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UTH and Thermometer

G

GlitterFlame89

Animal Loving Girl
OK, so I am getting the UTH for my enclosure, and the plan is to get the (Flukers?) dual Digital Thermometer/Hydrometer that sells at Petco for $19.99. My question is, how do I use these together? I mean, I won't be there 24/7 looking in, so how do I know if it is getting too hot when I am not home to adjust anything? And why do the UTH's get hotter than they say they do? I'm a little confused...
 
This is why most of us recomened that you purchase (or make) something to regulate the tempatures.
A thermostat is a device that you plug the UTH into and then you dial it to keep the heater going only when it drops below a certain tempature and shut o when it gets to a certain tempature.
A rheostat is basically like a fancy light dimmer that you adjust to give a certain output of engery to your heater. If your ambient (room tempature) changes a lot though this might not be the best idea for you.
Thermostats are more expensive than rheostats, but a lot of users have had problems with the store bought Rheostats. There are however detailed instructions on how to build your own if you choose that route:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168
 
What if you get a smaller UTH than the size of the tank? Like A 1-5 for a 10 or 20? Would that help? Or is it really just better to get/make a rheostat?
 
You definitely need a rheostat or thermostat. A smaller UTH will just heat a smaller area, it will still get way too hot.

As for the thermometer you mention, does it have a probe? You definitely need a thermometer with a probe so you can measure right on the UTH,
 
OK, where can I get a thermostat, and what should I be looking for specifically in it? I'd make one using the thread, but I'm not really good at that stuff and don't want to mess it up.
 
I'd suggest the Big Apple Herp Dual Probed Two Location Thermometer ($24.99) rather than the Flukers. http://tinyurl.com/yqd3xt

I've got a bunch of Flukers. They're _ok_, but I'm not convinced of their accuracy. I know the BAH thermometer is quite accurate, because I use it in vivs with a digital thermostat, and the two match.

Also, if you are running a single viv with the thermometer, you can always monitor your warm and cool sides.

Also, you don't have to dig the thermometer out from under the substrate to read it!

Also, I'd HIGHLY recommend this thermostat over the ZooMed.

http://tinyurl.com/2ggzzd

There are two kinds of thermostats, on/off which are the Zoomed, the BAH, etc. They turn on, the temp of the UTH rises, when the temp reaches the set temp, the thermostat shuts off. This type of thermostat is accurate within a few degrees. I am running the older style BAJ thermostat on one viv, and it's accurate to within one degree.

Then there is the proportional thermostat, the Herpstat, the Helix, etc. This thermostat adjusts the power it supplies rather than shutting off/turning on. So you set your temp at 85, and the thermostat begins to heat. When it is say 5F away from your set temp, it supplies 100% power. As it nears the set temp, it drops the power to 60%, and as it comes very close, it drops to 30% (estimated figures for illustration purposes only) so the heat mat doesn't go over the set temp. Then if it falls say .2F below the set temp, the thermostat turns on again with just a little bit of power, so the temp goes back to what is set, not way over. I'd say mine are accurate to .2-.3F.
 
Here's a picture of the dual-probed thermometer in use: (It's right next to my house thermostat). I _love_ being able to glance at the thermometer and know exactly what the conditions in the viv are at all times. It has a max/min function, too, which is great for dialing in thermostats.
 

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Thanks for all the info; I bought the Flukers, it's the only one we sell. If I don't like it I'm going to take it back and get a different one somewhere else. Also, my grandfather made the rheostat for me, so no worries! Thanks!
 
Yep, definitely needs to be on the bottom, because your snake doesn't lie on the sides of the tank.
 
Well, instructions on the UTH explicitely, about 5 times at least, state that a UTH may NEVER be placed on the underside of a plastic tank/container, only glass ones, and suggests that it be placed on the side of any tank. So, I put it at the bottom of the side. I followed the instructions on the package; did I do it wrong?
 
Unfortunately yes.
The reasoning is because when regulated your UTH will never be hot enough to harm the plastic.
See, even they know their UTH's can get way too hot.
 
Alright, well, he's stuck for now, I guess. I'll peel it off tomorrow and and return it for a new one, since it can't be restuck. Now, is it 100% certain that if it is put underneath it won't cause damage? I'm neervous again now that it says never to do that. And use the the little feet, right?
 
Always make sure you stick something under the tank to raise it up you don't want it directly pressing down on the UTH ON the surface you're housing it on.
None of us have ever had a plastic container melt or anything bad like that.
 
OK, as long as none of you have had issues. Will he be alright for tonight, with it on the side? I mean, my room is hot anyway, about 75-76 degrees, so it's pretty warm even without the heater. (I suffer discomfort for the sake o my bird and snake who despise the cold; I prefer it about 10 degrees cooler myself, LOL) Oh, and will foil tape work OK to stick the next one on, just in case of any issues where it will have to be moved? My snake won't be eating until wensday, so he shouldn't have any digestion issues. He's actually in his cool side hide right now.
 
My plastic bins sit on a heat cable that is 95F. I think, even if you had a UTH at its max temp of 130F or so, it couldn't melt the plastic. It could, however, burn the snake.

Don't throw the old one away- you may need it some day if your other one fails. You can always just set the viv on it without it glued.
 
GlitterFlame89 said:
OK, so I am getting the UTH for my enclosure, and the plan is to get the (Flukers?) dual Digital Thermometer/Hydrometer that sells at Petco for $19.99.
Click to expand...

Nanci said:
I'd suggest the Big Apple Herp Dual Probed Two Location Thermometer ($24.99) rather than the Flukers.
Click to expand...

I realize that you've already bought the flukers, but I agree with Nanci that a probed thermometer will provide more accurate readings. The hygrometer on the flukers should provide accurate measurements, but the flukers without a probe is more suited to measure ambient temperatures.

I use one of the flukers mounted in my snake room, just to measure the ambient temps and humidity. It seems fairly accurate (+/- a few degrees)

I'm assuming this is the one you are referring to: [see pic]
 

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Corny Noob said:
Is it stuck to the side of the tank? It should be on the bottom...
Click to expand...

Wylie said:
Yep, definitely needs to be on the bottom, because your snake doesn't lie on the sides of the tank.
Click to expand...

Your UTH does not have to be on the bottom. Many racks are set up with side/back heat instead of belly heat. Essentially, mounting a UTH on the side is no different then heating the entire room, with possibly the exception of providing a temperature gradient within the viv.

Mounting position of the UTH is really a personal preference (aesthetically, mounting on the bottom hides the UTH and wires)--and may even be safer to avoid possible burns by mounting on the side.
 
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