A warning!

About thermostats - Today I checked on the reptile room and found one Ranco thermostat displaying the reading E2 - which is basically an error message concerning stored info not being correctly stored.... I have been unable to correct the problem. So I may well just have to get it fixed.... the good point is that it shuts off the heat, so nothing gets cooked and I always make a point of having a spare T-stat ready for use. I replaced it with a Johnson's.

Problem is, being this time of year.... everything was down to 79F.... and most of the 30 bps had been fed the night before. I was fortunate to of caught the problem fairly quickly.

I will be checking the T-stats more often now - if you haven't checked yours it might be a good idea to do so and do regular checks if you are not already doing so.

I thought it was worth mentioning because this is a failure with a Ranco T-stat and it's the first time I have had a failure. I also use Johnson and Herp pro units. No system is faultless, so check them! When I get it fixed I'll post what the problem was.

Good luck to everyone with their breeding projects!

Thanks for the heads up, in my house it would easily and quickly drop the temps into the 60's

Im thinking about investing in one of the devices that calls pre programed numbers should the temps drop below a certain point. Any thoughts on those devices?

You can also chain two stats together, I wire two stats together. One runs the heating element and one is set about 3 degrees difference.
If the main stat dies the second will kick on to take over, it gets kind of pricey buying two all the time but it beats harming the animals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rakk101

You can also chain two stats together, I wire to stats together one runs the heating element and one is set about 3 degrees difference. If the main stat dies the second will kick on to take over, it gets kind of pricey buying two all the time but it beats harming the animals.

---

It's worth the money, that's my next step! :)

Yeah I like the Rancos as a backup unit. I use a Helix as my primary on my ball rack and I have a Ranco wired up as a backup unit. The temps in my room stay about 70-75 degrees so a failure would probably be a bad thing lol.

Damn Scott that could have been bad, glad you caught it in time. :gj:

Good tip for all with winter here to just pay attention to the equipment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chandler reptiles

Damn Scott that could have been bad, glad you caught it in time. :gj:

Good tip for all with winter here to just pay attention to the equipment.

---

I have no idea how long it was off... could of been 20mins or longer, but no more then 12 hrs.

Heat tape connections will be checked next, with the cooler season approaching I want to make sure all the heated levels are working as they should be.... :)

One of my Rancos (the back up to my incubator) did the same thing the day the babies where pipping. I took it out of the loop and the incubator was fine but I would be really interested in the fix.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sputnik

I have no idea how long it was off... could of been 20mins or longer, but no more then 12 hrs.

Heat tape connections will be checked next, with the cooler season approaching I want to make sure all the heated levels are working as they should be.... :)

---

I recently soldered all my heat tape connections instead of the goofy clips and I am finding it works better. I am getting very little difference in levels compared to what it was before.

With this season right here I am checking all my temps at least once a day right now to make sure it is where I want them also :gj:

this thread is making a case for the herpstat thermostat,with a adjustable hi and low temp setting a audible alarm goes off when not in the desired range.

on all my racks i have two probed thermometers to constantly monitor temp changes,having a backup alarm gives me extra assurance when i'm not in the snake room.have fun!