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chrish
Hatchling
United Kingdom
172 Posts |
 Posted - 18/09/2010 : 17:11:01
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Read through a load of old posts but couldnt find an answer so forgive me if you guys have said this 100 times over but...
...i have a 3ft wooden viv, temperature is controlled by a lamp (bulbs grow in the ground! lol) during the day, currently set to come on at 8:30am and go off at 7:30pm and a Habistat heat mat with thermostat to control the heat at night. I have a thermometer under the lamp about 2" above the substrate...
Now you know the set-up, heres the problem. During the day the thermometer reads 85-90 which as far as i understand is fine. When the lamp goes off though the thermometer drops the around 70 which is room temperature. I cant feel any heat coming off of the heat mat but the thermostat does switch it on and off to control the temp. Thermostat is set to 82.
The instructions on the heat mat say 'Heat Mats & Strips produce ultra long wavelength infra red heat. This wavelength is invisible to the human eye and tends to heat furnishings in the cage rather than the air. This action of heating is very similar to he sun and it has the ability to heat anything that it strikes but with the air temperature remaining much lower. Reptiles absorb this in a manner very similar to basking in a natural enviroment. Heat mats do get warm but provide a very gentle warmth which the animal can sit under or on top of' That kind of explains why the thermometer is only reading room temp but i would still expect to be able to feel some heat off of the mat.
I popped into creepy crawlies in wellingborough this afternoon to have a look and i could feel heat coming off of their mats although they do have different ones to mine (not the shop i bought the set-up from)
*and breath* hope that makes sense, i may of waffled on a bit bit!
Cheers |
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Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:00:31
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| How thick is the substrate on at the hot end with the mat? By reading I am thinking 2 inches but it should only be 1cm at the hot end. You might not also feel the heat of the mat as it will be about the same as your body temperature. If you haven't your thermometer and stat probe should be places directly on the mat for a better reading although some people put there's on the substrate above that mat which is 1cm deep. |
   
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
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chrish
Hatchling
United Kingdom
172 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:15:15
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| Substrate is only about 1cm thick, the thermometer is then 2" above that. Stat probe is under the substrate directly on top of the heat mat. Snakey seems perfectly happy with the way its set up. Just thought i should be able to feel some heat thats all. |
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gmac
The Scottish Admin
United Kingdom
5319 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:18:41
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| but you don't know what the temp the stat is set to the dials on the stat are next to useless, the thermometer is way too far above and is measuring ambient temps which is fine for the lights but not for mats. You need to have a thermometer on the mat so you can tell what your stat temps are turning on and off, this is why it may seem cool. |
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chrish
Hatchling
United Kingdom
172 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:25:47
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| Ahhh ok, i thought the dial on the stat would be reliable! is it worth keeping the other one where it is and getting another for the mat? or just move the one i have already... |
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gmac
The Scottish Admin
United Kingdom
5319 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:28:27
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| if you move the one you have that will be fine, also 90 is a bit hot that's about 32deg C, ideally between 27-30 is best for warm end temps |
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chrish
Hatchling
United Kingdom
172 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:33:39
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Ok cheers. Reptile center said 85-90 was fine...they also told me to put the thermometer where i did...
Questioning evrything they told me now....is having a heat mat for night and a lamp for the day a sensible way of doing things or have i been misinformed?
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Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 18:49:47
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| Just one heating methods on all the time does the trick generally. |
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
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gmac
The Scottish Admin
United Kingdom
5319 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2010 : 19:13:49
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Chrish,
where you had the probe is fine for a light but not however for a mat.
Don't suppose there is anything wrong with using both types, however personally I would pick one method of heating and go with it. |
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Heating
