Thermostat question.

I am building an incubator from an old fridge and I need to know whats the best thermostat for around $50. Im on a budget from the cost of the incubator and the cost of the rack systems im building.

For an incubator you REALLY want to get a proportional thermostat (helix is a good brand) they are not cheap.. around $130.

I wouldn't want to use an on/off t-stat because you can easily kill your eggs. Even the quality on/offs are around $70.

Even a herpstat would be better than the others. Like April said get a proportional one! That is not the time to scrimp! :rolleyes:

What about a Ranco or Johnson, I decided to spend more for something this important. Are there any thermostats that can control 2 different temps for 2 seperate incubators?

Ranco and Johnson are on/off t-stats. NOT recommended for incubators.

The Herpstat II can control two different temps, but it carries a hefty pricetag.

ok what about the Herpstat 1?

Sure that is a proportional.. it controls one temp though.

helix is probably the thermostat used on most incubators and has been used for many years. when it comes to electronic controls, something that has stood the test of time is worth it!


vaughn

This may or may not be on topic... but with the old fridge incubator, what are the dangers of opening the door too often? Or at all? I've seen so much about high or low temps or temp differentials killing the eggs, or causing deformed babies.. etc.. If the ambient air outside the incubator is 82 or 83, and you open the door to check on the eggs, or to turn over a glass plate that's on top of one of the tubs, is there a danger in causing a big temp change?

ken, i tested a small drink cooler last year, it was a countertop model that you see in stores like fasmart, etc. it was about 30 inches tall, and it did swing temps when the door was opened. depending on how big your eggbox is will come into play too. the bigger the eggbox the more thermal mass to help keep temps stable. you can use bottles of water also as thermal mass. alot of guys cut a window into an old fridge to view alot. this year i decided to turn a closet into a "bator"

vaughn

I know several people that are using rancos to run thier incubators(not recommended by me) I beleive the herpstat thermostats are superior to the Helix and they are cheaper. The reason they are cheaper is that your paying for the name "HELIX" on the unit. But then again what they do is basically the same.. They are both proportional, both handle 500 watts etc etc..

Since differing opinions are always welcomed on the site, I'll post mine. ;)

In my humble opinion, you can't beat a Helix Basic system or a Helix Super system for controlling temps on an incubator. Helix charges a little more than other units because they can ... the best products on the market usually do cost a little more because the demand for them is so high. :D

If my opinion isn't good enough for ya, call Ralph Davis, Dan & Colette Sutherland, or any other ball python breeder that puts hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ball python eggs in their incubator each year and ask them what they trust to control their temps ... it's Helix. :D

I'm certainly not putting down anyone elses opinions, just sharing my own about a product that I've been using for almost 10 years and has NEVER let me down. :D

Hope this helps.

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Since differing opinions are always welcomed on the site, I'll post mine. ;)

Helix charges a little more than other units because they can ... the best products on the market usually do cost a little more because the demand for them is so high. :D
-adam

---

Now tthis is very true, but I dont like paying for a name..lol.. Berry crockey vs walmart brand..... But some people have had great luck with ESU thermostats a well:)

I can just state my opinion as I sell thermostats and know them very well and get to hear all the goodies(or bad) about each one 40 times a day..lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by justcage

I can just state my opinion as I sell thermostats and know them very well and get to hear all the goodies(or bad) about each one 40 times a day..lol

---

That's cool brother! ... I'm not selling anything ... just sharing my real world experiences using these products ... IMHO, Helix's ROCK! :D

-adam

And I beleive in my experience as a dealer.. Herpstat is the way to go.. Dont ya love America.. I think 2 people were beheaded for differing last week in Iran

see guyz that wasnt sooo hard LOL

lol yeah "cant we all get along"..lol.. The main thing is use what is in your budget and what works best for your and your application

Adam before in another post a while back didnt you say that your helix will make your cell phone ring when the temp drops to low or something? also where do i find them at ?

No helix will do that..lol.. The Herpstat 2 will send you a text message or email

maybe thats what i was thinking. . . thanx for clearing that up.

contact helix at http://www.helixcontrols.com/

they have a program module with an auto dialer option


vaughn

http://www.helixcontrols.com/inst_program_module.htm

look at the 4th thing down under features it says

Allows the addition of an Auto-dialer to your System, which will dial up to 3 different phone numbers (including pagers) if either temperature set point is exceeded.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by justcage

No helix will do that..lol.. The Herpstat 2 will send you a text message or email

---

Are you saying the helix unit will NOT? Are you sure?? ;) :)

I stand corrected:) Hmm.. I have to say thats a pretty good idea. Why didnt I sell those..lol. Now if they would just make a thermostat and heating element that never needed that we would all be set..lol..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amg20102006

Adam before in another post a while back didnt you say that your helix will make your cell phone ring when the temp drops to low or something? also where do i find them at ?

---

Yup ... I'm all set up for that ... Works like a champ too ... If anything were to happen to my incubator or the snake rooms in my shop temperature wise, phones ring all over the place .... Jeff from Helix actually helped me configure it to call more than the default "3" numbers by adding an extra dialer and phone line so that not only do all of my phones ring, but all of my helpers phones too!

The funny thing is that for the past 5 years that I've had the auto-dialer systems, the helix controls have worked so well at maintaining temps, I've never gotten a single call except when I test the systems each year ... LOL ... Better safe than sorry though! ;)

-adam

Wow i had no idea about this. i guess i only have the herpstat 1 since if my temps get messed up i don't get any calls. Is that a feature that comes with the thermostats or is that just a side component that someone suggested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

Wow i had no idea about this. i guess i only have the herpstat 1 since if my temps get messed up i don't get any calls. Is that a feature that comes with the thermostats or is that just a side component that someone suggested.

---

It's an add on to the Helix Basic and Super systems ... In my opinion (for whatever it's worth), it's really a feature that is overkill for a pet ball python or 2 .... But I do think it's an excellent option for an incubator or for a situtation where you're working with large numbers of animals.

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

Wow i had no idea about this. i guess i only have the herpstat 1 since if my temps get messed up i don't get any calls. Is that a feature that comes with the thermostats or is that just a side component that someone suggested.

---

The H1 will not alow for anything like that.. The Herpstat 2 will alow you to get text messages to your cell and will send you an email if something is wrong.. There used to be a product that a small company was selling that was an addon that used a phone dialer and would call you if something happended and could be used with any system..

wow that is pretty cool. Ya i would never have a use for one but that interesting that they have that stuff.