Opinion needed on temp controller

anyone had any experience on the Zilla brand temperature controller? This is the link to the product I am talking about. Any input on that would be greatly appreciated. I am looking at if for a temporary use until I can get a better thermostat.

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/...controller.htm

I didn't know that Zilla made a thermostat like that. It looks pretty legitimate. I simply use a lamp dimmer ($10), but that one looks like it would work quite well although those run for ~$40. If you don't feel comfortable using a lamp dimmer I think this will be the next best thing.

it looks like an alife thermostat i am using one on a rack without problem. I does take alot of fine tuning to get it just right but its been fine since i tuned it all in. Im actually afraid to move it because i don't want the headache of tuning it in on another cage or rack. It took me 4 days to get the rack tuned in when i first got it. My suggestion if you do get one is to adjust slowly and get an accurite 24 hour thermometer to observe temps. After all my complaining if you still want one i would suggest spending a little more money up front and buying a johnson control or ranco thermostat atleast those you can adjust temps easily without a twist knob style adjustment.

I agree with the previous post...I use Ranco's and love them, but will upgrade to Herpstats when funds permit...I've heard the Zilla's are hard to dial in the temp and for a little more you can get a Ranco or Johnson...If you don't feel comfortable hooking up the t-stat to the powerstrip, Rich from RBI sells them pre-wired...

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Originally Posted by shadi11

it looks like an alife thermostat i am using one on a rack without problem. I does take alot of fine tuning to get it just right but its been fine since i tuned it all in. Im actually afraid to move it because i don't want the headache of tuning it in on another cage or rack. It took me 4 days to get the rack tuned in when i first got it. My suggestion if you do get one is to adjust slowly and get an accurite 24 hour thermometer to observe temps. After all my complaining if you still want one i would suggest spending a little more money up front and buying a johnson control or ranco thermostat atleast those you can adjust temps easily without a twist knob style adjustment.

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My plan is getting the herpstat II when I get my tax returns on the 20th and put my current snake on that one and when the new guy gets all cleared through a vet then they will both be on the same thermostat. I just want this one to last me with getting the new snake set up and away from where he is currently. It ran about 50 bucks at petco which I can fork out now.

I didnt want to do the dimmer as I am new to having a correct setup and having snakes period. I thought that with the zilla I could put the dial at the temp I want it to be at. It says it automaticall shuts off at 111 degrees too which I thought was good.

Thanks for the info!

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Originally Posted by pitsandpythons

I agree with the previous post...I use Ranco's and love them, but will upgrade to Herpstats when funds permit...I've heard the Zilla's are hard to dial in the temp and for a little more you can get a Ranco or Johnson...If you don't feel comfortable hooking up the t-stat to the powerstrip, Rich from RBI sells them pre-wired...

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Do you have a link or more info on the Ranco one? How about the one that you said Rich pre-wired?

I use 2 of those... one on each of my cages. Its like a 3rd the price of a herpstat or helix and it does a good enough job. I haven't seen any spikes or drops in temp that could be unsafe. They did take a bit of fine tuning but they get the job done a million times better than a rheostat.

I have a couple of those thermostats for my corn and hognose. They are on/off so the temps do fluctuate about plus or minus 5 degrees from what you have it set to. Other than that I've been using them for around a year and haven't had any problems once I got the intial temp set. But it's really not that much more to get a Johnson/Ranco as been stated.

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

My plan is getting the herpstat II when I get my tax returns on the 20th and put my current snake on that one and when the new guy gets all cleared through a vet then they will both be on the same thermostat. I just want this one to last me with getting the new snake set up and away from where he is currently. It ran about 50 bucks at petco which I can fork out now.

I didnt want to do the dimmer as I am new to having a correct setup and having snakes period. I thought that with the zilla I could put the dial at the temp I want it to be at. It says it automaticall shuts off at 111 degrees too which I thought was good.

Thanks for the info!

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I have only a Ranco in the last few months. but it only runs around 60 bucks. compared to the fifty your willing to spend I would add on the ten dollars or so and get yourself a Ranco instead. The price difference isnt that great for the better quality thermostat

Do you have a link for them? And can someone give me some info about setting them up? I know one probe goes down on the hot side right about the UTH. But as far as pluggin everything in and getting it started. i guess it will make more sense once I get one and see it in front of me.