Id suggest putting an extra digital thermometer probe on the top of the substrate if you want a true temp in the hide--using a laser thermometer is all well and good, but sometimes you can't "shoot" inside the hides w/o disturbing the snake. I still use a laser thermometer, but the probe is easier deal with, and they only cost $10 (ZooMed).
Be aware, the bottom probe, between the glass and UTH, will always register a higher temp since there is heat loss through the glass and through the substrate-- you might register 96F at the UTH, and only high 80s in the hide, if low 90s.
As a personal recommendation for rheostats...I won't use them. I had your pictured model and it had a 20deg F swing in temps...not good IMO. I say go proportional thermostat, but they aren't cheap...but nobody said keeping live snakes was cheap!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chairman
Your heat source should be on the outside of the tank. The probe goes between the heat pad and the glass.
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One of these a while ago, but the thing is it requires you to stick onto the heat source/glass where it is located but how the hell are you supposed to do that while still being able to close the tank? My snake goes through periods of activity where he still tries to open the tank and he most definitely could if its not closed. 
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