thermostat choices?

wow theres too many thermostats... im looking to rack some snakes and want an AFFORDABLE thermostat option... so what are they? i was looking at the Ranco ECT-111000 as far as afford ability(sp?)

so around $50 for an ok/good thermostat... please help

I'd suggest a herpstat for 100 bucks. The on off types can cause really high temp spikes I recorded one at over 160ºF before it shut down. I simply don't trust them Herpstat helix or similar proportional thermostats they are really that much more.

i have a herpstat nd and its been perfect. the on/off thermostats are ok but not for a rack.

with the herpstat can i run more than 1 rack from it or is it always 1 rack per thermostat?

well with any thermostat you should only run one rack. u dont want to use one thermostat to provide heat for 80 animals.

Rancos work fine for racks, just gotta run it for a week or so to get the "in tub" temps where you want them just like any thermostat. You can set the ranco within a degree of where you want it to cut on and off. So this person that got theres up to 160 is very suspect to me. herpstats are definitely better don't get me wrong. but if you want to save 80$ a ranco will do the job just fine. I have one of my racks on a ranco and haven't had a problem ever with it, A lot of people use rancos, if they were bad you would see it all over this forum.

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Originally Posted by Tidus10

with the herpstat can i run more than 1 rack from it or is it always 1 rack per thermostat?

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You can certainly run multiple racks on the same thermostat as long as you are using the same size and watt heat tape. Just make sure your total wattage is under the max wattage that the thermostat can handle. The regular herpstat can handle 500 watts.

BbyBoa zoo med 500r. It hit a max inside the tub for 10 min of 160 then clicked off and it dropped to 85º then clicked back on again. On and off just like it was designed to the problem is the tape is too high a wattage, and at 100% power is simply too hot. It takes under 8 seconds to get to over 100ºF in the set up I was using.

Never used a ranco but at 79.99 hardly a good deal when the Herpstat is 109 and is on sale 10$ off...

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

BbyBoa zoo med 500r. It hit a max inside the tub for 10 min of 160 then clicked off and it dropped to 85º then clicked back on again. On and off just like it was designed to the problem is the tape is too high a wattage, and at 100% power is simply too hot. It takes under 8 seconds to get to over 100ºF in the set up I was using.

Never used a ranco but at 79.99 hardly a good deal when the Herpstat is 109 and is on sale 10$ off...

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ranco is around $50-$60... they are only $80 pre wired

I wouldn't get anything under Ranco or Johnson, you can find both on reptilebasics.com. I buy everything through him and really like his quality/selection. He's also a great guy to talk to if you have any issues! Anyhow, I use Helix because it's well worth the money. I understand many people don't want to spend that kind of money, nor do they need to. But if you are going to run flexwatt you need something that's reliable. Don't use cheap no name brands, that includes T-rex, Rzilla, and Zoomed. Zoomed are great people but most of their stuff is junk. If you get a Rheostat (Ranco or Johnson-on off systems) rather than a thermostat (Helix-proportional system) it's a good idea to have a dimmer on back up just in case the rheostat goes hay wire your dimmer will keep it from running wide open. When an on off system fails it runs on wide open, when dimmers fail they cut the power. I've had experience!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

BbyBoa zoo med 500r. It hit a max inside the tub for 10 min of 160 then clicked off and it dropped to 85º then clicked back on again. On and off just like it was designed to the problem is the tape is too high a wattage, and at 100% power is simply too hot. It takes under 8 seconds to get to over 100ºF in the set up I was using.

Never used a ranco but at 79.99 hardly a good deal when the Herpstat is 109 and is on sale 10$ off...

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Shipped and totally set up my ranco was maybe 55$ max. and runs perfectly and keeps my temps within 1 degree of where I want them. so yes I would definitly get the hepstat over the ranco if you have the means, but a ranco will run your system just fine.

If you have the money get a Herpstat or Helix. For me i have 4 Ranco's and about to buy a 5th one. They are cheap, work great and last a long time. They are still a Thermostat, a Rheostat is a device that limits the amount of power to the device. Thermostats regulate the temperature, so Rancos and Johnsons are Thermostats.

For you a Ranco on eBay for $46.99 plus shipping and a short trip to Wal-Mart or Harbor Freight and your ready to go.

I have used a ranco actually I just had one replaced on my hot water heater. I am sure they work fine the on off type that does not have a high low tolerance get dangerously hot. A ranco set with a 1 degree throw is likely very efficient. But it is adapted from another use and isn't really designed to do the job at hand. Personally I like using things designed to do what they were intended to, for the sake of 30 bucks maybe 40, (you will need to buy wire and outlets for an unwired ranco) I'd rather have something ready to go out of the box that is right for what it was intended to do.

On a second note does anybody have specs on the ranco of choice for accuracy of the probe? Just curious ranco makes so many different units I don't know which one is which.