Heat issues....

I'm seriously beginning to lose it. I'm devoting more time to this snake than anything.

I bought a zilla temperature controller 1000 watt. Seemed to kinda work with my other heating pad, but the heating pad didn't get hot enough. So I got a zoo med heating pad. Plugged it in, and it isn't maintaining consistent temperatures at all. I put it on 90, and the heating pad goes to 110 degrees. I lower it to the point that, that red light goes off which is before 90, and it lowers it to 85. I don't know what to do, and I'm getting extremely frustrated...

Spend the extra money and get a proportional thermostat, it's really the best way to maintain consistent temps...the on/off ones won't do as well if your room temp fluctuates a lot.

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Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

I'm seriously beginning to lose it. I'm devoting more time to this snake than anything.

I bought a zilla temperature controller 1000 watt. Seemed to kinda work with my other heating pad, but the heating pad didn't get hot enough. So I got a zoo med heating pad. Plugged it in, and it isn't maintaining consistent temperatures at all. I put it on 90, and the heating pad goes to 110 degrees. I lower it to the point that, that red light goes off which is before 90, and it lowers it to 85. I don't know what to do, and I'm getting extremely frustrated...

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Thermostats are only programmed to control the same heating source. You cant put 2 different brands/sizes on same thermostat and expect it to control them both properly.

I would also definitely recommend getting a different thermostat. If you have the money, a proportional thermostat is awesome, but if not, I would suggest the Hydrofarm one that you can find on amazon for only around $27. It's still an on/off, but I use it and my temps only fluctuate a degree or two, definitely not anything like what you're experiencing now.

So it only works with Zilla heat mats? I have never heard that before, and that sounds highly unreasonable, the thing cost $50. It seemed to work fine with my exo terra mats, except it couldn't get it hot enough which I read is a problem with the exo terra mats.

I think what he might have meant is that you can't have 2 different heat pads plugged into one thermostat at the same time... I could be wrong though. But no, every thermostat will work with every brand of heat mat, the only thing is that, as you've already found, every heat mat is different as far as quality and heat output.

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Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

the thing cost $50.

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Wow, what an overpriced piece of crap :no: On amazon they're only $30, and even that's too much if it works as poorly as you say. The Hydrofarm one is much better, plus it has a digital readout, and of course a proportional one is the best. Is there any way you can get your money back?

Yeah, I bought it in store. It seemed to work fine, now its gone haywire....Right now I'm using the dimmer and thats kept a really consistent temperature. But thats just a temporary solution...I'd really like to get the zilla temperature controller working again....any ideas??

I've used that same thermostat on up to two heat mats at the same time, with no problems. Are you adjusting the thermostat setting based on an independent thermometer (or heat gun)? I did find that the temp reading on the thermostat dial itself will not match the true hot spot temp, so I just sync it to a separate thermometer probe (or gun). Another point that has been mentioned is that the on/off stats don't do well in a room with highly fluctuating temps. My room temps only vary 3-4 degrees.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I've used that same thermostat on up to two heat mats at the same time, with no problems. Are you adjusting the thermostat setting based on an independent thermometer (or heat gun)? I did find that the temp reading on the thermostat dial itself will not match the true hot spot temp, so I just sync it to a separate thermometer probe (or gun). Another point that has been mentioned is that the on/off stats don't do well in a room with highly fluctuating temps. My room temps only vary 3-4 degrees.

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I think people are thinking I'm using 2 heating pads with it, I'm not, I'm using only one. Yeah, I've been using a temp gun. I leave it on its lowest setting to where the red light goes on...it automatically heats it up to 110, and sometimes it shuts it off, other times it lets it go to 117, which its not supposed to.

time for new thermostat as the probe may be faulty