Thermostat probe placement

[Miss Lily]

Up until now I have always managed to cotrol temps by changing the bulb wattage and moving it closer to /further away form the basking spot. However, now Monty is in his large screen cage and the temperature has dropped outside here in the UK, I am having trouble keeping his temps stable as it is cold outside and we have the heating on, but not all day. His temps may be just right when the heating is off, but when the heating is on they shoot right up. I thought that a dimmer stat would prevent this and keep his temps constant.

I purchased a dimming thermostat but now I am confused as to where I should place the probe! Currently I have his thermometer probe on the branch at the basking spot. However, herein lies the problem - he sits on it to bask and I am concerned that this will make the dimmer raise the temps while he is sat on it. Where do you guys place the probe? Having real problems getting my head around this!

 

[Hoj]

I tried to anwser this on FB but I guess I didnt make sence LoL...

What I would do I get the basking and cage temps where you wnat them. then measure the temp in an area where Monty does not sit.( still close to an affected by the heat source ) Set the probe in that area and set for the previously recorded temp.
Then when the cage is heated to that point the het will turn doen and Monty should be in a good temp zone and happy.

 

[summoner12]

I would locate a temp gun and just measure his body temp. if the temps in the basking get 'too warm' he'll move away, so just focus on his body temp, not the conditions in the cage in specific areas.