Opinion needed on temp controller

You can get it pre-wired or non wired. If you get the one you have to wire then you'll need a $1 ext. cord and the ability to read a diagram. My sister did my first one, but I did the 2nd one without a problem.

Here is the link to the Pre-Wired, it'll run about $80
Pre-wired Ranco

and the link to the unwired Ranco, about $60

Self Wire Ranco

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

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

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I am currently using one on my 20gL tank. I was on a budget(I am a broke college student) and I got it from a friend for free so I figured why not, better than my dimmer... its an on/off style tstat and with a little fine tuning it holds my temp at 92 +/- about 1 to 2 degrees. it will get two 92 or 93 then shutoff and drop to 90 or 91. I cant complain about that!

I was using a dimmer prior to getting this zilla tstat and my temps would fluctuate way too much for my liking, so no I have my Infrared Bulb plugged into the dimmer and I can tune the hot side exactly to 90 +/- 2 to 3 degrees.

I hooked up a Ranco to a power strip using this link.

http://www.rcreptiles.com/blog/index...1000_thermosta

It's great because I run 2 CHE's off the same power strip as the UTH


https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...size_thumb.jpg

i dont like that zilla or the zoomed thermostat.why?
well all the others are proven and fairly durable.
they can be adjusted without need to check the temp at the probe.
you can also adjust how many degrees before it turns on.
some can be later expanded with night drop.
some just have everything and can also be used on an incubator at a later time(proportional ones).
some you can replace the probe if something should go wrong with it(rodent bite, broke wire, random stupidity pulled probe out)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

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

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i have been using them for a while now and have had no problem. the temps stay constant. only thing make sure you put the probe on the heat pad not inside the enclosure. it took me a while to figure that out but now that i put it on the actual heat pad itself my temps stay constant. good product.

Thanks for all the feed back. I think we are ordering the Ranco this week.

If I hook it up to a power strip I can run more than one UTH on the same thermostat?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

Thanks for all the feed back. I think we are ordering the Ranco this week.

If I hook it up to a power strip I can run more than one UTH on the same thermostat?

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Yes. I am not sure about the Ranco, but I have a few Johnson Controls thermostats, and each can run up to 1500 watts. Just make sure that each mat is the same size and wattage.

Awesome! Thanks so much!

Awesome ty for this post. Was wondering about this myself.

I got my Ranco in last night. I dont have an extention cord so I cant do the wiring. I just got the power strip and thought that would be enough. So I will go to the store after work and wire it then. Right now the temps are being held with a dimmer switch for right now.