Thermostat question

first off, i hope this goes in this forum!

i'm going to be ordering a CB-70 rack from RBI, and i need to get a thermostat for it. i've never used one before so i need some suggestions on which one would be best.
first let me say, i would like to buy one that i can hook other heating systems to at a later date. i can only buy one rack right now but when i buy more (another 1-2 of the same rack) i would like to be able to plug them into the same thermostat.

here are 4 thermostats that i thought sounded right for me..
http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

Double Ranco ETC-111000 Pre Wired

Johnson Controls Thermostat-Pre Wired With Night Drop

Johnson Controls Thermostat-Pre Wired

Helix Controls DBS 1000 Proportional Thermostat

the first 3 say that they are pre-wired, does this mean that the helix is not? i'm also leaning towards the first 3 because they come with a 6 outlet power strip. does this mean that i can hook up 6 heating units to this? i'm sure that would be more than enough for the 3 racks i want to end up with.

if you can answer any of these questions please let me know! i'm very excited to finally be getting a rack and i want to make sure everything goes smoothly.

thanks,
edie

If your going to have multiple racks with different size heat tape then I would shoot for This. You can control 4 different heat sources, it's kinda pricey but if you plan on getting alot more snakes or breeding then it will end up beeing cheaper in the long run.

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Originally Posted by Enve

If your going to have multiple racks with different size heat tape then I would shoot for This. You can control 4 different heat sources, it's kinda pricey but if you plan on getting alot more snakes or breeding then it will end up beeing cheaper in the long run.

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Yeah those are REALLY nice, i saw those a couple of months ago when i first started looking at racks.. i really don't have that much money to spend on a thermostat though.. my budget is $150 and all of the thermostats on RBI are under that price, so i'm really trying to stick with something from that website

All that you have listed are either hooked up to a power strip, or have the capability of being hooked up to a power strip. So, if you get 2 or 3 of the SAME rack...same heating elements, same everything, then you can easily plug more than one rack into that one t-stat.

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

All that you have listed are either hooked up to a power strip, or have the capability of being hooked up to a power strip. So, if you get 2 or 3 of the SAME rack...same heating elements, same everything, then you can easily plug more than one rack into that one t-stat.

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Good point. If you're going to be using different sized flexwatt (11" and 3" for example), then you will need two separate controls for each. Or if you ever want to house multiple species with different heating requirements, you'll need separate controls for the heat.

If this is your plan, then I would bite the bullet and get the Herpstat Pro. It's awesome. It will control 4 seperate heating elements. I have mine hooked up to control the corn snake racks, ball racks, cornsnake incubator and ball incubator - all with one unit.

But if you know that you'll only be using an identical rack with the same size heating element throughout then you'll be fine with any of the ones you listed, but I'd personally recommend the Herpstat (not the pro, just the regular one).

thanks for the replies guys.. i am going to be using the same sized flexxwat with the same temp. requirements in all two or three of the racks i'm going to end up with.. so i think i'm going to get the helix or the double ranco.

i'm sure if i do end up getting a herpstat later, it would still be nice to have a helix or ranco around for a backup