Thermostat not working?

[JessJohnson87]

I have the Hydrofarm thermostat and noticed when I came home today from being away that it was reading 87*. I have it set for 93* and it did not go lower than 90* until today. I've only had it a little over a month and to make sure it was not the heat mat, I taped the probe to my digital thermometer to the heat mat and it's working fine.

I'm not sure how long it has been reading lower than 90*, I've been away since last Wednesday. Right now it reads 88.1*. Should I see if it will read the proper temps and shut off or just box it up and return it? Also has anyone else had this issue before? I'm thinking I may have gotten a fluke that worked for a while and now it's not.

 

[Aimless]

what's the stated variance on the package? I assume it's smaller than +/- 6F...if so, I'd contact the company and return it.

 

[JessJohnson87]

It's +/-3* at the most. I changed the setting last night to 91* and it started working fine, not sure what the hiccup was. I'm going to keep an eye on it and see if it does it again, if so then I will contact the company.

 

[kholtme]

I seem to have to change mine around from 90-92 on the thermostat at different times to get better floor temps. One spot could be 96F one inch to one side of the probe, and 92 on inch to the other side. Make sure your probe didnt get moved. It makes me wonder the best way to secure the probe to the ground to get the best reading. I used to use aluminum tape to tape it but I wondered if that would trap heat into the probe causing a false reading, so currently I have the probe under a heavier hide to keep it pressed against my tile, but then it makes me wonder if the probe is designed to read the hottest surface, or if it is getting temp readings from the tile and the hide that it is touching. Mine flucuataes quite a bit, sometimes getting to 96 in the warm hide, which is pretty warm, but if i lower the temps on the thermostat it will get below 88, so im in a pickle. I figured if Gaz doesnt like 96 he can move :/

 

[Zux]

[MENTION=52816]kholtme[/MENTION]

I filed out a little semi circle shape out of the floor edge of my warm hide which matches the diameter of my thermostats cable and then sit it over the cable which makes sure it never moves and always reads the same spot.

Regarding the temperature fluctuations as your probably know there is two options; either constantly have to adjust it or spend money and replace with a Pulse Proportional unit which will just adjust itself on the fly to the temperature you choose, it really sucks normal stats cant be relied upon to be exacting in so many cases.

 

[kholtme]

Yeah i know about the pulse proportional units, but they arent worth it for leopard geckos, since they are so hearty. But the way i have it set up is my hide that is sitting on top the probe wobbles without the probe under it so it works out perfect, but i just wonder if the probe reads the temps differently because something else is touching it. They are made for potting, so they are meant to be in dirt covered by all sides, not only touching on little warm spot and the rest being a cooler hide or air. Not sure how the probes work so my thought process could be wrong. Would be awesome to know they work by reading the temperature of the warmest contact point.

 

[Zux]

Yeah i know about the pulse proportional units, but they arent worth it for leopard geckos, since they are so hearty. But the way i have it set up is my hide that is sitting on top the probe wobbles without the probe under it so it works out perfect, but i just wonder if the probe reads the temps differently because something else is touching it. They are made for potting, so they are meant to be in dirt covered by all sides, not only touching on little warm spot and the rest being a cooler hide or air. Not sure how the probes work so my thought process could be wrong. Would be awesome to know they work by reading the temperature of the warmest contact point.

I find the Pulse units take a lot of the worry out of it for me so Id never go back to using a normal unit, but I understand your reluctance completely.

As for the probes thats something I thought about when I was first using them also so for two weeks I constantly double checked the reading at the probe with a temp gun and a digital thermometer also and somehow the temperatures were always correct, perhaps it reads the warmest point of contact or something

 

[kholtme]

I believe it does too, and dont get me wrong, and pulse unit would be awesome, but my wallet doesnt agree lol. I check my temps often with a temp gun and they always seem to be between 88-93 but every once in a blue moon there is a random bump in the temps. I dont worry, because it doesnt ever get above 96 and doesnt happen much, but if it got much higher I would worry.

 

[Zux]

Also lets face it they for sure experience a whole range of temperatures in their natural environment and thus as-long as they have the choice to move from such a warm spot its perfectly reasonable for them to have and use it as they wish.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I have mine taped to the tile under the warm dry hide. Ziggy won't lay on the bare tile in his hides, so there is a wash cloth on top of it. It worked fine before I left. I had it plugged into the wall and not my power strip so I have no idea. It seems to be doing fine since I changed the temperature setting and I'm monitoring the temps with my digital thermometer. Just didn't know if anyone else had this to happen to them with the same thermostat or not.

 

[Gossamer]

Yikes, I'm sorry that happened to you. What kind of heat mat are you using; do you think it was them at all? I know my Zoo Meds are getting switched out for Flukers this Thursday when they come in the mail. My thermostat shut them off before any damage was done, but they were definitely burning.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I have the Flukers and it was working perfectly. Stuck the digital thermometer on it and it read 99*. It seems to be working fine now since I changed it from 93* back down to 91*

That's why I hate the Zoo Med ones, they either work but don't heat up to the right temperatures or work and burn out quickly. I had a Zoo Med that never got the tile up past 86* without any regulation then quit heating up after about 3 weeks.

 

[Gossamer]

SHEESH! And they recommend these things at the pet store... Man. All I know is that my babies appear to be fine (no signs of burns or anything like that), but they were definitely stressed. I'll be surprised if they eat anything tonight. I'm glad that your thermostat is back to working again; I'll have to keep an eye on mine to make sure it doesn't pull that stunt!

 

[JessJohnson87]

I think it may have been a small hiccup. I have been keeping my eye on it just in case it does take a dump, then I will call Hydrofarm about it.

 

[kholtme]

Let us know what they say. Mine seem hiccup every once in a while but then return to normal. Ive been experimenting with where the best place is to put the probe and how to secure it to the tile. Right now i have it taped down under my warm dry hide and seems to be working well

 

[JessJohnson87]

That's where I have mine, I put the probe to the thermometer with it as well that way if it does screw up, I will know. I think it just wanted to scare me since I have not had any problems with anything since I got the new heat pad.

If it does die, it would be nice if I could keep the broken one to take it apart and examine the circuit board, here I go talking geek so I'm just going to leave that there....:shock:

 

[Gossamer]

That's alright. I geek out on people at random too. You said you have your probe under a wash cloth, right? Does it affect the probe reading at all?

I've discovered just why Lore's new flukers heat pad is getting so hot; Lore was laying right on top of the probe, making it read her body temp and in turn making the heat mat go all the way up to 98 degrees! Do you think I should cover the probe or move it?

 

[JessJohnson87]

I only put the wash cloth in there because Ziggy won't lay down on the tile and sleep in his hides. I started that nonsense when he had a cardboard box and didn't like the feel of it so he's spoiled per-sea.

I don't think it effects the probe reading because I've tested it without the washcloth in there and I got the same thing. If she's laying on it, I would move it to the outside of the hide but like right beside it.

 

[Gossamer]

Yeah, that's what I've done; I just like having a second opinion. Thanks for that, dear! I feel so bad for her, because I keep going in her tank every few hours and checking the temps. My thermostat seems to be reading about 2 degrees under with the Flukers mats, so I'm having to adjust as needed.

Lavi is good because he's always in his humid hide and burrows to get to a warm spot to digest his food anyways, so I don't have to worry about him laying on his probe and messing with the readings. Thanks for the help, dear!

 

[JessJohnson87]

You're welcome! Lore will just have to get over it lol.