Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The temps in my cages have been getting too hot due to the increased temps here in NY and the fact that Im in a different house were its just hotter.
So I bought a zoomed 500R thermostat and I put it on one of the cages between the heat pad and the rubbermaid boxand I kept lowering it and no matter what the temps inside the tank were 100degrees!!
the temps read on the probe itself were over 100!
I called LLLReptile since I bought it from them, but I had to close the phone since someone in my house needed it, they said I should try putting the probe inside the rubbermaid so I taped it to the floor of the rubbermaid under a hide and towel paper on the warm side. I put it to the lowest and guess what my warmspot is at 100 degrees!!!
I followed the instructions on the manual, I dont understand whats wrong.
I could really use help.
Im thinking of throwin it out and getting a rheostat.
But In the mean time I really need help
Ill be unplugging the heat pads now and then to keep the temps low but this is very impractical please help!

Thanks
Jack
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1.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Crested Geckos
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.0 Amel Cornsnake
1.0 Ball Python

well, if you are going to throw it out, i will more than gladly take it ill even pay shipping. or, you could try to return it... good luck, and remember, ill take it!
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Matt
Owner of:
1.0.0 Brown (Bahaman) Anole
0.1.0 Green Anole
0.2.0 leopard geckos (tempature sexed)

what substrate are you using? On the hot side, if it's paper towels you might have to add more layers, or if sand might need to play with the level of sand til you get the right temp.
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GeckoFire-Dale
Proud owner of 2.3.1, AND 2 eggs in the oven
Questions?Drop me a line

Hi, Jack--

I am using a ZooMed 500 thermostat exactly the way you describe yours, taped to the floor of a Rubbermaid, under a paper towel. The UTH is underneath the Rubbermaid. This setup is for nighttime warmth only for a tortoise, and I have it set to about 78 degrees, and it's working perfectly. I think yours must be defective. Um...I don't want to be insulting or anything, but just to be 100% sure, you do have the UTH plugged into the thermostat, don't you? If you're sure you have everything set up properly, then I would get a replacement thermostat, because mine have always been pretty reliable.

HTH,
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Jeannie

0.0.1 California King Snake (Rex)
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas)
0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Isaiah & Esther)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
2.0 DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids
1.0 Husband

np
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1.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Crested Geckos
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.0 Amel Cornsnake
1.0 Ball Python

My experience with the zoomed rheostat is not much better... on the "low" setting it just barely begins to start controlling the temperatures, and you may actually have to have it bouncing off the "off" setting to get it in line. I may just have a faulty one, though I've heard similar stories from a few others.

However I have found good luck using both a rheostat and thermostat combined. I find you are able to get the temperature controlled very nicely and the two compliment eachother well to provide a rather stable temp. (Think about it- when using a thermostat the heat source is going to get very hot very quickly, so it'll constantly be cycling on/off, but if you use the rheostat to lower the intensity of the heat source you can get a very nice gradual and stable cycle)
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Steven Beckerman
E2MacPets

Yeah I think so too, becausse mosts of the time I see the light is off, Ive probably never seen it on after I set it, no matter what setting I put it at. Its sounds very logical that the heat pad just warm up to quickly.
Ill probably buy a rheostat maybe ittl work as it des for you

Thanks
Jack
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1.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Crested Geckos
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.0 Amel Cornsnake
1.0 Ball Python

np