directly to the surface of Heat Tape....the only difference is the temp that the thermostat is set at to acheive desired results.

[Dark Lady Kat]

Who said I was running the panel in the 80-90 degree range??? I have my Herpstat 2 set at 140 degrees with a Acurite digital thermometer on each side of the enclosure. Temp inside of the warm side hide is 90 degrees. Temp inside the cool side hide is 80-82. Ambient temp is 82-84 throughout the enclosure. Where is the problem??????

We mount thermostat probes directly to the surface of Heat Tape....the only difference is the temp that the thermostat is set at to achieve desired results.

I do not think the thermo temps had been mentioned before if it were set to 90 you would have to agree that it would not be reflecting the optimal temps you are getting but consider if for any reason your probe managed to come off and fall further down being mounted at the top on the panel at 140 is good but if your tank reached 140 it would be bad I agree we do mount temp probes directly to heat tape but heat tape is also in direct contact or nearly direct contact with the snakes belly if you are getting stable temps then it works for you but there was no mention of the panels setting prior to

[ewaldrep]

@ Exotic Exotherms, I was thinking about hooking up my incoming RHPs the same way. How long have you had them hooked up that way? Did you just ad a dab on each end of the probe and then glue down the cable? Thanks

[kitedemon]

Probes need to be secure regardless of where they are placed they must not move period.

The additional issue with RHPs is the snake should not be able to come between the probe and the panel this as radiant heat is line of sight so shadowing the probe will make it go cool, and run the panel up (temps). The third issue is the probe should be held parallel to the panel as the probe should not shadow itself either. It leaves are hard set of options. As they are usually used to generate a vertical gradient with the top being correct and the bottom being cooler the placement is easier just above the tallest area and dangled from the panel. If it is set to the probe to top of the allowable range everything below will lower.

The use in terrestrial enclosures seems to be more common in the last few years and the bugs are not worked out yet.

Terrestrial, the bottom is where the correct temp should be and everything above hotter. This makes for a thorny issue. I personally would not have anything the snake can lay on be over 92º (given the accuracy of most keepers thermometers) The floor will be the temp it is. The air temps will have a impact on how large the gradient is. I would think the probe should be mounted a few inches below the panel on a stock of some kind. This in my on going tinkering seems to provide the most regular temps on the floor although they do vary a lot as the room changes, it is a balance between safety and efficiency. (BPs often suffer neurological damage if they have core temps over 104-5ºF a panel pumping out 140º+ if there is objects at or near 100ºF there is risk of damage)

[Exotic Ectotherms]

@ Exotic Exotherms, I was thinking about hooking up my incoming RHPs the same way. How long have you had them hooked up that way? Did you just ad a dab on each end of the probe and then glue down the cable? Thanks

I have had the probe glued to the panel for about 2 years with NO problems. The most important thing is to not put any climbing branches directly below the panel so the snake cannot touch it. Even though the surface of the panel is 140 degrees the heat dissapates fast and the air temp is MUCH lower even only 6" below the panel. I think the most appropriate thing to do would be to ask Rich @ Reptile Basics where to mount the probe and if it is ok to glue it to the panel. He is the expert on these things and would know what is the safest method.