Ever used this thermostat?

ZooMed Repti Temp 500 R

I found it at petsmart the other day and wanted to know if anyone here has used it or knows if it is reliable.

Thanks,
Rusty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

or knows if it is reliable.

---

It is definitely not.

-adam

What problems have you had with it?

These are what I am using until we upgrade in the future to Helix or Herpstats:

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

They are at least as accurate as my IR temp gun! On/Off only, proportional is better but more $$'s

I would have linked to MG Reptiles, but I don't see them listed on his site, I'm sure if you give MG a call they will have something similar in the same price range.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

What problems have you had with it?

---

The inability to hold a consistent temperature ... I gave up testing them at that point.

-adam

I still use one of these for my Hog Island Boa. Havent gotten around to replacing it. It is actually pretty good for me. Keeps the hot spot at 91-94. Its definitely not even on the same playing field as a Helix, Herpstat (proportionals) or Johnson, Ranco (on/off)

Those type of thermostats have no digital output for the temperature. Basically you have a dial...so you are playing a game of guess what temp it is set at all the time.

Spend a few extra bucks and get a Ranco ;)

You dont like playing the guessing game!? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jglass38

You dont like playing the guessing game!? :)

---

Not at all. I consider the extra $30-40 for a Ranco well worth it just for the digital temp output.

The guessing game is one of the reasons they are blamed for not holding temps well. You have to set it up at a point.....let the enclosure sit for a while to get constant temp....adjust the thermostat.....let the enclosure sit....adjust the thermostat....let the enclosure sit....adjust the thermostat...let the enclosure sit....then after spending half of the day trying to get the right temp, your temperture is only as good as the thermometer that you were using to measure it.

Sure is alot of work to save a few bucks IMO.

I don't see what's wrong with it. I use one and it keeps the temp just fine. You don't need to play the guessing game so much- only when you want to change the temps in the cage. Just set it up, adjust to till you get the right readings, then leave it that way.

I want a ranco but alot of people say you've got to buy 2 just in case one of them messes up. That's just too much $ for me and if it is reliable why would I need another one just in case it has a problem? Do I really need 2 Rancos?

Well, if one fails...what are you gonna do? If you don't have a backup 'plan', a backup tstat is another option.......I would say that the zoo-med 500R would, at most, be a decent backup thermostat. I've used that one before, it controlled temps OK, but doesn't even come close to what a proportional stat can do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

I want a ranco but alot of people say you've got to buy 2 just in case one of them messes up. That's just too much $ for me and if it is reliable why would I need another one just in case it has a problem? Do I really need 2 Rancos?

---

You should always have a backup thermostat just incase something were to happen....it does not matter if you have a ranco or helix. I have a $25 dial thermostat stashed away incase something goes wrong with any of mine....but if one of mine were to fail, i would immediately order a ranco or herpstat.

I have used a ranco for around a year on my ball python setup. It works just fine and I am very pleased with the purchase.

Were you going with the cheaper thermostat so you could buy two? Or were you just avoiding the Ranco because you thought you needed two?

... I was avoiding the ranco because I thought I needed 2. Isn't there a t-stat that you only need 1 of? If I used just one ranco by itself would it be alllright? It seems like a good t-stat but I don't understand, if it is so good why do I need a backup?

I guess because any thermostat can fail suddenly, and you'd need something to plug in quickly to control your temps while you get a replacement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

... I was avoiding the ranco because I thought I needed 2. Isn't there a t-stat that you only need 1 of? If I used just one ranco by itself would it be alllright? It seems like a good t-stat but I don't understand, if it is so good why do I need a backup?

---

Anything mechanical has the potential to fail. A cheaply made instrument has a greater risk of failing than a more expensive one. (Not because of the price, but because of the materials used and the care given to design and construction.)

The point of having two T-stats (of ANY brand) is to plug them both in to the same heating system. Set your main t-stat for whatever temps you want...then set your back-up to about 2 degrees higher. The back-up will never switch on or off because its temps won't be triggered. BUT...if the main t-stat ever goes bad and gets stuck "open"...the heat will start to rise and the back-up unit will kick in and turn the heat off.

Without a back-up, IF a t-stat gets stuck open, there is no control over your heating unit and it can heat up to whatever it's max is....which can be in the 120 degree range with some heating items.

If you're heating whole racks of snakes and/or snakes worth thousands of dollars, it would be crazy NOT to have that kind of back-up. But the risk of a t-stat failing is low, especially with a good quality one...so the price of the back-up does not necessarily outweigh the risk if you're heating one tank with a pet snake in it.

How does one t-stat control 2 pieces of flexwatt in 2 different tubs? Does the flexwatt have to be in one piece and just stretched out from tub to tub or can they be completed separate and still be controlled by 1 t-stat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

How does one t-stat control 2 pieces of flexwatt in 2 different tubs? Does the flexwatt have to be in one piece and just stretched out from tub to tub or can they be completed separate and still be controlled by 1 t-stat.

---

The right T-stat will have multiple plug slots to plug in different heat sources. You have to be SURE that you want all your heat sources to reach the same temperature and you have to have them all set up identically to the one that has the t-stat probe attached to it. And you have to make sure that the total wattage of your heating units does not exceed the max allowed for your particular t-stat.

those stats are analog. it is either a bi-metal coil or a magnet/ metal strip activated. that technology is at least 3-5 deg. off and has been around longer than 80 years. digital stats are solid state circuitry an only have a one deg differential, sometimes two deg. at worst.

one stat can control identical setups, the cage/tub/rack must be the same, as well as the heat tape and placement. i find it easier to wire to seperate plugs and then plug them all into one power strip. the stat controls the power strip.

vaughn

Can I connect a multiple outlet system to the tstat and then just connect lets say 6 UTHs to the slots controlled by the t-stat?

UTHs~~~multiple slots<TSTAT

...I think that's what vaughn is saying.

yep that's it! just make positive that the setups are identical and the heat source is all the same wattage and lengths for each (heat tape). also that hey are all in the same area, don't put one on the top shelf and one on the floor and run one stat.


vaughn

If anyone hasn't seen this, its a handy reference about t-stats.

http://www.mgreptiles.com/THERMOCOMPARE.html

Personally, I use Rancos, for what you get, they're relatively inexpensive, and reliable.

Matt sells them wired with a 6plug power strip, so you can run 6 cages off of one t-stat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monkeywrench133

If anyone hasn't seen this, its a handy reference about t-stats.

http://www.mgreptiles.com/THERMOCOMPARE.html

Personally, I use Rancos, for what you get, they're relatively inexpensive, and reliable.

Matt sells them wired with a 6plug power strip, so you can run 6 cages off of one t-stat.

---

Awesome link, thank you & vaughn. :headbang:

The plan is to buy a Ranco and somehow connect that to a 500R from ZooMed which will serve as my back up in case the Ranco fails. What I understand is that I have to have both tstats probing the UTH and set the 500R to control the temps 2 degress higher than the Ranco... Is this correct?

I love the Herpstats myself. I dont question why the big breeders use Helix and I might consider them at some point but the Herpstat have been good to me. I also have a couple of the lower priced brands as backups and for single snake situations.

Everyone has an opinion:). I have one; on the surface Herpstat clearly outlines what I am looking for in a proportional;). Does this mean Helix is inferior? No. I have a few lower end units I am using now until the herpstat II is purchased and I am ok with this. Does maintaining the temps require more of my time on a daily basis, YES. Am I getting tired of this? YES:mad:. In a pinch do what is necassary but remain vigilant. Be smart and remember you get what you pay for and that's reality.:cool:

my :twocents:...

I thinka proportional stat is a over kill for a cage setup. I would defenitly use a proportional on a incubator. Ranco will work just fine on a cage setup IMO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lurch

I thinka proportional stat is a over kill for a cage setup.

---

For many species I would agree ... but I've seen too many ball pythons fast for extended periods of time due to temperature fluctuations of only a couple of degrees to trust anything but a reliable proportional thermostat for my collection.

Can an on/off t-stat work with ball pythons? ... It sure can ... Does a proportional t-stat increase your chances of success when keeping a species as easily "tweaked" by small changes in temps as ball pythons are? ... Absolutely.

-adam

I use the t-stat in the first post because it was the only readily available one when I was setting everything up.

Once you get everything to the right temperature, its not hard to swing the dial, find the cut off point, and leave it right there. Ive had no problems and monitor my temperature min/max swings and it seems fine.


But then again this is my first snake, first habitat setup, and first everything... I have the 1/2 bathroom in our house reserved for snakey and the space heater keeps even the ambient room temperature about 80

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rusty

Awesome link, thank you & vaughn. :headbang:

The plan is to buy a Ranco and somehow connect that to a 500R from ZooMed which will serve as my back up in case the Ranco fails. What I understand is that I have to have both tstats probing the UTH and set the 500R to control the temps 2 degress higher than the Ranco... Is this correct?

---

You are correct. In all honesty I wouldent even use the backup ZM stat.. They are perfect for bug colonies but not really suitable for reptiles...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by justcage

You are correct. In all honesty I wouldent even use the backup ZM stat.. They are perfect for bug colonies but not really suitable for reptiles...

---

Yeah, I totally agree with Matt. The only reason I described the dual-tstat setup was because you were wondering why people were telling you to get two and I hadn't heard anyone else explain that.