Input request: Am thinking to add a thermostat, but how does it work???

Does a thermostat simply control the heating device, say a heat tape, by turning it on when it's less than the set temp, and off when the set temp is hit and/or over? Or does it control the amount of electricity current flow to the heat tape so the heat tape works from its min to max power? Your inputs are greatly appreciated.

There are both actually. There are on/off thermostats and there are proportional ones. Do you have a specific model in mind?

The proportional thermostats are going to be a lot better in terms of keeping a steady temperature whereas the on/off models will allow temps to fluctuate a few degrees before turning off or on...

If you were to buy a proportional thermostat, like a herpstat or helix, then it is kept at a steady temperature by regulating the electricity output. If you buy one like a zilla 1000 or something similar it shuts off when it reaches the desired temps and turns on when it gets too low.

Thanks, then I think a proportional one is a better/safer bet, guess it will be either a Helix or Herpstat. Which one and model y'all got?

I have a Herpstat II and love it. It controls my two racks at different temps. I will be looking to get another Herpstat for a incubator I'm working on.

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Originally Posted by saber2th

I have a Herpstat II and love it. It controls my two racks at different temps. I will be looking to get another Herpstat for a incubator I'm working on.

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Thanks for sharing. But do you mean one unit can do 2 differenct temp settings?

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Originally Posted by ace_singapore

Thanks for sharing. But do you mean one unit can do 2 differenct temp settings?

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I'm not him...but I'm pretty sure he just has all his flexwatt from both racks tied into the same thermostat.

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Originally Posted by ace_singapore

Thanks for sharing. But do you mean one unit can do 2 differenct temp settings?

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Yes. The Herpstat II has two thermostats built in that operate independently of each other...