Temperature settings on an UTH hooked up to a thermostat

[Mikoh4792]

As some of you may know, I have moved my Cay Caulker's boa into a setup with an UTH. The temperatures are good, however I have to set the thermostat to 101 F in order to get a 90F hotspot. I'm sure the hotspot is at 90F because I have checked it with multiple instruments. Two infrared heat guns, and two digital thermometers. There is only an inch layer of substrate(Mix of cochusk and cypress mulch).

Some of you have told me that you only need to set your thermostats a few degrees above your desired temperature. Why do you guys think I have to set mine so high? My room is always warm in the summer, currently it's 82F inside so I just turned on the AC to bring it back down to 75 so my snakes can have an actual cool side.

Cliffs just to keep it concise:
- Helix thermostat set to 101 just to get a 90F hotspot
- 1 inch layer of bedding(cocohusk+cypress mulch)
- It isn't the ambient temperature of the room, since the room is usually warm.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

As some of you may know, I have moved my Cay Caulker's boa into a setup with an UTH. The temperatures are good, however I have to set the thermostat to 101 F in order to get a 90F hotspot. I'm sure the hotspot is at 90F because I have checked it with multiple instruments. Two infrared heat guns, and two digital thermometers. There is only an inch layer of substrate(Mix of cochusk and cypress mulch).

Some of you have told me that you only need to set your thermostats a few degrees above your desired temperature. Why do you guys think I have to set mine so high? My room is always warm in the summer, currently it's 82F inside so I just turned on the AC to bring it back down to 75 so my snakes can have an actual cool side.

Cliffs just to keep it concise:
- Helix thermostat set to 101 just to get a 90F hotspot
- 1 inch layer of bedding(cocohusk+cypress mulch)
- It isn't the ambient temperature of the room, since the room is usually warm.

Sometimes it's the way it goes.

Where is the probe placed from the thermostat? That can easily be the cause of the issue.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Sometimes it's the way it goes.

Where is the probe placed from the thermostat? That can easily be the cause of the issue.

I would take pictures to give you a better idea but currently my boa is in it's warm hide and I don't want to stress it before feeding again.

Basically I taped the probe down with electrical tape directly above the UTH on the glass inside the enclosure. I only taped the wire part and let the probe come in contact with the glass and substrate. I don't know if that helps anything, but I felt it would be better instead of covering the actual probe. The weird part is, when I moved the substrate to the side to read the temps of the probe and glass around it, it only read around 95F. I say it's weird because the thermostat reads 101F. so when I check the probe with an infrared heat gun shouldn't it also read 101F?

The only thing I can think of as of now is that it's a faulty thermostat(not the brand, just this particular one). I've read some good reviews on the herpstat from spyderrobotics so I actually have one coming in this week. I'm going to use that to see if the same thing occurs.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

I would take pictures to give you a better idea but currently my boa is in it's warm hide and I don't want to stress it before feeding again.

Basically I taped the probe down with electrical tape directly above the UTH on the glass inside the enclosure. I only taped the wire part and let the probe come in contact with the glass and substrate. I don't know if that helps anything, but I felt it would be better instead of covering the actual probe. The weird part is, when I moved the substrate to the side to read the temps of the probe and glass around it, it only read around 95F. I say it's weird because the thermostat reads 101F. so when I check the probe with an infrared heat gun shouldn't it also read 101F?

The only thing I can think of as of now is that it's a faulty thermostat(not the brand, just this particular one). I've read some good reviews on the herpstat from spyderrobotics so I actually have one coming in this week. I'm going to use that to see if the same thing occurs.

Could be your thermostat is off, it's possible.

Don't forget there's always some heat loss when going between two objects. Especially with glass or something else between the two.

I tape my probe down to my heat tape and put it directly on top of it. You should try doing it by attaching the probe directly to the heat pad and see what happens. You can use a temp gun to adjust if need be within the enclosure.

[SnakeyJay]

Definately keep tape out of any snakes enclosure... Big mistake but it amazes me the amount of times we see it done by new keepers.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

Definately keep tape out of any snakes enclosure... Big mistake but it amazes me the amount of times we see it done by new keepers.

What is wrong with tape? Is duct tape okay?

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

What is wrong with tape? Is duct tape okay?

No, if it peels off due to moisure or anything, and decides to restick its not good.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by smy_749

No, if it peels off due to moisure or anything, and decides to restick its not good.

I see. What do you suggest I do? Should I just secure it with something heavy like a rock hide or something?

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Could be your thermostat is off, it's possible.

Don't forget there's always some heat loss when going between two objects. Especially with glass or something else between the two.

I tape my probe down to my heat tape and put it directly on top of it. You should try doing it by attaching the probe directly to the heat pad and see what happens. You can use a temp gun to adjust if need be within the enclosure.

Unfortunately, I am using the zoomed heat pad so the top is stuck onto the glass lol. I could try taping it to the back of the heat pad but it says that heat only goes up effectively from the sticky side. Maybe I'll look into flex-watt then.

[SnakeyJay]

It can tear the skin off your snake.. Duct tape even more so!.. Lol

[smy_749]

Attach the probe using zip ties.