Rheostats

Greetings,

Both of my vivs are terrarium style cages with screen tops using appropriate sized heat pads on one side (manufacturer recommended sized pads). The cage temps are proper but I would like to have more control by use of a rheostat.

I'm considering the ZooMed rheostats and I would like to know what experience anyone has had with them? I would also like to know about installation. I understand the heat source is plugged into the rheostat (outside the viv) so how does one place the sensor 'inside' the viv? Do you melt a hole through the Plexiglas (I'm assuming it's Plexiglas and not real glass) and place the sensor through the hole?.

Thank you in advance for you help you can provide.


Cheers,
Jason

You do conect outside the viv as you can't wash the rheostat if it got dirty.
I would suggest putting the prob in via the top some how, unless you are certain the viv is not glass. Be careful not to make to big a hole in case of excapes (the probes on all of mine(habistat) have a larger end than the cable so you have to make a larger hole, then when you have pushed the prob through there is a big gap around the cable, alright for large snake not to good for hatchlings
Then lay the probe on top of the substate in the warm side over the mat.

I use the habistat too. Have got sliding door melamine vivs, so made a hole in the top mesh vent to put the probe through and hang it down. Wound masking tape around the lead at the approprite spot so that it then plugs the hole completely, which has proved to be hatcling-proof.

Blue

When I used melamine vivs I used to drill a hole in the back, shove a peace of plastic pipe about 25 cm long into the hole, put the probe through and place it where it is suposed to go. Dust inside of pipe with talc, then put some sylicon into the pipe. When dry completly gentley pull the probe through a little so you end up with a plug on the wire. You can put the plug in as you please. No escapes.