building racks

[Ray]

Hi I was looking at building a rack system for my royals.I was thinking where would I put the thermostat.Do I place the sencer on the heat source which is out side the tub.Or would I drill a hole in one of the tubs and put the sencer part of the thermostat inside the tub.Does it make a difference.

[TanyaL]

From what I've been reading, the sensor needs to be where the snake will be, ideally at the bottom of the enclosure.

Yeah, I know....lot's of help, wasn't I! LOL I'm sure you will get a better answer in no time.

[rabernet]

My thermostat probe is taped directly on the heat tape. My digital thermometer probe is set inside the warm side hide on the surface.

Typically, the thermostat will be set a few degrees higher than your desired temperature (it has to heat through the enclosure and the substrate that you are using).

[Ray]

Thanks very much.I will do that.All the best.

[muddoc]

Hi I was looking at building a rack system for my royals.I was thinking where would I put the thermostat.Do I place the sencer on the heat source which is out side the tub.Or would I drill a hole in one of the tubs and put the sencer part of the thermostat inside the tub.Does it make a difference.

Here is a pic of how we do it. I like to put a piece of plastic that I cut from the lid of a CB-70 on top of the heat tape, and then put the probe on top of that. We put a piece of papertowel or cloth on top of the probe to keep the ambient air from contacting the probe as much as possible. The reason we do this is to simulate the conditions that the inside of the tub feels, without putting the probe inside of the tub (as this makes it difficult to slide the tubs in and out). Hope this helps, and if anyone has any questions on how we do it, please ask.

[Ray]

Thanks thats another great little tip.Thanks for the pic aswell.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Here is a pic of how we do it. I like to put a piece of plastic that I cut from the lid of a CB-70 on top of the heat tape, and then put the probe on top of that. We put a piece of papertowel or cloth on top of the probe to keep the ambient air from contacting the probe as much as possible.

Excellent tip. I always wonder how to get a more accurate reading when my snakes are playing "toss the thermometer around" or "hide the thermometer in the hide.

Bruce

[addsdad]

Like Tim, I don't want to keep the ambient temps from touching the thermostat probe as much as possible. I also don't trust having the probe in the actual tub with the snake for fear of them moving it or getting caught in any adhesive that might be used to keep the probe taped down. In each of my racks, I have an empty tub with just the thermostat probe in there. I have tried just having the probe taped to the heat tape outside of the tub, but it seems as the ambient temps fluctuate so does the thermostat temps. If the ambient temps cool, the probe feels it and increases the temp of the heat tape.

Of course, I don't have many snakes yet so I have room to do this.

[Ray]

Thanks for the tips.I got some plastic to put on my heat source.I put some cloth around the probe and taped it to the piece of plastic.The light on the thermostat is staying on.When it reads the temp I have it set for the light goes off.When it cools a little the light goes back on to let me know there is power going to the heat supply.I put a thermometer in one tub and the reading is lower than what the stat is set for.How can that be does anybody know.

[tonymul]

Like Tim, I don't want to keep the ambient temps from touching the thermostat probe as much as possible. I also don't trust having the probe in the actual tub with the snake for fear of them moving it or getting caught in any adhesive that might be used to keep the probe taped down. In each of my racks, I have an empty tub with just the thermostat probe in there. I have tried just having the probe taped to the heat tape outside of the tub, but it seems as the ambient temps fluctuate so does the thermostat temps. If the ambient temps cool, the probe feels it and increases the temp of the heat tape.

Of course, I don't have many snakes yet so I have room to do this.

This is the same way I am monitoring/controlling my temps in the rack system - and I too have some spare tubs if anyone feels inclined to make donations - Pinstripes, Lemon Blasts, Caramel Albinos and Ghosts all accepted......

Tony