VE-200D thermostat problem?

[BDog21]

I bought a used VE-200D thermostat today and cant get it to work quite right. When i first set it up i didnt have any tape so i used shipping label stickers to place the temp probe just to get it turned on and make sure it works and everything. I turn the temp up to 90 and even after a few hours it says its only 80 degrees and is at 100% power. I went and got some actual tape and placed the probe perfectly centered on the flexwatt and taped it down good. The probe reading slowly went up to 85 but wont go above that and it constantly says its working at 100% still. I put a cheap zoomed thermometer probe in there and that is currently reading 94.1 while the thermostat still says 85 and wont go any higher. Anybody had this happen before? Is the thermostat itself bad you think? Or maybe just the probe needs replaced? The probe and the unit itself both look like they are in good shape no kinks or tears in the cord and no scratches or scuffs on the unit.

I have it hooked up to an animal plastics economy rack with 3 inch flexwatt that looks like 1 long strip of flexwatt snaked through 4 shelves

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[BDog21]

And the probe is taped down securely centered directly over the black bars of the flexwatt where it heats up

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[PitOnTheProwl]

Have you tried moving the probe to a different location?

[bcr229]

Other than the tape is there anything on the probe? It may just be reading heat on the bottom of the probe, and the cooler air on the top and sides, and so it's reading too low. If that's the case you can try taping a few layers of paper or a small piece of cardboard over the probe, to trap some warm air around it.

[BDog21]

Ill try both of theese when i get home from work thanks

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[PitOnTheProwl]

Yeah I forgot to ask what the room temperature is.

[BDog21]

The thermostat in my house is always set to 74 so most of the house is 74 but ive got so many lamps and heaters n stuff set up that my room is usually about 80

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[bcr229]

It sounds like the probe is misreading. I would try both moving it and covering it.

Also with belly heat you really need an IR thermometer or heat gun to measure the surface temperature of the tub. Bear in mind that if the bottom of the tub is bowed or warped when empty, the weight from an adult snake can push the surface closer to the heat tape, which will increase the temperature.

[BDog21]

I moved the temp probe up to the next shelf and actually found a spare piece of foil tape that came with the rack and taped it down with that and now its hitting 90 like its set to and the other thermometer i have on it is also reading 90.0 thanks for the suggestions guys...and ill be sure to pick up a temp gun that was actually the next thing on my list of things to buy

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