Heat question

[adam1028]

I have a c serpents v 18 rack with a herp keeper thermostat set to 93 degrees. I am using a pro exotics PE-2 temp guy for my readings. I am only getting a reading of 85 bottom of tub hot side 76 cool side. Should I set the thermostat higher? Is it normal for such a big difference between setting and tub temp?
Thanks for you help.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Depending on the location of your probe, yes.
Raise your temp until the surface temperature on the floor of the tub is where you want it.

[adam1028]

Probe I have sitting on heat tape

[kitedemon]

My rack is a five slot PVCx, it is in a cool room 68ºF. It sounds like you also have a cooler room for your rack. The easy answer is two parts increase the temp of the set point of the stat. I might if your rack room is below 77ºF I might think to bump it up some as well.

[Paul's Pieds]

take your probe off the heat tape. it should be in the tub. you want to measure the heat where the snake is, not the tape, which can often be considerably different

[PitOnTheProwl]

To run the probe in a tub you have to have an empty slot.

If you adjust your thermostat to compensate for the heat loss you will be fine.
I however have an extra tub with a thermometer in it and the probe for it taped to the hot spot location.
I rotate this tub through my racks every couple weeks just to make sure everything is where I want it.

[TheSnakeEye]

take your probe off the heat tape. it should be in the tub. you want to measure the heat where the snake is, not the tape, which can often be considerably different

Not true. No need to waste a tub for probe purposes. I place ALL my probes on the heat tape and adjust the tstat accordingly to get whatever temperature I want. All my hotspots are at 88 degrees. Now keep in mind, this will not really heat the cold side, I only say this because I noticed you mentioned it. The heat tape is going to heat the area above it That's about it.

[Albert Clark]

Thanks to Adam1028, Pit, Kitedemon, Paul's pied and Snake eye for the discussion and clarification. That was helpful.