Quote Originally Posted by bcr229 View Post
This is false, the thermostat probe is always placed outside of the enclosure, sandwiched between the heat pad and the underside of the enclosure. Otherwise your snake can move it off the heat source, pee on it, dump water on it, etc. which will cause it to read "low" and the heat appliance to run too hot.

With an RHP the thermostat probe may be placed in the enclosure but it's usually secured with plastic fasteners high on a wall or the ceiling so the snake can't interfere with it.
Really? Animal interfering with the probe notwithstanding, wouldn't direct contact with the pad read hot? The tub's floor is not a perfect conductor (obviously since its designed to insulate the interior) so the heat generated by the pad is partially absorbed and dispersed by the floor itself resulting in a lower actual temperature on the tubs interior surface, no? I feel like its similar to measuring a car's horsepower at the crank vs at the wheels (I figure a mustang fan would appreciate the analogy).