Thermostat Question (beating that ol' dead horse)

[AzureN1ght]

I've looked through the forums, and while I've got a pretty good idea that the Herpstat and Helix are good proportional thermostats, and that Johnson and Ranco are good on/off switchy kinds--I'm left with the question:

When heating a single tub with flexwatt, what is the best type of thermostat to use? Proportional or on/off?

And if you think proportional, which would you prefer? Herpstat or Helix? And which is the easiest to use for a herping newbie?

--Azure

[mmchoppers]

Ranco. It is so simple to set up, I'm suprised it comes with directions. Both Proportional and on/off are great. Since you are new to it and just want your flexwatt to be controlled, then I would go with the Ranco on/off T-stat

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

"Get Helix and don't look back" - Adam

[rabernet]

I use Ranco for my single tubs, or even three identically set up tubs stacked together.


I use Helix for my rack.

As for preference - each person has their own prefernce (mine above).

[toe_knee]

mg reptiles has ranco w/ powerstrip on sale around 70 shipped, and they can handle 1500 watts( i think, i am pretty sure. if i am not someone please correct me) . you can also adjust the differential. Also NERD uses Ranco.. if that helps any

[jotay]

I second the " Get Helix and don't look back "

Helix is as simple as can be to set up. Place your probe where you want it, plug it in, hold down the button to desired temp and that's it.

[Rapture]

If you want to be sure of what temps your ball python is living in 24/7, go with proportional. On/off thermostats will let the hot side heat up past the set temperature before they turn off, and then they will let it cool past the set temperature before turning on again. Proportional thermostats keep it at the same temperature all the time, always working with the fluctuating temps of say, your room's ambient temp, and adjusting the power to the heat source accordingly to keep it at a set constant temperature.

I just started using my Helix yesterday... and let me just say I didn't even have to look at the instructions to set the temp.

[jason221]

If you want to be sure of what temps your ball python is living in 24/7, go with proportional. On/off thermostats will let the hot side heat up past the set temperature before they turn off, and then they will let it cool past the set temperature before turning on again.

Really? Mine keep the cool side 82-84 and hot side 92-94...

[Rapture]

Yeah that's what I've read... My oil-filled heater also has an on/off thermostat built into it, and when I set it to 80 it will go as low as 78 and as high as 82. Not a huge fluctuation, but a fluctuation nonetheless... I would say definately more than the Helix would allow for.

Edit: I just realized that you can set what range the on/off t-stats will allow the temps to rise and fall to before turning on or off... This would probably provide a more limited temp range than the example I used.

[rabernet]

Edit: I just realized that you can set what range the on/off t-stats will allow the temps to rise and fall to before turning on or off... This would probably provide a more limited temp range than the example I used.

The Rancos that I have are set at 1 degree to turn off or on.