Boaphile ranco thermostats?

Hey guys, just wanted some opinions on the Boaphile ranco thermostats. I'm thinking about possibly getting one since it's $100 and you can plug in more than one heat source. Just wondering if others have had experience with it and what heat sources your using yours with. If I do decide to get it I'll be plugging in THG flexwatt and radiant heat panels after I upgrade from glass tanks to Proline cages and won't need the heat tape anymore. Thanks for all the help guys :)


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Ranco thermostats are single channel thermostats. This means they can only control one type of heat source at a time. If you plug in both THG heat tape and a RHP, one or both won't work properly.

Boaphile doesn't actually make ranchos, they just sell them. You can find them much cheaper elsewhere.

Rancos are high quality on/off style thermostats. They aren't as good as proportional thermostats, but they are about as close as you can get with an on/off style thermostat.

I have experience with Ranco, Herpstat, and Hydrofarm.

Herpstat is much better than Ranco in my opinion. And if you're paying $100, you can get a Herpstat for the same price.
Rancos are On/Off type of thermostat. This means that it turns on when your probe reads too cold and turns off when the probe reads too warm. It's just constantly turning on and off to maintain that temp. This can give you some inconsistent temp swings. The Ranco says it's a +/- 1 degree temp shift, but I'm pretty sure it does do a little more.

The Herpstat is a proportional type thermostat. This means it maintains a constant temp by regulating the power going into the heat tape.

You can plug a power strip to both a Ranco or Herpstat and connect multiple heating elements of the same size to.

Last time I looked online I saw word that Hydrofarm was discontinuing the standard thermostat most reptile keepers use from them...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

You can plug a power strip to both a Ranco or Herpstat and connect multiple heating elements of the same size to.

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But not of different types like OP wants too. (which I'm sure you know Satomi, just making sure things are clear) The only thermostats on the market that can do that are the herpstat 2, herpstat 4, and the VE-300x2

Reptile basics sells Rancos for $63.99. Personally I would spend the extra $35 to get a herpstat intro, or better yet $45 to get a herpstat intro +.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Last time I looked online I saw word that Hydrofarm was discontinuing the standard thermostat most reptile keepers use from them...

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That's probably a good thing. Hydrofarms are better than some of the junk out there, but they are still scraping the bottom. I have a couple that I mess around with and they are terrible. Inconsistent temperature readings, massive temperature fluctuations (well beyond the stated specs) And terrible build quality inside.

The only things that I have ever read about Ranco's, all involve problems and near fire... No thanks. I vote Herpstat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

But not of different types like OP wants too. (which I'm sure you know Satomi, just making sure things are clear) The only thermostats on the market that can do that are the herpstat 2, herpstat 4, and the VE-300x2

Reptile basics sells Rancos for $63.99. Personally I would spend the extra $35 to get a herpstat intro, or better yet $45 to get a herpstat intro +.

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I thought she said she only wanted to use it for heat tape first. But when she switched to a RHP, she will only use the RHP.

So, she didn't mean both RHP and heat tape together on the same unit.

And using multiple strips of heat tape or RHP of the same wattage can be used on one Tstat unit.

Thanks for all the replies so far guys, and I won't be using heat tape and rhp's at the same time plugged into the thermostat. First just heat tape then rhp's after that once I get rid of these glass tanks I won't need to heat tape anymore. Keep all the info coming pretty please. :)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by satomi325

I have experience with Ranco, Herpstat, and Hydrofarm.

Herpstat is much better than Ranco in my opinion. And if you're paying $100, you can get a Herpstat for the same price.
Rancos are On/Off type of thermostat. This means that it turns on when your probe reads too cold and turns off when the probe reads too warm. It's just constantly turning on and off to maintain that temp. This can give you some inconsistent temp swings. The Ranco says it's a +/- 1 degree temp shift, but I'm pretty sure it does do a little more.

The Herpstat is a proportional type thermostat. This means it maintains a constant temp by regulating the power going into the heat tape.

You can plug a power strip to both a Ranco or Herpstat and connect multiple heating elements of the same size to.

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I didn't know you could plug in a power strip to a Herpstat. How would the probe situation work since a Herpstat 1 only comes with one probe can the other one go probeless since it will be plugged into the thermostat.


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