darn temps and thermostat

i was having trouble with my temps so i bought a thermostat from ZooMed. The only problem is, it will send my hot side all the way up to about 96 and then drop to like 86 and keep doing this. this cant be good. what else can i do? everyone suggested a thermostat and it doesnt seem to be working!!!!!

Proportional thermostats are better than on/off thermostats, since they adjust the amount of power rather than just having it go on and off.

With that said, an on/off thermostat shouldn't have nearly as bad a resolution as what you're describing. Try placing the measuring probe in a better spot perhaps? If that doesn't help, I would refund it as defective merchandise.

moved to the caging forum

You're right ... wide temperature swings like that can lead to health problems with your ball python.

I've seen those ZooMed thermostats before and wouldn't trust them to keep my socks warm. The fact that they are on/off type thermostats with very poor sampling frequencies is why you're having those temperature swings.

A quality proportional thermostat will keep your temps very stable and very safe. I personally use the DBS-1000 by Helix Controls for all of my ball pythons, but I would encourage you to do a lot of research to find a thermostat that you think will be best for your snake.

Hope this helps.

-adam

By the way Adam, do you know how the DBS-1000 and the DBS-1001 compare? They both look pretty similar, but the 1001 is a little more expensive and I would assume there would be some improved features, but I only ever hear of people who own the 1000 and not the 1001.

I'm not sure .... the 1001 is either the new packaging that helix is charging an extra 20 bucks for (bastards!) or it's the designator for the new "grounded" unit for metal rack systems like Freedom Breeder. I've been doing the grounding myself with the DBS-1000, so I'm hoping the grounded unit is now available.

I'll check tomorrow and see whats up.

-adam

The 1001 is higher for its capibilities of being expanded. The 1000G is the grounded setup. I have said it over and over..Helix is a good ubit but your going to pay 20 bucks for the box and then 10 for them putting there name on the case of the stat.. Oh and Adam I told you wrong on the 1500 watt setup. There is actually 2 different models that helix manufactures the 1007 with is called the Heavy Duty Setup and the 1003 which is an add on mod which id the on/off so I stand corrected...Get ya a Johnsons or a herpstat...Just my .02

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Originally Posted by justcage

Oh and Adam I told you wrong on the 1500 watt setup.

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I know .... trust me dude, I know what I'm talking about. 8)

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Originally Posted by justcage

Get ya a Johnsons or a herpstat...Just my .02

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Why would I do that, Helix is the best! :mrgreen:


-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Quote:

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Originally Posted by justcage

Oh and Adam I told you wrong on the 1500 watt setup.

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I know .... trust me dude, I know what I'm talking about. 8)

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Originally Posted by justcage

Get ya a Johnsons or a herpstat...Just my .02

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Why would I do that, Helix is the best! :mrgreen:


-adam

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Well I dont know about helix being the best....but to each his own opinion and thermostat..lol...But I was also right on the on/off model so toshey... Id make a smily thing but I dont know how..lol
-Matt

Don't most people use one thermostat for several cages? I mean like put the probe in the middle cage and have it power a whole rack of them? Matt, remember when we were talking about Gene's 4 cage unit and that if it malfunctions, that's 4 cages that are without a thermostat? But don't people do the same thing with single-probe thermostats? Like have a single Helix or Johnson controlling many identical cages? Or do you always have one tstat per cage?

Also, what's everyone's opinion on the GCS 4 cage unit? Reliable?

It's mighty frustrating trying to figure out which tstat to go with! lol, thanks guys

First you told me wrong, now you were also right .... I'm so confused. :picknose:

Yes I remember, what am sayingis that there is more hard ware to malfunction. Instead of one probe you have 4. Then we compare prices even when comparing the herpstat to the GCS the cost is way different more than double. Something tel sme that the parts might not be top notch, but I dont knwo that for sure it is pure speculation. I use 1 thermostat per 5 cages in a stack. Then I have one thermo running a single peice of flexwatt. I use 1 thermostat matched with up to 5 cages with the same heating elements. And Adam we were both right is what im saying, you were tight on the model 1007 1,500 watts proportional and I was right on model 1003 1,500 watts of on/off power. There are 2 models, one is not even listed on the main price guide. Where did u buy the 1007 anyway? All in all I would love to be able to run one thermo per cage but it would be really cluttered and cost prohibitive. It really depends on the application and prefrence of the user. Hope this helps..
-Matt

Each of my freedom breeder units runs either a Helix DBS-1000 or Helix Basic system. I put the probe directly on the heat tape in the middle of the rack and set the temp I want. For adults, one thermo controls 30 tubs, for sub-adults it's 1 to 36, and for juvies it's 1 to 80. Some of my basic systems are 10 years old and have been running without one failure ever. In contrast the first Ranco that I tried crapped out on me in 6 months. I have a lot of expensive snakes in my collection and I only trust Helix.

And matt .... both right?

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Same set up with a Helix 1500 watt system in the next room over and the heaters are at 83.8 and 83.6 degrees (+/- a couple tenths).

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Originally Posted by justcage

Oh and one more thing, I am looking at the Helix dealer manual right now and the 1500 watt module is a on/off model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I mean did you really think that I didn't know how my own equipment operates? You got confused and that's cool, I won't hold it against you. :lol:

-adam

hey guys, interesting topic. hey adam. my take on all this. all these stats are good, some suited to some purposes better. the helix is more precise than the rancos and the johnsons. i use the rancos and johnsons for my cages. only 2 cages to a stat. they work fine. the proportionals are better for multiple cages and large racks they are just more precise. my herp room is stable controlled by a digital stat and humidifier so my rancos and johnsons work fine. if your setup is in a room that is drafty on not real stable the proportional stat are better. if the herpstat is made by spyder robotics that is also a nice stat. i haven't tried one yet but talked to the maker in detail about the sensor and how well it regulates it is designed well with incubator mode adjustments. they are all good stats, they will all work fine some suited to some purposes better. nothing bad to say about helix.


thanks
vaughn

I'm not using racks or anything, and the temperature in my room often fluctuates by up to 10 degrees. I'm using a glass tank for my corn (currently controlled by a Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R, but I don't trust it), and will be using a tank at first for my BP, but will upgrade to a plastic cage like AP or Vision. I will most likely get a few more snakes in the near future and they will also be housed in plastic cages, so what do you guys recommend I get for temp control? There seem to be many options, but I want to get whatever is the most reliable and yields fairly consistent temps.

Thanks

Hey Vaughn,

Unfortunately, I've seen different results with all of the non-helix stats I've tested. Maybe I'm just unlucky.

All I know is that the proof for me is in my collection. I've been using Helix controls for a long long time and I'm pretty proud of the collection I've built and my breeding success each year. Maybe I could have done the same with another brand, and maybe not, couldn't say. But I do know that the first non-Helix I ever got (Joel DuBay talked me into it) crapped out on me inside of six months and does not hold stable temps on oil filled heaters like I need it to.

The good news is that I'm just sharing my experiences and people can choose to ignore me if they want ... Now maybe if Helix wants to start paying me to jump up and down for them, we could work something out! ... LOL

On a side note, a large portion of the high end designer ball python morphs ($10,000 - $100,000) are being kept on Helix controls. Not all of them, but a lot of them .... I have to ask myself why all of those breeders are willing to pay more and trust the safety of animals that cost more than my car to Helix controls over something else .... makes ya wonder?

In the end a smart consumer will ignore anything they read on an internet forum and do the research themselves so I ain't sweatin it! LOL

How are those girls doin for ya Vaughn?

-adam

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Originally Posted by guitrage

I'm not using racks or anything, and the temperature in my room often fluctuates by up to 10 degrees. I'm using a glass tank for my corn (currently controlled by a Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R, but I don't trust it), and will be using a tank at first for my BP, but will upgrade to a plastic cage like AP or Vision. I will most likely get a few more snakes in the near future and they will also be housed in plastic cages, so what do you guys recommend I get for temp control? There seem to be many options, but I want to get whatever is the most reliable and yields fairly consistent temps.

Thanks

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If it were me, I would get a helix DBS-1000 of course ... I get them used for about $70.00 .... I am net selling them, just giving you a suggestion.

Matt will tell ya different ... LOL .... :lol:

-adam

Where do you get a used Helix for $70? And what are some other sources for researching the quality of various thermostats other than the internet?

if our room flucuates get a helix or another proportional thermostat. get it wired to an outlet/surge protector ( 6 outlets). that way you can regulate multiple cages. just remember that the cage setups have to be identitical.


vaughn

hey adam the girls are fine. helix are good i have nothing negative to say about them. my digital rancos and johnsons are setup to regulate only 2 cages each. i think that my room 10x10 being regulated and real stable has alot to do with it. i talked to the syder robotics guy and that stat is worth a try. i would't test it without a backup though it is fairly new. andalways the proportionals will be more and accurate and keep temps mor stable they are a different technology than other type stats.


vaughn

What do you think about the GCS 4 probe proportional tstat?
http://www.kingsnake.com/gcsreptiles/

None of my tanks will be identical, and it can get mighty expensive buying a proportional tstat for each cage!

i have not personally used this so i can't say either way. i have had success with the rancos and the johnsons. but my room is also very stable and is also digitally regulated by a thermostat and also a humidifier. i have never heard anything bad about helix and alot of breeders use them. by the way i also work in the hvac industry and i'm a little anal about my room and temps i thik that has alot to do with my success with the rancos and the johnsons. helix is proportional and that is better for maintaining a steady temp. especially if the tanks are not in very stable rooms. the other thermostats operate on a one deg differential at best. the proportional thermostats operate around 1/4 th deg. differential. the temps do not have to move a deg to cycle the control on and off, the heat remains steady to maintain selected temps. i knopw the helix can display a tenth of a deg. but the display is seperate from the operating and sensor. 1/4th deg is plenty that is all a thermostat will need for any of our purposes.


thanks
vaughn

I have heard good things about the Spyder Robotics Herpstat, but haven't used it myself. I'm currently debating on whether to get one of those, a Helix 1000, or 1001.

All will yield consistant temps, proportional will be more consistant with a room temp that is not stable. If you plan on using the same heating element than go with the Herpstat(spyder robotics). If you are gooing to have different elements than I would reccommend using more tstats or going with the GCS.