Thermostat for space heater?

Well I moved my reptiles into my big closet, and I have a space heater that I use to keep it around 81 the best I can. I hooked up my old hydrotherm thermostat to it and it worked for a while, then it stopped. I just placed the probe in one of the air holes of the tubs to keep the temp steady.

Are there any thermostats (reasonably priced) to control a space heater? Is this what Ranco/Johnson controls are for? I just can't find anything online :rolleyes:

Ranco or Johnson are made for such a use they are perfectly designed for it.


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This -> http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000 <- is the Ranco that I have. When I bought it from RBI a couple of months ago, they offered a pre-wired version specifically for use on a space heater. It doesn't look like they sell them as a plug and play anymore, but the base unit is still the same. It's been working flawlessly for me.

Eric

Edit: It looks like the reason that they don't offer the Ranco pre-wired version is because they are now offering this pre-wired product: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/ .

Anybody else have any thermostats they use for space heaters? I've heard some people using ones for greenhouses. I want the thermostat to be as accurate as possible, but I don't want to pay and arm and a leg.

Unfortunately you aren't going to get a huge amount of accuracy as the only options you have for space heaters are on/off style thermostats. The ranco is probably about as good as you will get. I just came across the new thermostat Reptile Basics is selling so I don't know much about it, but from it's spec sheet it looks like a solid unit.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Unfortunately you aren't going to get a huge amount of accuracy as the only options you have for space heaters are on/off style thermostats. The ranco is probably about as good as you will get. I just came across the new thermostat Reptile Basics is selling so I don't know much about it, but from it's spec sheet it looks like a solid unit.

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Yeah since it will controlling ambient temp it doesn't have to be as accurate like with heat tape. I'm just looking to keep the ambient temp between 78-82 so an on-off switch type would work.

I'll check out the RBI one.

Try picking up a Rheostat it is rather cheap and will allow you to turn up and down, if you will, the spaceheater to get the temp. just right

The problem with a rheostat is that it has to be continually monitored. A thermostat would be much more accurate and troublefree.

Just buy a space heater with its own thermostat. I have a digital one that ran me like $120 an it turns on and shuts off on its own..., but that's less $ than a space heater and separate thermostat.

It's lasted many years now. I used to use it to heat my fish room


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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

Just buy a space heater with its own thermostat. I have a digital one that ran me like $120 an it turns on and shuts off on its own..., but that's less $ than a space heater and separate thermostat.

It's lasted many years now. I used to use it to heat my fish room

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This.

I use this one to control ambient temps in my snake room. Has about a 3-4 degree temp swing on it, but that's fine with me. Great buy for $50, and I just picked up a second for another use.
http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-755320-C...c+Tower+Heater

A few years back my husband bought this to heat the garage in the winter when he had to work outside:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...utility-blower

Unfortunately that little unit wasn't up to the job of keeping his work area warm so he purchased a larger heater. The little one in the link does a nice job of keeping the herp room warm. The only downside is that the temperature controller is a dial, not digital, so we had to take a pen and mark where we want it set (78*F). Also, the fan on it is louder than you would find on a regular household heater, but since we're not using it in a bedroom we don't care. I do like that even the fan's lowest setting pushes a lot of air - more than a standard household heater - so I can put the heater anywhere in the room, blow the air across the floor, and heat the whole room very quickly if needed.

I already have a space heater so all I need is a thermostat, and my current snake room is my walk-in closet so I don't need a powerful space heater to heat a large area. I was looking at the CAP Tmp-Dne, which is meant for greenhouses I believe. It has a 3 degree swing but it would keep it between 78-81.
And it also has a night drop feature which is great.
Has anyone else used this kind before?

i have been usring this for my a/c http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Originally Posted by nobigdeal508

i have been usring this for my a/c http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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I was looking at this one, does it have a probe? Since there isn't an outlet IN my closet I'd have to run a probe to the inside of my closet and the unit plugged in outside my closet.

its a short probe about 1.5'' cord attatched for ambients

I use a ve 300 dual zone to run a space heater on one zone and a short length of heat tape for a single cage on the other. Works great. The only problem is that they are only rated for 900w total. So a lot of space heaters would use up that total amount if not more. But I use a 700w space heater and it controls the small Herp room to within .1 degree. It also has a night drop feature that I don't actually use. It wasn't particularly cheap though. But I personally feel when it comes to thermostats that you should buy the best there is. After all if its off it could mean loosing your collection.