RastaDragon":2mib3y8r said:hi everyone, (this is my first time trying to upload images, apologies in advance if i mess it up)
i got my viv built on friday, and since then i have been really struggling with getting the temps / understanding what i am doing :?
this is the complete set up:
its a Repti-life 48x18x18 viv
this is the hot end:
the bulb is an exo terra 100w
I suggest swap the basking and CHE . this way you can set up the branch or some pavers or fake rock grotto or even a sea grass or hemp hammock for the dragon to bask on.
A cage for the basking globe and CHE are very wise investments as dragons are curious critters and it only takes a glancing touch for the dragon to get a very serious burn.
this is the cool end:
annoyingly, the thermometer only reads 'C but the cool end is holding steady at 28.6 (83.4 F) which i think is ok? (probe is propped up against the back wall by the steps in the above pic)
Yes 29 degC in the cool zone is fine.
but i can't figure out how to get the basking temp correct and get also get the hot end hot.
the thermometer probe resting on the basking log (in the pic above) is holding at 50.4 C (122 F):
Way too hot …. should never be allow to exceed 40 degC.
ref
and taking readings using IR gun at various points on the log give readings anywhere between 102 - 126:
<<< this could be either due to specular errors ( reading the temperature of the reflected basking globe's image on a "shiny" surface or and including emissivity being set wrong on the "gun" .
Emissivity of white paper is about 0.68
ref https://www.infrared-thermography.com/material-1.htm
Consumer noncontact thermometers come with a preset emissivity of 0.9 , so in your case there is a very large error being introduced in the how the gun calculates the surface termperature of the paper , a probe thermometer will give the correct surface temperature.
This explains these errors and how to compensate for it
.
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=241233
ref for more
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=239064&p=1833542#p1833542
more explanation viewtopic.php?f=34&t=249355&p=1890490#p1890490
i have a habistat dimmer in the basking light - i spent a good many hours with different settings and things last night / this morning and this is the closest i have gotten.
previously i had the basking bulb and CHE in swapped over places but that was giving me worse readings as the hot end was way too hot and the cool end was way too cold.
Very important the probe for the thermostat be either fixed to the surface that the dragon will be basking on ( for surface temperature control - will likely be a few degC warmer there (dependant on the thermal mass of the basking spot how much heat is able to be absorbed the basking spot, and the rate it re-emits heat) ,
fixed to the basking spot in direct line of sight to the basking globe will give a combination of
>>> direct radiated heat from then basking globe
>>> and conducted heat from the surface
>>> and a very small component due to convected heat transfer ( will likely in inside the thermal boundary layer so air will be stagnant or in laminar flow in the boundary layer)
or very close to the basking spot but dangling in the air so the probe measures
>>> direct radiated heat from the basking globe
>>> the circulation warmed air temperature .
ie
>>
i can't figure out how to lower the basking temp without lowering the overall temp inside the viv?
the night time temps actually seem ok with the CHE on a habistat pulse and were holding at about 72(cool) to 78(hot) which i think is ok? yes OK
sorry for the long post - i really though i understood creating a temp gradient but i am a bit stuck i must admit.
any advice greatly appreciated - thank you
I suspect you are over complicating it wrt temperature management.RastaDragon":p3k02qvt said:hi, little update.
i took everything out except the basking log, changed the position of the probes, moved the UVB tube to above the doors at the front, and swapped out the 100w bulb for a 75w:
i put the dimmer thermostat and hot end thermometer probes on the basking log:
Looks OK .
the pulse thermostat and cool end thermometer probes slightly off the ground along the back wall:
i've had it up and running for a few hours now - the temps are holding steady at - basking:
cool end:
so i think i am on the right track?
i've not checked with the IR yet as i want to keep the doors closed and keep the heat inside, i'll check that in a while.
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