Thermostats?

I am thinking I am going to go ahead and buy a thermostat for when I can get the new guy moved into the same room as my girl (after quarantine) and I was wondering where you guys find these Ranco/Johnson ones for cheap? I don't really know what Im looking for either, so that might help, but I would only have two UTH's that would need one, so I don't need anything for 6 etc, which seems to be all I can find for 80+ bucks. I keep reading about suggestions for getting Rancos and Johnsons for around $30, but I've had no luck locating them?

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

Is this the reptitemp 500r Ive heard some people here use? It says up to two UTH's, which is what I need it for, but does it have two probes? Will one probe work since the UTH's are the same size? And the probe goes between the pad and the tank bottom, right? Does it need to be in the middle?

I've been considering a thermostat too, and considering the one you posted.


If it says it can control 2, then it should be able to.

i use the 500R on two applications and they run great. For your use, you wont have any issues using that stat :)

For the money you spend on that thermostat, its definitely one of the better ones out there. Up from that, when you decide you might need more, i would recommend a Herpstat.

For the Zoo Med 500R there, you would need to buy the second probe. It comes only with one, But it is able to control up to 500watts of heating elements/lighting. and has two spots you can plug things in to it.

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Originally Posted by MsPrada

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

Is this the reptitemp 500r Ive heard some people here use? It says up to two UTH's, which is what I need it for, but does it have two probes? Will one probe work since the UTH's are the same size? And the probe goes between the pad and the tank bottom, right? Does it need to be in the middle?

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If the heat pads are identical, it will heat them identically. It is a good idea to moniter the temps of both tanks though.

Most people say to stick the probe between the UTH and the tank but that never worked for me, those probes are too huge. I just aluminum tape it to the outside of the UTH and it works just fine.

Thanks. I only need something for small scale right now but I have done some research on the helix and herpstat which I plan to get if I get more snakes (which is a def for the future, far future that is) but I didnt want to spend too much $ on just these two guys. Esp after spending what I did at the show. Phew.

They are the exact same heating pad, but I have an accurite in both tanks. Now, this is a silly question, but where do you get aluminum tape?

The Reptitemp 500R is what I've been using... It only has one probe but would probably work fine for heating two tanks.

I'm having a hard time getting it set to the right temperature consistantly, but I've been blaming my stick-on Zoo-med heating pad.

I've read the fluctuation can be between 5-7 degrees. Is this too much of a fluctuation for a BP to take? My home temps are pretty stable.

If you have another $20 or $30 to spare just go for the Ranco or Johnsons... I have the Reptitemp and really do not like it... But for now it is my only option.

I have to constantly tweak it. Last night I found Sharon's UTH at 100 degrees! Not good. It's best to spend the extra and not have a burnt snake... If I lived in the US I would've gotten a better thermostat already.

But it's entirely up to you.. Everyone has different opinions and experiences. Do what you feel is best. :)

I don't have that specific thermostat, but I have similar ones (on/off that are not digital), and honestly, I'd rather pay the extra money to have a digital one. They're far more accurate and you can plug more things into them. I use Johnson's Controllers that I got from Reptile Basics, and they've been great.