helix Vs Johnson controls

I need another thermostat already . what is a better termostat the

Johnson Controls Thermostat A-419 or the helix ?

the johnson is half the price but is it just as good or what?

thanks

All my racks are hooked up to Johnsons, I have had no issues, so far. I consider them quite reliable. :)

Neither, get a Herpstat.

I love my Johnson Controls. I have a few that have been running for years without any problem. They are great, but I bought a Herpstat pro last year and can say that they are worth the extra few bucks. I've never used a Helix. I would say get a Johnson Controls or if you can spare the few extra bucks, get a Herpstat. Either one will do the job well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScottyBoa

Neither, get a Herpstat.

---

Herpstats are the way to go!

:gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonnyb

I need another thermostat already . what is a better termostat the

Johnson Controls Thermostat A-419 or the helix ?

the johnson is half the price but is it just as good or what?

thanks

---

Apples and oranges - one is an on/off and the other is a proportional, hence the discrepancy in price.

If it doesn't matter to you whether or not the stat is proportional or on/off, save yourself some money and stick with the Johnson Controls. They are fairly bulletproof.

If you'd rather go proportional, then I suggest you look at the Herpstat.

running the johnson and so far its been very good to me. Has held steady temps since i installed it and havent had one problem yet. Knocks on wood. I will eventually switch to the herpstats as my collection gets larger.

I have both, and like them.

On/off styles make a loud "clicking" noise when they go on and off....which to some, can be quite annoying in a room that fluctuates 2-3 degrees every half hour.

Here is why I always say Herpstat. You have a rack full of snakes, say like 6-8 animals. Figure on half of those being morphs. Base morphs like spiders or albino boas or whatever run $300+ so I'd say for any decent sized rack you have $1,000 in animals at least. A Herpstat is $50 more than a Johnson and seriously if you are spending $1,000 on animals plus whatever the rack cost is it really THAT much of a difference in price?

Or... if the animal is a single display snake in a living/dining room or office do you seriously want to hear "click click" every 2 minutes with an on/off Johnson or Ranco? It is, has been and always will be Herpstat for me unless they give me a reason not to go with them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScottyBoa

Here is why I always say Herpstat. You have a rack full of snakes, say like 6-8 animals. Figure on half of those being morphs. Base morphs like spiders or albino boas or whatever run $300+ so I'd say for any decent sized rack you have $1,000 in animals at least. A Herpstat is $50 more than a Johnson and seriously if you are spending $1,000 on animals plus whatever the rack cost is it really THAT much of a difference in price?

Or... if the animal is a single display snake in a living/dining room or office do you seriously want to hear "click click" every 2 minutes with an on/off Johnson or Ranco? It is, has been and always will be Herpstat for me unless they give me a reason not to go with them.

---

X2:gj:

I have to agree! I don't have a rack of balls, I have one he is a mojave and his worth is much more than a dollar value. I care about him and after using a 500r zoo med the temps, at the pad contact, would zoom up to over 100 degrees then it would shut off. I spent a few days worried he would get burned and ordered a proportional (herpstat) and only regret the zoo med a waste of money. Buy a proportional where you set the temp you want and presto that is the temp you get. None of the set the temp you want (trial and error) and get that as an average temp. With spikes or over 10 degrees!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kitedemon

Buy a proportional where you set the temp you want and presto that is the temp you get. None of the set the temp you want (trial and error) and get that as an average temp. With spikes or over 10 degrees!

---

That's not something you need to deal with on a Johnson or Ranco, as they're digital thermostats. The Zoomed is an analog.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m00kfu

That's not something you need to deal with on a Johnson or Ranco, as they're digital thermostats. The Zoomed is an analog.

---

have been running my johnson with no problems whats so ever for a few days now. I check the temps multiple times a day and they have stayed steady since i set the thermostat up. I will be purchasing a herpstat a.s.a.p since my other racks are almost done. So far i cant say anything bad about the johnson but like i said im only a few days in.

i actually have both a helix and a johnson. I have the helix on a rack and i use the johnson to control a roach bin in another room. Both are good, but i prefer the more constant temps of the helix and will most likely be purchasing a herpstat next.

my room fluctuates about 10 degrees over the course of the day so i need the constant flow of electricity. I fear that my snakes would be at the wrong temps of i left them with the on/off unit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

have been running my johnson with no problems whats so ever for a few days now. I check the temps multiple times a day and they have stayed steady since i set the thermostat up. I will be purchasing a herpstat a.s.a.p since my other racks are almost done. So far i cant say anything bad about the johnson but like i said im only a few days in.

---

I've had various Johnsons and Rancos running since... 2006 I think? Haven't had one fail yet. I've got a Helix on the incubator, just because I wanted to check it out. It looked like BHB used mostly Ranco's when I was at his place. For me, the Helix tends to be more than I need in my opinion. Not to mention good luck running it off a generator.