Advice needed: New enclosure; Flexwatt tape only getting to 88F

[Captainsloose]

I am moving homes and thus my snakes into a new house. My 2 BPs are in built in bookshelf cages I built with RHPs to a rack system i purchased off craigslist from a colubrid breeder getting out of the business. I must say the rack is incredibly well built and well thought out. The flexwatt tape is sandwiched between the melamine and thin plexigalss.

I've had this thing plugged in for about 24 hours now and all I can manage out of the flexwatt tape is about 88F...The herpstat has been pegged at 100% for the whole time basically.

I've kept my 2 BP's around 90F on their warm spot with RHPs for years, and I'm concerned this flexwatt may not be warm enough for them.

I suppose I could fit in a couple of the RHP's i have to supplement it if i have to, but I was hoping the flexwatt would be warm enough.

Any help is appreciated. The temp probe is resting directly on one of the flexwatts. Not sure if i just need to stop worrying about it or add more heating elements. the room is about 69F ambient.

[Sunnieskys]

Might be a dumb question since I'm not familiar with the herpstats....can't you just raise the temp like other thermostats? I see it says 87.9 can't you raise that 2 degrees to get the 90?

[Bogertophis]

Flexwatt (without control) doesn't get as hot as some other kinds of UTH, & if your house is too cold, there's only so much it can do. Hard for me to tell, but
is there any way to further insulate the enclosure? Also, UTH may not be "enough" to heat the air in a larger cage or in a set-up with thicker substrate (like for
holding humidity). You may just need to supplement the UTH in this situation. Every set-up (& household) is different, & ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[Captainsloose]

Might be a dumb question since I'm not familiar with the herpstats....can't you just raise the temp like other thermostats? I see it says 87.9 can't you raise that 2 degrees to get the 90?

You are correct, I can raise the temps, but even if i set it to 90+ it's going flat out 100% 24/7 just to get to ~88

[Captainsloose]

Flexwatt (without control) doesn't get as hot as some other kinds of UTH, & if your house is too cold, there's only so much it can do. Hard for me to tell, but
is there any way to further insulate the enclosure? Also, UTH may not be "enough" to heat the air in a larger cage or in a set-up with thicker substrate (like for
holding humidity). You may just need to supplement the UTH in this situation. Every set-up (& household) is different, & ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

There is open pegboard in the back, i suppose I could block some/most of the airflow...worth a shot even if its just w/ cardboard for now.

I blocked off the holes in the back with some cardboard gonna keep an eye on it

[Bogertophis]

There is open pegboard in the back, i suppose I could block some/most of the airflow...worth a shot even if its just w/ cardboard for now.

I blocked off the holes in the back with some cardboard gonna keep an eye on it

Exactly! Corrugated cardboard is a good insulator, so are plastic packing bubble sheets, so is foam board, sheet cork, self-stick carpet tiles...so many things that are
cheap & you might already have. (plastic bubble sheets also let light thru, if that matters)

[Ax01]

i think 88 is a lil on the lower side but it's fine. remember that heat tape and UTH provides a hotspot and doesn't do much to raise ambient temps inside the enclosure. if u want warmer temps overall, you will have to add a secondary heat source from above like a RHP or CHE. or keep the whole room warm.

[Captainsloose]

i think 88 is a lil on the lower side but it's fine. remember that heat tape and UTH provides a hotspot and doesn't do much to raise ambient temps inside the enclosure. if u want warmer temps overall, you will have to add a secondary heat source from above like a RHP or CHE. or keep the whole room warm.

thank you sir. gonna hold onto my smaller RHPs for sure now...