Heating concerns (Herpstat 2 with Zoo Med ReptiTherm 8x12)

[icius]

Hello all,

Last night I switched over my substrate from paper towels to self adhesive tile. I have an 8x12 ReptiTherm under the enclosure on the hot side hooked up to a Herpstat 2 for control. I figured the heat mat would have to work a bit harder to pump heat through the extra 1/8 inch of tile and indeed I have noticed that it is on quite a bit more. I have also noticed that it doesn't regulate very well now either. It seems like the Herpstat is either showing 0% power or 100% power where before it would fluctuate to maintain temperature in much smaller increments.

Even more disturbing, during one of these 100% power cycles I took some readings with my infrared thermometer. This is what I found:



The blue outline shows roughly where the heat mat is positioned under the glass.

Two things about these readings disturb me. First is the wild temperature gradient from the back of the mat to the front? Do the ReptiTherms really heat this unevenly? The second thing that bothers me is the reading right at the Herpstat temperature probe? I have the Herpstat set to 90 degrees. Why would it let the temp reach 99 degrees at the probe? Should I swap out the ReptiTherm for some Flex Watt? Could my Herpstat be faulty?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Neon Aurora]

Hm, that does seem strange. I've read that many people use a layer of sand underneath the tile (so the gecko does not have contact with it) to help distribute the heat more evenly. I'm not sure why your Herpstat would be either at 0 or 100, though. Have you checked the settings? Maybe do a reboot? What does the temperature on the Herpstat say on that spot?

 

[scm133]

Suggestion: I would put the Herpstat probe directly on the heat mat, not on top of the tile. Then spot check the areas with an infrared temp gun, and adjust accordingly.

 

[J&M UNE]

Attached the tstat prob directly to the heat mat and control according using the temp gun. Safest and best way to run imo

Sent from my Z936L using Tapatalk

 

[indyana]

Sally is right; move the probe so it controls the temperature of the heat pad, then set the temperature on the HerpStat to the reading that makes the top of the tile around 90 F (usually, the thermostat set point is higher than 90). Also, it is completely normal for heat pads to have a "hot spot". I usually make sure the warm hide is over a spot that stays around 90 F.