How many racks can i run on one Thermostat?

I just purchased 3 new racks (crazy i know, the addiction is hitting me and my bank account hard). If i buy a VE200 can i run two racks off of that? How many can i run safely off of one thermostat?

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Originally Posted by mbaker8686

I just purchased 3 new racks (crazy i know, the addiction is hitting me and my bank account hard). If i buy a VE200 can i run two racks off of that? How many can i run safely off of one thermostat?

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Not sure what the specks exactly are on that specific thermostat, But I have several spider robotics herpstat thermostats they have quite a few different thermostats for sale. Their single herpstat i think will handle up to like 700 watts. They have a herpstat 2 that handles up to like 900 watts per probe or plug. and a herpstat 4 that handles up to 1600 watts total. These are great thermostats that handle quite a bit of power. I have used them for years and they work wonderful. What I would suggest is look at the max. watts the thermostat will handle and go from there. Are you using flexwatt and if you are what watts is it. Then add up the total run of the flexwatt and see if the thermostat will handle 2 racks. Hope this helps........

well there are a few variables that go into whether or not a single thermostat can run more than one rack.

1. heat tape: all of the heat tape connected to a thermostat must be the same wattage and size.

2. Rack configuration: The racks must be identical

3. You can't have more flexwatt than the thermostat can handle... when you see flexwatt listed it usually has a size and a wattage. (such as 3 inch 6watt) This means that for each foot of 3 inch flexwatt it requires 6 watts of power so multiply the wattage by the total length of flexwatt then subtract it from the wattage of the thermostat.

There are other options as well such as the Herpstat 2 and 4. the herpstat 2 has 2 independent thermostats in one box, and the herpstat 4 has 4 independent thermostats in one box. this is a much more cost effective thermostat style and will give you the most flexibility and ability to expand in the future.

http://spyderrobotics.com/

I have the VE-200 and idk how you would do that. Theres only 1 probe so youd be basing the temps off of that one spot where the probe is. Also you would have to have the flexwatt of the rack all connected together on each of the 3 racks. Otherwise there wouldnt be enough outlets on the power strip for you to plug into. Like SerpantMerchant said, it depends on a few things...

That is true, with only one probe you would be reading from only one rack.

If the racks are identical, you can place the probe in one and temp gun them all on a regular basis. I would reccomend eventually getting one for each rack, or at least each stack if you stack them.

Considering the value of the animals you plan to fill these racks with, thermostats are not the place to start cutting cost. In fact, just the opposite is true...

Like Mike said...I also have the VE200 and there is only one probe and you would have to have a continuos piece of flexwatt heating both racks. I think the Spyder Robotics Herpstat 2, etc has the ability ot have more than one probe.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Like Mike said...I also have the VE200 and there is only one probe and you would have to have a continuos piece of flexwatt heating both racks.

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Gonna have to disagree with that part. In my experience there's only 2 things that matter here:

1) The size and wattage of the flex watt.
2) How many watts the Tstat can support.

I have 3 racks hooked to one Tstat. All 3 are using 3 in flex watt at 10W per ft. 2 are identical AP racks. The other is a RB type rack. All are holding the same temps throughout. The total wattage for all 3 is around 350 watts which is well within the Tstat wattage limit.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Gonna have to disagree with that part. In my experience there's only 2 things that matter here:

1) The size and wattage of the flex watt.
2) How many watts the Tstat can support.

I have 3 racks hooked to one Tstat. All 3 are using 3 in flex watt at 10W per ft. 2 are identical AP racks. The other is a RB type rack. All are holding the same temps throughout. The total wattage for all 3 is around 350 watts which is well within the Tstat wattage limit.

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So where do you have your probe? If that would work it would be awesome!!

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Gonna have to disagree with that part. In my experience there's only 2 things that matter here:

1) The size and wattage of the flex watt.
2) How many watts the Tstat can support.

I have 3 racks hooked to one Tstat. All 3 are using 3 in flex watt at 10W per ft. 2 are identical AP racks. The other is a RB type rack. All are holding the same temps throughout. The total wattage for all 3 is around 350 watts which is well within the Tstat wattage limit.

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So what you have then is a powerstrip plugged into the Tstat and the Tstat probe just placed on one of the stripes of flexwatt with the flexwatt of the two racks plugged into the strip?...Gotcha. I think the VE200 is 700w.

It can be done, but the issue would be not catching a malfunction of one of the un-monitored strips. Not terribly likely but possible.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Gonna have to disagree with that part. In my experience there's only 2 things that matter here:

1) The size and wattage of the flex watt.
2) How many watts the Tstat can support.

I have 3 racks hooked to one Tstat. All 3 are using 3 in flex watt at 10W per ft. 2 are identical AP racks. The other is a RB type rack. All are holding the same temps throughout. The total wattage for all 3 is around 350 watts which is well within the Tstat wattage limit.

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It CAN be done but it isn't the safest method of regulating flexwatt. 99% of the time you won't have an issue but if 1 of the runs of flexwatt shorts out and it isn't the run that has the thermostat probe, then you could have melted tubs, dead snakes, and even a fire...

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Originally Posted by jinx667

It can be done, but the issue would be not catching a malfunction of one of the un-monitored strips. Not terribly likely but possible.

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This is along the lines of what i was thinking. I guess the chances of that happening is fairly unlikely though. I would feel comfortable running that setup but once you save up the money you might wanna consider getting a few more VE-200s or just get a herpstat with multiple probes. I personally wouldnt wanna run that setup for too long bc it seems worth it to invest some extra money into safety for racks holding my snakes. Just how i feel about it...

It all comes back to this...

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Originally Posted by Slim

Considering the value of the animals you plan to fill these racks with, thermostats are not the place to start cutting cost. In fact, just the opposite is true...

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

It CAN be done but it isn't the safest method of regulating flexwatt. 99% of the time you won't have an issue but if 1 of the runs of flexwatt shorts out and it isn't the run that has the thermostat probe, then you could have melted tubs, dead snakes, and even a fire...

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I understand there's a risk, but it's negligible IMO. Although melted tubs would never happen. Flex watt can't get that hot unless there's a manufacturer defect. Anyways, tt would really be nice to have Tstat on every rack but I consider that a luxury not a necessity.

Also, many people daisy chain flex watt between shelves (which is a valid way to set it up - http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_parallel.pdf). And going by that logic you have to have a Tstat for every level of a rack if you daisy chain.

There's one more thing! Even if the FW is the same, the racks have to have the same setup in terms of where the tape is related to the tub.

Like you wouldn't have a rack with belly heat and another with back hear on the same Tstat.

You also wouldn't have a rack with recessed heat of the same Tstat as one with flat heat.

Etc. and so forth.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I understand there's a risk, but it's negligible IMO. Although melted tubs would never happen. Flex watt can't get that hot unless there's a manufacturer defect. Anyways, tt would really be nice to have Tstat on every rack but I consider that a luxury not a necessity.

Also, many people daisy chain flex watt between shelves (which is a valid way to set it up - http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_parallel.pdf). And going by that logic you have to have a Tstat for every level of a rack if you daisy chain.

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I understand, and as I said 99% of the time it is absolutely fine. I personally don't agree with the daisy chained flexwatt either.

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Flex watt can't get that hot unless there's a manufacturer defect.

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And this is the problem what if there is a defect? sure it is in the 01% but if it happens then things like the Pro Exotics fire can take place.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

And this is the problem what if there is a defect? sure it is in the 01% but if it happens then things like the Pro Exotics fire can take place.

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Well, defects like that usually show right away not weeks or years later. I always test run a new racks for at least a day or two is feasible to make sure it's running as expected.

Pro Exotics fire was caused by something in the space next to it is you didn't know. So nothing related to rack set up or anything like that. Other fires I've read about were caused by cheap power strips not being able to handle the high wattage.

Anyways, I am pretty diligent about checking my rack temps. I think everyone should be really. So if there is a problem you can take care of it before it gets out of hand.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Well, defects like that usually show right away not weeks or years later. I always test run a new racks for at least a day or two is feasible to make sure it's running as expected.

Pro Exotics fire was caused by something in the space next to it is you didn't know. So nothing related to rack set up or anything like that. Other fires I've read about were caused by cheap power strips not being able to handle the high wattage.

Anyways, I am pretty diligent about checking my rack temps. I think everyone should be really. So if there is a problem you can take care of it before it gets out of hand.

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Yes, I know that the pro exotics fire was caused by something else, I was just using it as an example of a fire in a reptile collection. I understand that many people have racks set up this way. I'm just saying that I personally don't agree with it and feel that it is a factor that should be considered.

I use multiple racks size 32 and 41qts all plugged in to the double Ranco all purchased from the Boaphile. All the racks hold temps steady and everything works perfectly.

With the recent outbreaks of collection fires i would think stacking electrical devices and pushing the max on your thermostats are the last thing you want to do. On my freedom breeders i use 2 stats per rack. This is because they hold 30 cb70 tubs and the top stack will never read the same as the bottom stack. Also consider the outlet strips your using. Most of your cheaper outlet strips are made with cheap chinese wires that arent even made with pure copper. Stacking those and loading them with plugs is asking for trouble.

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Originally Posted by mbaker8686

I just purchased 3 new racks (crazy i know, the addiction is hitting me and my bank account hard). If i buy a VE200 can i run two racks off of that? How many can i run safely off of one thermostat?

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You shouldnt have any problems as long as they are they same type of rack. Im operating two racks from one thermostat right now and they arent the same type of rack the the temps vary a little bit because they dont retain the same amount of heat but it works.

Good Luck:gj: