Vivarium Electronics VE-100 vs Ranco ETC-111000 Pre Wired vs Johnson Controls Thermos

which would yall prefer if yall had the choice between the 3 of them? i am in the market for a new thermostat so i was just wondering if yall had them and what yall thought of them thank you. :D Merry Christmas

i got a few johnson A419's and iv had no problems.
spooky

do they hold the temp pretty good or do they turn off when they heat up to the temp then turn on when it gets to a certain degree or do they stay at the temp i program them for

all three you posted are the same operation, just in different models. All are on.off and will do fine for you

ok im running 2 Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats the reason im running 2 is the first 1 i bought didnt stay programed so they sent me another to replace that one and a couple days later i recieved another one. they work fine its the turn on heat up to the set temp then turn off and drop back down below the temp i set it for then turn back on. i wasnt sure if they all were like that or if they would stay at the programmed temp at all times thank you.

if your wanting one thats not a "on off" type, look at spyder robotics herpstat proportional. i have these on my incubator, and my hatchling rack.
spooky

Herpstat 1 Proportional Thermostat would it be worth the couple extra bucks to buy 1 of these since i want to let my female incubate her own eggs for my first time breeding.

There is no possible way for me to be happier with my VE-200!! :D

Herpstats are great! I have a Herpstate II and love it. Proportionals are better than on/off's in my opinion, they regulate the heat more even than apposed to letting the temp. drop down to a certain temp. then turning on and raising it back up then shutting off again. Proportionals just lower the power to the heating device when it reaches the set temp. then increases it to raise it back up. Never shutting off. Helix is a proportional as well and a very good thermostat. Now some of the Vivarium Electronics are Pulse Proportional OR On/Off capable, the VE-200, VE-300 and VE-300x2 are, the VE-100 is not, just on/off.

I would spend a little extra for a proportional. Love my VE-200s:gj::gj:

Herpstats are definitely awesome, my temps have been as stable as they'll ever be since I got my Herpstat ND. I definitely recommend them if you're willing to spend a few extra bucks.

I have a new herpstat on my first rack I built. I have had zero problems with it and it maintains my temps VERY well. Ill be using another one when I set up my incubator for steady temps.

On my quarantine rack ill probably try a johnson.

Love my ve-300 and ve-200!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mdfreak2

ok im running 2 Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats the reason im running 2 is the first 1 i bought didnt stay programed so they sent me another to replace that one and a couple days later i recieved another one. they work fine its the turn on heat up to the set temp then turn off and drop back down below the temp i set it for then turn back on. i wasnt sure if they all were like that or if they would stay at the programmed temp at all times thank you.

---

All the on off units work like this the johnson and ranco (VE too I think) have a 1º over and under unlike the hydrofarms 3º. Proportional will deliver little variation if set up for the conditions you have.

I have grown to really like the VE line of thermostats. I have Helix, Herpstats and VE's in my reptile room. I like that you do not have mount VE's to anything, they stand on their own and are stackable. Currently, I use VE200's, Herpstats and Helix's as proportional termostats on all of our ball python racks, but every single one of them is backed up for safety with a VE 100 (on/off).

I've read that when a proportional thermostat fails, it fails open allowing full current. When an on/off thermostat fails, it fails closed or in the off position. So by using one of each on each rack, I feel I've minimized risks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

I have grown to really like the VE line of thermostats. I have Helix, Herpstats and VE's in my reptile room. I like that you do not have mount VE's to anything, they stand on their own and are stackable. Currently, I use VE200's, Herpstats and Helix's as proportional termostats on all of our ball python racks, but every single one of them is backed up for safety with a VE 100 (on/off).

I've read that when a proportional thermostat fails, it fails open allowing full current. When an on/off thermostat fails, it fails closed or in the off position. So by using one of each on each rack, I feel I've minimized risks.

---

X2.

I definitely worry less with this method.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by don

i have grown to really like the ve line of thermostats. I have helix, herpstats and ve's in my reptile room. I like that you do not have mount ve's to anything, they stand on their own and are stackable. Currently, i use ve200's, herpstats and helix's as proportional termostats on all of our ball python racks, but every single one of them is backed up for safety with a ve 100 (on/off).

---

x3

x4, love the Vivarium Electronics units!

The newer Herpstat models are designed so that if they fail a mechanical relay cuts power so that isn't an issue.

There is always a chance of failure with any unit I have had a herpstat pro fail the relay system Dion uses is very good but doesn't cover Triac or controller chip failure. Mine was a main chip failure very rare but... A failsafe is always a good idea and IMO should be a part of any and every system probes can always be pulled off and that is far more common than any unit failure. Proportional units can fail on or off same for on off units. It depends on the type and location of failure. For example a herpstat fails at the probe socket (like it got pulled) the unit will shut down.

I've said for a long time now, the most important piece of equipment you will buy is your thermostat. Herpstats all the way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kitedemon

There is always a chance of failure with any unit I have had a herpstat pro fail the relay system Dion uses is very good but doesn't cover Triac or controller chip failure. Mine was a main chip failure very rare but... A failsafe is always a good idea and IMO should be a part of any and every system probes can always be pulled off and that is far more common than any unit failure. Proportional units can fail on or off same for on off units. It depends on the type and location of failure. For example a herpstat fails at the probe socket (like it got pulled) the unit will shut down.

---

The Pro did not have a relay. The new Herpstat 4 does and does protect against a triac failure. Thats one of its best features. Its like having that extra backup thermostat built in without the big cost of another full thermostat unit. It protects all four outlets since its on the main supply line. This is the direction we are heading as a company. We have some new models I'm working on and they will include this feature as well. While we still will offer some basic units without it to cut costs our main line will have the relay backup as a standard. There will be both single and dual output models coming shortly with the feature.

Now if the main cpu chip fails in any thermostat your either one of the unlucky .01% who had a manufacturing defect in the chip or you got a spike that took it out. If it was spiked then there is a good chance your backup inline also took the spike and could fail too. Again, its the backup for a backup for a backup. You could chase the what-ifs for a long time.

Dion Brewington
Spyder Robotics