Thermostat questions, and narrow vs. wide flexwatt

[icygirl]

1.) What is a relatively inexpensive ($50 or less) thermostat I can get to use with flexwatt? I found this Zoo Med Reptitemp 500R for $30 plus shipping. Is this a reliable thermostat?

2.) Can you wire the same thermostat to two different pieces of flexwatt?

3.) I have heard it's better to use a wider flexwatt rather than a narrow one because it is less wattage per unit area, and there's a lesser chance that it will burn the plastic on the tub should your thermostat give out on you. Is that true, and is the wider flexwatt tape as effective at putting out high temps?

Thanks, and your answers will help me in ordering my supplies for setting up my snake shelves. That way I can get more snakes and feed the addiction

[atp151415]

I'll try to answer the questions that i know

1) With thermostats, its like anything, you get wat you pay for,
i have a 30 dollar alife thermostat from beanfarm.com, and eventually ill be getting a helix but thats in the future

2) I am pretty sure you can, but the temps are gonna be different, so prolly better to have seperate thermostats, unless the exact same heating unit

3) I dont know about the width wise stuff someone else can help with that,
but if the flexwatt is hooked up to a thermostat, then no it won't melt threw the tub


hoped that helped

[GirDance]

1.) What is a relatively inexpensive ($50 or less) thermostat I can get to use with flexwatt? I found this Zoo Med Reptitemp 500R for $30 plus shipping. Is this a reliable thermostat?

2.) Can you wire the same thermostat to two different pieces of flexwatt?

3.) I have heard it's better to use a wider flexwatt rather than a narrow one because it is less wattage per unit area, and there's a lesser chance that it will burn the plastic on the tub should your thermostat give out on you. Is that true, and is the wider flexwatt tape as effective at putting out high temps?

Thanks, and your answers will help me in ordering my supplies for setting up my snake shelves. That way I can get more snakes and feed the addiction

As already stated with price, you get what you pay for... I read reviews about the zoomed thermostat and found nothing positive. I went with a herpstat, twice the price you're looking to pay but it's reliable, has a warranty and I have no worries with it.

You can wire as many pieces of flexwatt together as you like so long as they are the same width and depth. You don't wire these to the thermostat in most cases, you instead wire them to a cord that has a polarized plug which you plug into the thermostat. As long as they are all the same length and width you should get the same heat output from each.

I would personally go with the 3" - you're looking to get new snakes, this would mean they're going to be smaller, and 3" prevents the hot side from being much too large in your smaller tubs. If you felt you needed a wider hot spot in your largest tubs you could put two pieces side by side.

If the flexwatt is melting the plastic it's too hot, unregulated, and it's also burning your snake. Hot hot tap water doesn't melt the plastic used for these tubs, and that is way warmer than 90-94. Now, if my thermostat burnt out, I'd prefer if it melted the plastic, the smell would draw me over there right quick! Then again with a good quality one, this isn't a constant worry for me.

*edit* I've tested out my flexwatt unregulated, it didn't get hot enough to burn my hand, so I doubt it would burn the plastic.