I just purchased a Helix DBS-1000 to control flexwatt for a single tank housing my Boa constrictor.

It's a rather large tank (4' x 18" base) and tall. Anyway, I'm planning to lift tank off of stand, drill hole in stand (using a hole saw) for the power cable, then -

layer of foil tape
flexwatt
layer of foil tape

As far as the thermostat goes, I *really* want to keep it in the stand under the tank. I have an indoor/outdoor thermometer in the tank giving me warm/cool temps, so once adjusted - I don't need to see the Helix unit.

The lead is not long enough to have the unit in the cabinet under the tank and have the sensor in the tank. However, I'm wondering if it would be effective to put the Helix thermostat lead on top of the top flexwatt foil layer (thus under the tank). This would allow the Helix unit to be in the cabinet out of sight, no wires would need to come out of the tank, and it would prevent the snake from catching on the thermostat wire and dragging it to some place less effective (causing overheating).

I know that since there will be an air gap between the flexwatt and tank bottom, it is possible the tank bottom won't be at the temperature listed on the Helix unit - but that's what the in tank thermometer is for, no? If I need to set the Helix to a degree warmer to achieve target temp inside tank, so what? There is enough clearance between the glass bottom and the stand that it won't crush the sensor.

Is there going to be a functional problem from putting the thermostat lead between the flexwatt and the tank bottom?

Thanks,

FunkyRes
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3.0 WC; 0.3 CB L. getula californiae
1.0 CB L. getula nigrita
0.1.1 WC; 0.0.3 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

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