What kind of thermostat do you use?

I've done some research on them & still a bit confused. Can they control more than one heat source? What brand is the best & has reasonable prices? I've found a Zoo Med Hygrotherm on ebay for about $70, is this a good price? Thanks!

If you're going to spend $70 I suggest going a different route and go with a Johnsons or Ranco thermostat. Very reliable.

I've been using the Zoo-Med 500r but it isn't cutting it. Just ordered a Herpsat yesterday and I am super excited. Only about $140 shipped. Well worth the added security.

Most thermostats can only run one heat source at a time. (same temp.) Say you needed to control two racks that require a different heat level, you will need two thermostats OR go with Herpstat II or PRO. (II = 2 and PRO = 4 different probes)

I use a Helix DBS-1000. They can control more than one heat source, you just need to get a power strip to get them all wired. LLLReptile supply has them advertised @ $130 right now.

i have a helix and a johnson control. i recommend both :) but i LOVE my helix.

I used a Repti 500r for my first year in the hobby. It worked well, but I didn't like how it would vary 2 degrees +/- from the set point. Last year I picked up a Herpstat Pro and absolutely love it! Herpstats are definitely nice products!

Herpstat Pro FTW!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sarin

If you're going to spend $70 I suggest going a different route and go with a Johnsons or Ranco thermostat. Very reliable.

I've been using the Zoo-Med 500r but it isn't cutting it. Just ordered a Herpsat yesterday and I am super excited. Only about $140 shipped. Well worth the added security.

Most thermostats can only run one heat source at a time. (same temp.) Say you needed to control two racks that require a different heat level, you will need two thermostats OR go with Herpstat II or PRO. (II = 2 and PRO = 4 different probes)

---

Thanks! Now I've heard of the Johnsons & Ranco, but from my understanding you need to wire them up yourself to your heating sources? Not sure if I feel comfortable doing that. I only have have BP at this time & don't plan on getting any more. I know the Herpstats are pretty expensive & useful for ranks, but I only need something for my one 20L tank.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sarin

If you're going to spend $70 I suggest going a different route and go with a Johnsons or Ranco thermostat. Very reliable.

I've been using the Zoo-Med 500r but it isn't cutting it. Just ordered a Herpsat yesterday and I am super excited. Only about $140 shipped. Well worth the added security.

Most thermostats can only run one heat source at a time. (same temp.) Say you needed to control two racks that require a different heat level, you will need two thermostats OR go with Herpstat II or PRO. (II = 2 and PRO = 4 different probes)

---

Up until today I was using Ranco's as my primary t-stats, but I felt it was time for an upgrade. Today when I got home there were 2 boxes at my door. 1 from Spyder Robotics and 1 from Reptile Basics. So now I'm looking at my new Herpstat Pro and wondering what I'm doing on the internet and not hooking it up...:banana:

The Johnson and Ranco are basically ON/OFF thermostats. You program in the desired temp, then set what they call the differential. This is basically setting the range you want the thermostat to come on at and shut off at. So if you set your temp at 91F with a 2 degree differential, the t-stat will heat the UTH up to 93F and shut-off. Then, when the UTH cools down to 89F it will come on and heat it back up again. You can order these pre-wired with a power strip installed for about $80.00 a piece. If you are good with electrical wiring, you can get the basic model for a little cheaper and wire a power strip in yourself. The pre-wired models come with a 6 outlet strip attached so you can technically run 6 different heat sources from 1 t-stat, however, it only has one probe, so it will only measure the temp of one heat source. This means that all of the UTH's would have to be rated at the same wattage or else some will end up too hot and some may not get hot enough. I have found it best to just run 1 enclosure on one thermostat.

The Helix and Herpstat are called proportional thermostats. This means that they always stay on but they automatically adjust the amount of current going to the heat source to maintain a constant temp. The approximate prices of these are: Herpstat Basic...$109.00, Helix DBS 1000... $130.00, Herpstat II... $220.00, Herpstat Pro...$325.00.

These are all good thermostats and it's going to basically come down to what do you need? How many do you need? and how much money do you have or want to spend that will help you choose the brand, model, or combination of those that will meet your needs... Hope this helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kasmir

Thanks! Now I've heard of the Johnsons & Ranco, but from my understanding you need to wire them up yourself to your heating sources? Not sure if I feel comfortable doing that. I only have have BP at this time & don't plan on getting any more. I know the Herpstats are pretty expensive & useful for ranks, but I only need something for my one 20L tank.

---

Based on that, I would suggest a Ranco. They are both essentially the same thing with the same price from different companies. I just think the Ranco looks nicer. Just my opinion. You can order them with the power strip installed here...


http://www.reptilebasics.com/

I started out with Rancos and now have a few Herpstat Pros.

im using a ranco

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Based on that, I would suggest a Ranco. They are both essentially the same thing with the same price from different companies. I just think the Ranco looks nicer. Just my opinion. You can order them with the power strip installed here...


http://www.reptilebasics.com/

---

Thanks, that was very informative! But based on what you said in your previous post, I wouldn't be able to use the Ranco brand with all 3 of my heating sources, unless they were all the same wattage? I have 2 UTH's (2 different brands I believe, one was already attached to the tank when I got it) & I have a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter. I wouldn't be able to use it with these, since it only comes with one probe?

I am using a Herpstat II -- I am controlling a strip of flexwatt, and on the other input a radiant heat panel. The herpstat is definitely nice since it is proportionl -- I honestly don't think I ever see either of my temps ever move.

Another thing you might want to take in consideration is what you are going to be conrolling with the thermostat. I know most people don't use heat lamps, but if you get a Johnson or Ranco (which are on/off thermostats) the heat lamp will constantly be turning on and off -- which could get rather annoying.

I'd go with a Johnson or Ranco at the minimum, and a Herpstat if you can afford it.

Just my $0.02

Later,

George

If you need to use an overhead heat source to help keep up the ambient temps, I would use the Ceramic Heat Emitter. The thermostat probe would be attached to the UTH. That way the thermostat is maintaining the belly temps at the desired temp and the CHE will just be supplying additional heat for the air at the same time and will be far less annoying than the light clicking on and off all the time.

You also said you had 2 UTH's. How are they positioned? are they right next to each other on the same end of the tank or are they at each end of the tank? And what size are they?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kasmir

Thanks, that was very informative! But based on what you said in your previous post, I wouldn't be able to use the Ranco brand with all 3 of my heating sources, unless they were all the same wattage? I have 2 UTH's (2 different brands I believe, one was already attached to the tank when I got it) & I have a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter. I wouldn't be able to use it with these, since it only comes with one probe?

---

I'm not an electrician so I'm going to try and explain this as best as I can so if my info is wrong someone can correct me. The wattage rating on the UTH's is what is important. For example, if you have 2 enclosures running on one thermostat, one has a 20 watt UTH and the other has a 12 watt UTH. The 20 watt is going to heat up faster so if you have the probe attached to the 12 watt, by the time it reaches 91degrees the 20 watt will be well over that. And if you put the probe on the 20 watt, it will reach 91 before the other. Now that can work to your advantage in some cases, such as if you live in a cold house and you use a UTH on the cool side to keep it around 79-80F. In this case you would put the probe on the higher wattage UTH as your warm side and the lower wattage UTH would just be running as supplemental heating. If you are using this type of set-up and both UTH's are the same wattage, then you would need to get a rheostat or dimmer, plug the coolside UTH into it and then plug the dimmer into the thermostat. That way you can reduce the amount of electricity going to the cool side UTH which will cause it to run at a lower temp. In that case, you would also want to use 2 AccuRites so you can have a thermometer probe on the glass above the cool side UTH which will let you know which way to adjust the dimmer for the desired cool side temp. I hope that kind of makes sense...

Edit to add: After re-reading this I would say that it would be best to use a dimmer for the cool side UTH regardless of it's wattage...