what thermostat do you use to heat your DIY rack

Do you use a helix ranco herpstat ect

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Originally Posted by Raverthug

Do you use a helix ranco herpstat ect

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You can use witch ever you want. Its all about how much money you want to spend and what you using your rack for. Helix our herpstat are your best options. I prefer herpstat because of the built in night drop feature. They are both proportional thermostats meaning they are constantly adjusting the percentage of current to keep a desired temp within 1 tenth of a degree. I've also recently started to use a ranco on one of my racks. They are an on off type thermostat meaning that once your flexwatt or heat cable has reached its target temp the ranco cuts off all power rather than adjusting like a helix or herpstat. Once the temp falls one degree below the set temp the ranco kicks back on %100. The ranco does an excellent job at keeping the basking spot at the right temp and costs alot less. The only down side is there's no night drop feature available. There is also johnson thermostats witch are alot like a ranco but are available with a night drop feature. If your planning on breeding you should probably go with a helix or herpstat. If your planning on just keeping a collection a ranco will do just fine at a fraction of the cost. You can also make a ranco night drop by plugging it into a light timer. This way all power will be cut from your basking areas during night witch alot of breeders use this method. Alot of breeders prefer to drop there basking temp to 85 at night witch can be done automatically with helix with the optional night drop cable or with herpstat the feature is built in to most models. You can also Manuely drop to 85 with a ranco...hope this helps...sorry so long :)

I went with a Herpstat because of the general large amount of glowing reviews. I don't have my snakes yet. I'm still finishing my rack and making sure everything is golden before they get shipped to me! Dion sent it out stat and I received it in just a couple of days.

Regards,

B

I have a Herpsta, Helix and a BAH Herp Power. I love the Herpstat and the BAH Herp power is sweeet. The Helix is kind of a PITA to adjust.

I have a helix... It works great for me.:gj:

I have several helix and have never had any problems.

I have 3 - herpstat II and 2 - regular herpstats and I love them. I havnt tried any of the others so I cant comment on them.

own 2 herpstats and the rest are helixs, I think their both a PITA to adjust but the Helix takes less time to adjust, I don't understand why they can't add more buttons, or let me plug in a usb key board to it, or something.... whats so hard with a down up next and enter button 4 buttons and they would all be a breeze lol.

but yea i only buy helix for now.

i have a Herpstat and i love it, easy to adjust temps and accurate.
the helix is good but it is a PITA to adjust the temps.

Just got my helix in, will be up and running in 20 or so more days LOL

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Just got my helix in, will be up and running in 20 or so more days LOL

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20 days!??? are you wiring your house yourself??? lol J/K

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Originally Posted by mpkeelee

20 days!??? are you wiring your house yourself??? lol J/K

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LOL, NO:D
Waiting on new enclosures to fully cure........still got to polly the outsides later today. Dont see a point in setting it up when I am going to be moving everything around in less than a month.;)

I have 3 pros, 1 II, and ND herpstats but I have used a helix as well they are great units, either or they are steady and reliable. The Rancos and Johnsons seem fine I don't use them but from all reviews they are great as well I am too much of a control freak to accept 2 degree swings all the time. For my mind they are better suited to a slower conducting material like glass, heavy plastic rather than something that changes almost instantly like a tub. The other concern is how accurate is the probe that they use? I have found only general specs on Johnsons but they use a resistive type and typically they have a 2º accuracy.

I was wondering the same thing, but I was going to purchase a Herpstat, and I saw the option to purchase the grounded cords with it. What are they, and do I need them?

If you are using a metal rack then you want the grounded cord. If you are using plastic you can save $10 and get the two plug. I found the answer to that one right before I ordered.

Regards,

B

I have a helix and a johsons control. Both are great. I love my helix, my johnsons works very well (but I can hear the click when it powers on and off). I've got a dimmer switch on my bearded dragon cage.

I will either be getting another helix or a herpstat when I find the need for more. If its just a basic rack I may get another johnsons unit. They are reliable and Rich at reptilebasics takes customer satisfaction seriously, i thought I had a malfunctioning unit like 6 months after I bought it and I shipped it back to him and he replaced the power strip on it for me.

I have three different thermostats that I use. Herpstat, Helix, and I have two Alife on/off Thermostats. I haven't had a problem with any of them.
I do stick with the Helix for my incubator though.

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

If you are using a metal rack then you want the grounded cord. If you are using plastic you can save $10 and get the two plug. I found the answer to that one right before I ordered.

Regards,

B

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I see, mine is metal, so I went ahead and ordered the grounded!
Thanks!

ok well for thes of you that use the herpstats what model do you use?

I just ordered the original Herpstat, I have heard nothing but good things of it.

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Originally Posted by Raverthug

ok well for thes of you that use the herpstats what model do you use?

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I use a herpstat pro. The only difference in models is the basic herpstat has one output and no built in night drop. The herpstat ND has one output and built in night drop. Herpstat 2 has two outputs and built in night drop. It's basically two thermostats in one. And the herpstat pro has four outputs and built in night drop making it four thermostats in one.