What is the best thermostat for an oil heater?

[Royals of Africa]

Ladies and Gentlemen

What is the best thermostat in your opinion for Oil heaters for my snake room? Doing some research at the moment before winter gets here. The required wattage is at Ranco's upper limit and Herpstat etc can't cope with the power. Want something very, very reliable for obvious reasons.

Thanks a lot.

Sebastian

www.facebook.com/royalsofafrica

[SlitherinSisters]

I use a Ranco and leave my oil heater on medium power. Full power is the maximum wattage a Rancho can handle and it trips the surge protector if I try running it on high. Do you know if your oil heater can heat the room on medium power? Assuming you can put it on medium power.

My oil heater three settings:
Low=600 watts
Medium=900 watts
High= 1500 watts

[ARamos8]

While considering using one of the rooms in my home for the scale kids I noticed one key factor when window shopping for oil heaters. Some are rated to handle a specific room dimension. Maybe look and see if the current heater can handle the size of the room. You can also block the bottom of the door (from the outside) with a small draft trim to aid with temp retention so that the unit doesn't need to run hotter, thus not working a thermostat to hard. If you have one, slap a kil-a-watt inline with the stat to get an accurate usage reading. Those things are so freaking handy! Just a few things I've jotted down when I'm ready to dedicate a room. Good luck...

What heater do you have and what is its rating?
Keep in mind that an average home will be wired from 15 to 20 Amp breakers for different rooms.

[Royals of Africa]

I use a Ranco and leave my oil heater on medium power. Full power is the maximum wattage a Rancho can handle and it trips the surge protector if I try running it on high. Do you know if your oil heater can heat the room on medium power? Assuming you can put it on medium power.

My oil heater three settings:
Low=600 watts
Medium=900 watts
High= 1500 watts

Thanks so much Stephanie. So, I was thinking of running 2 of them together at low power on either a Ranco or a Johnson. So 1200W which is at the high end for the thermostat. Will let you know how it goes...

Sebastian

[Royals of Africa]

While considering using one of the rooms in my home for the scale kids I noticed one key factor when window shopping for oil heaters. Some are rated to handle a specific room dimension. Maybe look and see if the current heater can handle the size of the room. You can also block the bottom of the door (from the outside) with a small draft trim to aid with temp retention so that the unit doesn't need to run hotter, thus not working a thermostat to hard. If you have one, slap a kil-a-watt inline with the stat to get an accurate usage reading. Those things are so freaking handy! Just a few things I've jotted down when I'm ready to dedicate a room. Good luck...

What heater do you have and what is its rating?
Keep in mind that an average home will be wired from 15 to 20 Amp breakers for different rooms.

Thanks Tony

I am trying to insulate as much as I possibly can. Great idea on the kil-a-watt, never thought about that.

Haven't purchased the heaters yet. Will do it tomorrow but doing some homework on them now. Details of full plan below...

Sebastian

[Royals of Africa]

All, this is what I am planning in my new ball python room:

1) 2 oil filled radiators connected to the same thermostat (with a back-up thermostat) in case one of the radiators or one of the thermostats fails.

2) An A/C wall/window unit for the summer also connected to 2 thermostats in case 1 thermostat fails.

3) A fan at ceiling level at one side of the room circulating the heat/cooling 24 hours a day.

4) Controlling the heat spots on the racks with heat tape and Herpstats.

5) A single thermostat to the power to the entire room which cuts power if it gets above a certain temperature.

6) A temp and humidity sensor which connects to my home wireless and sends me a text if the temp/humidity goes above or below a certain range. Was thinking of this one. Seemed like good value for money and will give me some peace of mind.

http://www.ambientweather.com/latx60uset.html#reviews

Still doing research on the best quality oil filled radiator and A/C unit. All ideas welcome.

I am just a little nervous on relying on the build in thermostats that come with the radiators and A/C units. Sure they will be fine and work well but always like to de-risk and build in lots of back-up.

Considering these 2 thermostats but they are not cheap and I would need 4 of them.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/johnson-a-419

or

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...;pg102720.html

The Johnson Controls stat only appears to have a limit of 12A which is roughly 1400W at 120V while the Durostat one is safe to 30A.

Also, think that an air extractor is necessary?

All ideas very much welcome. Sorry, kinda anal about getting this right.

Thanks
Sebastian

[MootWorm]

Holy crow do you have your bases covered!!! Lol I have no experience with these products, but it seems you have everything imaginable safeguarded. Kudos!

[ARamos8]

Will all of that hang off a single breaker circuit?

[Royals of Africa]

Will all of that hang off a single breaker circuit?

Ha ha - no Tony. Good point. 3 breakers.

[Royals of Africa]

Holy crow do you have your bases covered!!! Lol I have no experience with these products, but it seems you have everything imaginable safeguarded. Kudos!

Lol - thanks. Don't like leaving anything to chance if I can help it. We'll see. Bound to be something I haven't thought of which will nail me!