RHP - is this right?

[Homebody]

I have an 8ft L x 2ft W x 2ft H pvc enclosure and I bought 2 RHP from Pro Products (followed their recommendations on what to get). I've got a Herpstat 2 thermostat controlling them - taped the probes halfway down the side and I've gotten the hot side up to about 86°F and the cool side at 76°F as measured on the floor by an infared temp gun, but the panels are running at like 187°F and 150°F respectively when measured with the temp gun. Is this okay?? I tried originally putting the probes directly on the panels like the Herpstat instructions said, but heating the panels even to 95°F couldn't get the hot side past 74°F on the floor. I'm just worried the panels will be running too hot for being inside and technically accessible to my boa.

You shouldn't use tape in your snakes enclosure. Snakes have a knack for getting stuck on it. To secure wires, use a cable clamp instead. The probe I'd suspend 2-3" under the rhp, as illustrated in the picture below. That's a VE RHP, but I don't see why that placement wouldn't work for a Pro Products one.



How long have you been running your heat panels? I ask because they can take a while to raise the temps in your enclosure. That may be why they're running so hot. I wouldn't expect their surface temps to drop much, but once they've gotten your enclosure nice and toasty, they may not need to run so hard.