| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| nickyff |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 16:50:09
anybody else who has a set up like this- are you constantly adjusting? I'm not sure if my stat is a bit ****y-
I have 2 identical 11x11 pro-rep heatmats in identical vivs both plugged into a microclimate stat, but have been constantly turning the damn thing up/down cos its just not settling. The difference between the 2 can be as much as 5 or 6 degrees C. I tried every combination of therms and stat in each viv, and then tried both therms together to check they gave same readings, the cheaper one (zoo-med from SPS) seems to wobble a lot more but they basically held the same temp. then when adjusting the stat down again, cos one of the vivs was reading 30 + I noticed that the on/off range on the stat is massive-
what I mean is, it was on, so I turned it down, it went down to 26 before it clicked off, but when I turned it back up it didn't click back on again at 26, it went all the way round to 29 before the light came on.
if you have a microclimate stat can you do a quick test for me, and see if yrs does this? or is mine goosed and I need to change it for a different one? (do have spare atm, so not a prob, but I want to know whether to bin the one that's connected now.
thx |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| nickyff |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 20:58:16
thx for replies- my worry is that there's been a few times when i've checked the temps and the viv with the therm but no stat probe has been over 30, one time within the last few days it went to 34I've swapped them about, the stat probe is now in the viv that was getting too warm, they seem to be stable for now.
I guess I just keep an eye on it
It has occurred to me since posting this, and then messing about with which thermometer goes where, and which viv has the stat attached, that it may be down to the heat rising- one viv is directly above the other, it was the top one that was too warm. the stat is now in the top viv and the temp reads 28.5, bottom viv is at 27.0.
thanks for the help- I won't chuck it in the bin just yet! |
| Casta |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 18:09:37
i shouldn't worry too much. i have 2 fauns sitting on one heat mat both temp checked. the stat probe is nestled in between the two and even though on the same mat they can differ by 4-5 degrees one minute then be a point of a degree off the next. i just put it down to the thermometer probes getting nudged as the are in a cocnut hide in each faun. |
| Regalmatt |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 17:31:23
Try unplugging both mats, allow them to cool
And then plug them in together. If one was warm when u plugged the second in the temps will always be different, |
| Auld Baldy |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 17:15:43
The basic mat stat will operate to maintain a range of temperature, it will not hold a constant fixed temperature. As long as the maximum temperature does not exceed 30 degrees then a variation between 26<->29 is OK.
Take the readings from the thermometers for the temps, don't try doing it from the actual thermostat. It has to process the sensor reading and you should just tweak it up or down a little bit and let it cycle a couple of times before adjusting. Leave at a stable setting but monitor it for 24 hours and check regularly.
Ideally the mats and thermometers should be similar with the probes attached in the same position on the mats. First let the vivs cool down to room temp with the stat switched off before trying to set up.
I run 4 mats on a Habistat 100W with only 2 degree variation across them. I don't know if the Microclimate is more or less sensitive. |
| Red123 |
Posted - 20/02/2012 : 17:09:51
I used a microclimate stat and it drove me round the bend. It would come on at 25 and cut out at 30-31 it made no difference how I adjusted it there was always several degrees between coming on and going off and coming on again. Habistats are better at keeping an even temp but also running two mats on one stat can cause issues. I have tried this myself and found that both mats would run at different temps no matter how much I fiddled with the stat although I believe some do have success using two mats in vivs and one stat. |
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