security thermostat

HI,
does anyone use a second thermostat as backup in case the first stops working? i want to do it but i dont know how to wire them.does anybody knows?
thanks.

check the husbandry section, i read a thread that someone had done this. i dont know how to do it and i dont think its really necessary if you are using a quality thermostat. if my Helix or Herpstat fails i will be pretty ticked off

ive checked but couldnt find it. i just want to be safe...

what are you using for a thermostat, any quality epuipment should do what it is supposed to do

habistat. Nobody knows??come on!!!

i checked out habistat and im guessing you are in europe. some people here are over there so they may be familiar with their products

Hey there, I personally believe running a backup thermostat is a great idea and provides extra safety and piece of mind. Something alot of people worry about is their thermostat failing and cranking up the temps and killing their animals (as temps being too hot are much more deadly than too low temps).
In order to set up a primary and back up thermostat system you need a proportional thermostat and a on/off thermostat.
For my back up setup I use a Helix proportional thermostat with a Ranco on/off back up. Basically all I do is plug the on/off thermo in the wall and set it about 5-8 degrees higher than my desired warm side temp (whatever you set it to will be the cut off temp)and then plug my proportional into the on/off thermo and set the proportional to my desired warm side temp and plug your heating element into you proportional thermostat. Now tape the 2 probes together and place them in the proper spot. Now if you proportional thermostat breaks and starts cranking up the heat your on/off will turn the power off to it once the temperature reaching your cutoff temp.

You can also check out more info about thermostat backups here http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostat-faq.html

And one more quick note. If you set something like this up make sure you do not use a UPS or generator as a power source as it will mess up the proportional thermostat.

Hope that helps:snake:

That is exactly what i have done for the most part. Just check to be sure the wattage you are running through the primary can be handled by the secondary. I have the primary set to 92ºF and the secondary set to 98º so if the prime fails 'open' when the heat hits 98º (on the flexwatt the enclosures in my case take 2º so inside 90 and max would be 94 the heat comes on very fast if it runs away...) the secondary shuts the power off period. I have had a herpstat fail (Dion has been great with that too BTW) it is never a bad idea to have a back up.

This may help not the right brand but the principal will be the same.

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/suppor...edocument.html

thank you so much!you are really helpling me on this!
thanks!
im using habistat and i dont really know if its on-off or proposional but why it should be 2 different thermostat (on-off and proposional) and not 2 habistats for example?

i believe there is a on off version and a proportional version but that is from memory so I am not 100%.

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rept...stats-555.html

there seems to be a version for everything there is a on off and a proportional.

i just read from the sites you gave me all its sais about security thermostats. i understood abiut on off and proposianal but i doesnt say about two on offs . i think its ok to put two of those?

and also what is tge difference between pulse and proposional?

pulse proportional is a type of proportional. It send a pulse of power to the heat device and then shuts down the pulse is very short duration. The heat source is not allowed to heat fully before the power is off again it changes the duration between the pulse to feather the temps. Other types act like rheostats and feather the power to the device. They both do the same thing in practice. The on/off send full power until the probe hits the user determined temp within a manufacturer determined range and then shuts off until it drops x degrees below the user input temp. Some have a narrow tolerance like 1º some are variable tolerance and it may be changed and some are wide tolerance 10 or greater degrees. They work as well but are basically averaging, you set an average temperature and it will fluctuate up and down to get it. So the pad may be fairly hot and then cool off as power is cut a proportional one the pad will be at or very very close to the temperature programmed.

Oh and the on/off may work 2 together and may not depending on how large the 'throw' (how far from the set temp it goes) of the primary one is. I have a really crummy one that was very cheap and it seems to allow a large range it would be unlikely to work well with this type of set up. A better one would work well, I have never encountered yours so it is a bit of an unknown. If you currently have only one and were thinking of buying a second I personally would recommend a proportional one and use your current one as a back up to the new one. Although if your temps are good and you see no spikes, it may be a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Alex

just an update on the project: i bought a thermostat with 0,5C accuracy and 2500 w output to put as a backup and then the one i have and a 20m heat cable which is proposianal by itself all this only 62 euros. im very happy!! so i think everything will work perfect! thank you for your help!!