anyone tried Hydrofarm MTPRTC?

[southwind]

Found the hydrofarm MTPRC while looking for a good thermostat, it has so many good reviews on Amazon I'm almost considering it over getting a $200 herpstat since its only $25, Digital! and accurate

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...pr_product_top

[The Serpent Merchant]

The hydrofarm is a good thermostat if you are on a budget, but it isn't very accurate, and has nothing as far as safety is concerned.

A herpstat can regulate a heat source to 0.9 degree, while the hydrofarm can only do 2-4 degrees at best.

I consider them a hold over thermostat until you can get something better like a herpstat.

Here is a comparison on thermostats widely used in the industry.

(the hydrofarm is an on/off style thermostat)

On/Off Style Thermostats:

On/Off style thermostats such as the Hydrofarm, Ranco, and Johnsons thermostats are cheap but lack accuracy. they work the same way a home A/C thermostat works. They run the heat source at 100% power until the set temperature is achieved. The thermostat then turns the heat source completely off until the "swing" is reached. The swing refers to how many degrees below the set temperature the thermostat lets the temperature fall before turning the heat source back on again. This is why they are inaccurate.

Pros:

Cheap
Will do the job


Cons:

Inaccurate
Usually don't have some of the additional safety features that proportional thermostats have.


Here are some good on/off style thermostats:

Hydrofarm: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Ranco: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

Proportional thermostats:

Proportional thermostats such as the Herpstat, Helix, and VE-200/300 are extremely accurate and much safer than on/off style thermostats do to more advanced design and high build quality. This does come at a price though. The cheapest I have seen a proportional thermostat sell for (new) is $99. The cost is worth it though. These thermostats especially the herpstat have far more capabilities than on/off thermostats and as I already said are more accurate and safer. Instead on simply running the heat source at 100% power or 0% power proportional thermostats adjust the amount of power in small increments. this allows them to maintain the correct temperature very accurately (usually to a fraction of a degree off of the set temperature)

Pros:

Safe
Accurate
More features (such as the ability to automatically drop temperatures at programed times/regulate humidity/turn lights on/off/etc.)


Cons:

Cost


Here are somme good proportional thermostats:

Herpstat: http://spyderrobotics.com/

VE line: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats (note the VE-100 is not a proportional thermostat)

Helix: http://www.helixcontrols.com/DBS1000.htm

[anwhit]

I use it and it was worked great so far.

However, like the person above me said, he can be off so I just have a another probe thermometer on the heat pad just to keep it in check.

[OsirisRa32]

I have 3.....they are cheap and easily used and straightforward...however I also just purchased a Herpstat 4 and am switching to that and will be using the hydrofarms as my QT T-stats or emergency units in case something fails completely.

[reptileexperts]

As others have stated - they work fine but don't expect them to be accurate. On top of the on off system it turns on around 3 degrees below the mark and turns off 3 degrees above the mark. Add the 2-4 degree temperature difference in accuracy and you have something that is hard to work with. That being said. You can use them. Just make sure you do preliminary tests to get your temperatures lined out before adding a snake. Spot check with a temp gun if you can and compare. The one thing that I do note is if you are using back heat I have never had an issue with a hydrofarm. The tubs tend to stay pretty constant with it once they reach Max temperatures. But I have to run my back heat at 96 on my hydrofarm to get the back of the tubs between 88-91 and the front of the tub staying around 78. But it does hold fairly well.

In the end you'll want to get a Herpstat. So if you want a $25 off coupon just skip the hydrofarm from the start and buy a Herpstat. Boom saved 25 bucks

[Kaorte]

I have one.. Its not fantastic, but it will hold a reasonably steady temp. I saw one for sale at my local hydro store and thought I would pick it up just to see how it works. It maintains the temp within a few degrees, but much like a dimmer it fluctuates with the overall room temperature. It is not as accurate as a herpstat. Not even close.

Its worth the $25 if that is what your asking. If you have the money for a better stat, get a herpstat. You get what you pay for in this instance.

[kitedemon]

Hardly accurate at all. They are spec'd at 2ºC up or down (that is just under 4ºF) so if it reads 90º it could be anywhere between 94º and 86º add the hysteresis or 'swing' is 3º low I thought it was 2º over the previous poster stated 3 either way added to the error rate it is a huge range (worst case 7º under and 6 or 7º over).

To my mind it is unacceptable in some circumstances. The most specfic is when used with a UTH that is taped or fixed to a tub. The swing and error can make a for a very large temp spike. Heavy things like takes (glass is slow to change) it isn't so bad just not to be trusted accuracy wise. It is sort of ok in a rack although I would not trust it safety wise either it seems silly to entrust multiple animals to a thermostat designed to heat dirt for seedlings.

[mike689]

Hardly accurate at all. They are spec'd at 2ºC up or down (that is just under 4ºF) so if it reads 90º it could be anywhere between 94º and 86º add the hysteresis or 'swing' is 3º low I thought it was 2º over the previous poster stated 3 either way added to the error rate it is a huge range (worst case 7º under and 6 or 7º over).

To my mind it is unacceptable in some circumstances. The most specfic is when used with a UTH that is taped or fixed to a tub. The swing and error can make a for a very large temp spike. Heavy things like takes (glass is slow to change) it isn't so bad just not to be trusted accuracy wise. It is sort of ok in a rack although I would not trust it safety wise either it seems silly to entrust multiple animals to a thermostat designed to heat dirt for seedlings.

Exactly. Had one but couldn't trust it in my rack with the enormous swing. Herpstats the way to go.

[Derekroth91]

How does the herpstat regulate humidity?

[The Serpent Merchant]

How does the herpstat regulate humidity?

The herpstat has 3 humidity regulating modes:

1. is based on the system clock (basically a big timer)

2. used the herpstat humidity probe (a digital hygrometer probe) to measure humidity then use that data to turn the misting system/humidifier on/off

3.is a hybrid of the first 2.

More info here: http://spyderrobotics.com/products/h...t12_manual.pdf (page 4)