Cheaper Thermostat?

I'm looking for a good cheaper thermostat for my new rack system I'm getting on Thursday. Anyone have any good recommendations?

A thermostat is NOT an area you want to skimp on and go "cheap".

Look into Herpstat.

The cheapest thermostats for a rack system are rancos and johnsons controls. You can get one from reptilebasics.com for around $70.

And you especially don't want to go cheaper on a rack! That's how keepers loose many snakes all at once!

Well let me rephrase my statement. I am buying a used rack from a very reputable breeder who is buying a new rack. So the rack system is by no means cheap or not taken care of he just has to keep the stat it's on. I just was wondering if there were some on the cheaper end.

When it comes to reliable thermostats your lower end are Ranco and Johnson which can be found here http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats/, and your higher end are Helix and Herspat

I purchased a "cheap" thermostat.. The Rempti Temp 500R. I regret my purchase now because it can only control 2 UTHs and I feel that I am constantly tinkering with it to get the temps I want. However, it does in fact prevent my BP from frying.

Though I am new to this hobby, I would recommend buying a nice quality thermostat even if it is expensive. You can skimp in other areas like hides, water dishes, substrate, etc. That is something I wish I had done while setting up my BP's viv.

I've been very happy with the Rancos in use with Freedom Breeder racks.

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Originally Posted by Dianna

I purchased a "cheap" thermostat.. The Rempti Temp 500R. I regret my purchase now because it can only control 2 UTHs and I feel that I am constantly tinkering with it to get the temps I want. However, it does in fact prevent my BP from frying.

Though I am new to this hobby, I would recommend buying a nice quality thermostat even if it is expensive. You can skimp in other areas like hides, water dishes, substrate, etc. That is something I wish I had done while setting up my BP's viv.

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I have been very happy with my Remptitemp 500R but I have tanks so I just use one on each tank!

Big Apple Herp's "BAH 1000" has been a reliable thermostat. It's an analog thermostat, but it's reliable and it works well for a rack.
I purchased one years ago when I was breeding leopard geckos, and while it was passed on to a friend, he last reported it was still going strong, and keeping stable temps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dianna

I purchased a "cheap" thermostat.. The Rempti Temp 500R. I regret my purchase now because it can only control 2 UTHs and I feel that I am constantly tinkering with it to get the temps I want. However, it does in fact prevent my BP from frying.

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Repti-temps work fine, but definitely buy the best you can afford :)

Thermostats are the absolute last thing you want to skimp on. You can get a Herpstat for right over $100 at Beanfarm.com and Helix isn't much more. That's a lot cheaper than most snakes and definitely cheaper than a whole rack full of them. I even use backup thermostats. Don't skimp on this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dianna

I purchased a "cheap" thermostat.. The Rempti Temp 500R. I regret my purchase now because it can only control 2 UTHs and I feel that I am constantly tinkering with it to get the temps I want.

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I have that same thermostat, and I have three Ball pythons in tubs with UTHs. In one outlet on the thermostat, I have the bottom tub on the shelf (41qt tub with my female Ball python in it) plugged into it, and the other outlet on the thermostat I plugged in an extension cord. There are three outlets on the extension cord, and now there is only one left. My temps stay around 88F-94F all day, and I don't have to change it all the time. The frequent temps I get during the day are 90F-94F, and during the night I get 88F-90F.

Get the best you can afford! If you can only afford a cheap one than get it and use it until you can afford the good one! It's better to have a cheap on than none at all!

Ya I've been hearing again and again that i shouldn't skimp out on a thermostat. However a reputable breeder recommended the bah 1000sc as a cheap but reliable thermostat. Any opinions on it?

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Originally Posted by ShiftyPowers4444

Ya I've been hearing again and again that i shouldn't skimp out on a thermostat. However a reputable breeder recommended the bah 1000sc as a cheap but reliable thermostat. Any opinions on it?

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I think its junk. I have heard of it failing or just not working right.

Buy cheap you get cheap, and possibly melting flexwatt which in turn burns your snakes and creates even more money spending in the form of vet bills(or dead snakes from overheating). OR a burned down house...

Get a Johnson Controls or a Ranco. They work just fine and can be found for $65 to $70 depending on where you buy it. Sometimes as low as $50 unwired.

Do not buy cheap or you will regret it. Not a matter of IF, but WHEN. And that "when" could be when you're not at home to prevent the problem from happening.

Even a JC unit will turn all power off to the flexwatt if it gets too hot. None of your cheapo units will do that.

Ya they are all valid points. I was just trying to be thrift, but it sounds like it's not a place to do that. I'll check out some of the ranco t-stats. Any opinions on a particular one for a 7 tub 2 rack melamine rack system?

I to am in the market for a thermostat. I think I am going with the Herpstat ND. I am going to email the company soon and find out 100% what model I need for use now and possibly for expanding down the road. Right now I have 3 enclosures set up, but not all running as I only have the one BP. (I just got the ball rolling, plans on expanding are in the works)

I know I dont have much experience with this, and I wish I could be more help. But I will suggest Spyder Robotics, as all of my hours of research leads me to their products. Good luck with your search, hope you can find a good deal!

Cheers!