Question about probe placement of Herpstat 4

[queenelvis82]

Hello All,
I have a under the tank heat mat coming from Boaphile Plastics. It is the 1.5X. I do have a question about probe placement. Since the enclosure sits right on the surface, I am assuming I cannot place the probe directly on the heat tape. Instead, I plan on putting the probe directly on the floor of the enclosure above the heat mat and under the substrate. Is this a good method to keep the heat tape at a constant 90 degree F? Please, let me know your thoughts.

[tbowman]

Probably not the best method. Your snake will most likely end up knocking the probe out of place and you could end up with a burnt snake. I would attach the probe directly to the heat tape on the outside of the enclosure.

[KMG]

You do not want the probe to be inside on the floor. If it is moved, flooded by water, or flooded by urine the probe will send the tstat the information that it is cold and needs more power. This of course is wrong and will make the uth ramp up and get to hot, possibly hot enough to harm your snake.

You want to mount the probe to the heat mat itself and have both outside the cage.

Most cages will have small feet that act as spacers. This allows your heat mat and probe to sit under the cage without any issues. You want to mount the heat mat directly to the bottom of the cage tightly with tape of some sort. I like the aluminum A/C tape. Its rigid, tough, and heat tolerant.

If the cage does not have space under it and instead sits flat on the surface below you can use the small rubber inserts usually used to place glass on top of table stands or other table tops. Cheap and easy.

[JoshSloane]

You absolutely want the probe to be flush up against the heat mat. This is the only way to efficiently regulate the temps. Just as a side note, be sure NOT to put any tape directly on the probe itself, rather tape the cord down onto the mat. Only use aluminum tape as well.

[queenelvis82]

What will the tape on the probe do? That has been the way that I have placed the probe on my python's floor heat.

Thank you all for the responses!

[tbowman]

I'm not sure where people get this idea that you cannot have any tape touching the probe. It's the most secure way to do things..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouig7kXAFo 8:30 shows this perfectly, there are no problems.

Also, I believe the Manufacturers of Flexwatt actually recommend using duct tape over aluminium tape to secure the probe.

I found this, but I also believe they discussed it on a episode of Herpin' Time Radio awhile back

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru.../t-304298.html

[JoshSloane]

If you look at the manufacturers directions from spyder robotics they directly state to not put any tape on the probe itself as it can cause temperature fluctuations.

[tbowman]

If you look at the manufacturers directions from spyder robotics they directly state to not put any tape on the probe itself as it can cause temperature fluctuations.

Taken from Spyder Robotics site.

Do not apply aluminum tape directly to the probe tip. This will cool down the probe tip causing invalid readings.

And now that we know that the manufacturers of heat tapes don't recommend aluminium tape at all, there should be no confusion.

A bit more evidence of this

https://www.facebook.com/FlexwattHea...25326447481198

[JoshSloane]

No, the directions do not say to not use aluminum tape at all, it says to not use it on the probe tip. Those are two very different things.

[tbowman]

Spyder Robotics, maker of thermostats, says do not use Aluminium tape on their thermostat probes.

Calorique, Maker of flexwatt heat tape, says do not use aluminium tape with their product.

The evidence speaks for itself.

Nowhere do either of these two entities warn of the dangers of taping a thermostat probe (not the cord) directly to the heating element.

We live in a world where McDonald's has to warn us that coffee is hot, don't you think if it were dangerous to tape a probe directly to heat tape, that they would make this clear?