Helix vs Herpstat

I'm thinking about picking up some thermostats (rather than using rheostats) for my cages. I know that Helix is the de facto standard for herping, but does anyone have any experience with the HerpStat (http://www.mgreptiles.com/Herpstat.html)? The base units have roughly the same features, but the HerpStat is about $30 (USD) less per unit than the Helix DBS-1000.

Comments?
Thanks.

The features look great. I am a huge fan of proportional thermostats and would consider using the HerpStat. Unfortunately I have a few extra DBS-1000's and Basic Systems in my supply closet, so it might be a while until I have the need.

-adam

What is a "proportional" thermostat??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lucky8926

What is a "proportional" thermostat??

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Proportional thermostats control the flow of electricity to a device incrementally, as apposed to just shutting the device off when it gets too warm, and firing it back up again when it gets cool like many of the inexpensive thermostats. Generally, it's a much better way to accurately control the temperature of an electric heat source like an UTH or heat tape.

A proportional thermostat pulses power (in proportion to what is needed) to the heat source. If only a small amount of power is needed to get the heat source up to temperature, that's all the thermostat allows through. In contrast, an "on/off" thermostat has just that, either an on mode or an off mode. With an "on/off" thermostat, even if only a small amount of power is needed to get the heat source up to temperature, the "on/off" thermostat will turn the heat source on "full blast" to get it there.

In my experience, I have seen a more steady and constant temperatue held with proportional thermostats than with on/off types. The on/off thermostats that I have used have allowed a signifigant fluctuation in temperatues that I personally find unacceptable.

I do know several people that use and have no problems with on/off thermostats. They're just not my cup of tea.

-adam

Ahhhh I see. Thanks for the info guys. I don't have any kind of thermostat right now (just using rheostats) but when I decide to build my custom enclosure I'm going to get some, and of course that means more hours of research.......

Oooh, thermostat topics. Just what I'm interested in lately. :)

Hope I'm not hijacking the topic or anything. I'm not too good with thermostat info yet. Just wondering if the Ranco thermostat is proportional or not. :)

Ranco is not proportional.

-adam

The helix and the herpstat are pretty much the same thing as in what they do. The herpstat has more features then the helix base model. Both units are quality units, it really depends on what you are looking for and how much you want to spend. Of course my reccommendation is the herpstat. It offers alot more at a lower price and you dont have to wait a month to get the thing... On the ranco it is a on/off tstat.... Feel free to mail me if you need any techinal info..
-Matt

PS Adam answer your email man..sheesh

Awesome info exchange there guys - thanks mucho!

I've been using one herpstat for a month and the thing kix major ass. I just ordered another one from crunchy-critters.com a few days ago to control my belly heat. Highly recommended!

HMMMMMMM!!!! Trader..lol...

hmm interesting information here. can you use the herpstat to control more than one heating device, and if so, how reliable/accurate is doing that? right now i am using the standard $30 esu thermostat. convince me why i should use a herpstat instead, since it is a bit more expensive.

An esu thermostat is a standard on/off thermostat. Which means it will kick off the power at your set point and then back on at a programmed setpoint. Which in my experience is about 5-7 degrees in the cheap on/off units.. On a johnson controls or ranco thermostat they will have a setpoint differintal that is programmed by you to 1 degree.. The herpstat is a pulse ppropotional thatmostat which mean it will read the temp of the heating element once a second and adjust the temp of the element according to your setpoint. So if you have the thermostat set at 90 it wil continually adjust the amount of current allowed to pass to the heating element to maintain that set tempature.. Hope this is conviencing.. If you try one your be hooked..
-matt

so the biggest advantage is the consistency of the temperature? i do admit that with my esu thermostat the temps fluctuate somewhat, which does bother me. maybe i should ask for a herpstat for christmas. :P

At one time I bout some of the Big Apple unit which are the same as the esu and hated the temp control... I like to look at my thermostat and know what it is reading and what it is doin in there.. Also the relay contacts in the cheap thermostats will become coroded and stick on or off.. Hopefully off but hey the opposite is just to bad to think about.. And yes the temp will be within 9/10th of a degree of what you set it at at all times...

moved to the caging forum ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by epilover

I've been using one herpstat for a month and the thing kix major fanny. Highly recommended!

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Who did you order from?

Whoa, ok. Just wanna let everyone know, I did NOT say "fanny". I would never say such a word. I meant to say the "vulgar" word that was censored, which would also refer to a donkey.

Anyways,
I got the herpstat from crunchy-critters.com, as, er, previously noted in my last post? yea....

Thanks Epilover. I missed that part of your post completely. I guess I was taken back by the whole "fanny" thing. ;)