Can Anyone Recommend A Thermostat?

Somehow I put this is the wrong category (under "genera")...so I'm posting it again......Anyway...can anyone recommend a good quality thermostat for my 3 BP's?...I'm tired of fiddling around with my rheostats :0).....I need a thermostat that can regulate 6 heating elements (2 per cage....eg. 3 aquarium type tanks---uth's and heat lamps in each)....and be used for breeding in the future (needs to have night drop feature).....I have been doing some research on the Helix's and Herpstats....which would be better and where the heck do I get one in Canada?? Or...will I have to order it from the U.S.? Thanks!!
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Originally Posted by snakemum

Somehow I put this is the wrong category (under "genera")...so I'm posting it again......Anyway...can anyone recommend a good quality thermostat for my 3 BP's?...I'm tired of fiddling around with my rheostats :0).....I need a thermostat that can regulate 6 heating elements (2 per cage....eg. 3 aquarium type tanks---uth's and heat lamps in each)....and be used for breeding in the future (needs to have night drop feature).....I have been doing some research on the Helix's and Herpstats....which would be better and where the heck do I get one in Canada?? Or...will I have to order it from the U.S.? Thanks!!
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Helix are the gold standard for proportional stats. I personally use Herpstats. You can't go wrong either way. Remember that for each different type of heating element, temperature need, you will need a separate unit. Or, Herpstat makes a unit with multiple outputs so that might do it for you. They also make the ND which has a night drop function for cycling temps. Email Dion at Spyder Robotics. He is a super guy and will get ya hooked up. sales@spyderrobotics.com . Good luck!

Jamie

I believe it would be a better idea to go the Herpstat 2 way! If all the heat pads are going to be the same heat, then you only need one T-stat to control all of them, and the same goes for the heat lamp.. Herpstats and Helix sound like they are both really good. I have a herpstat 2, so I know that they are good,once you know how to work it properly lol. I also know people that use Helix and say they are good. The cheaper way would be the herpstat 2, because it has so many functions built in! The Helix, which you would have to buy 2 of, is already more than the herpstat 2, and it requires you to buy extras for night drop. But, it has a big clear display screen so you don't have to squint at it like with the herpstat.. I would go with a Herpstat 2, just my opinion. I believe you can order them right online from Spyderrobotics.com!

Looks like jglass beat me to it!

So with the Herpstat 2, would I only need one thermostat to control the two different types of heating elements in each cage (ie. the uth's and the heat lamps)?? With the Helix brand, would I need two of the thermostats (one for the uth's and one for the heat lights)? :confused:

Assuming that you have 2 identical heat lamps, and 2 identical UTHs and 2 cages that need the same temps, than the Herpstat 2 would be fine. One output for both heat lamps and one output for both UTHs. With a Helix you would need 2 units.

OK....but I have 3 identical cages, with 3 identical heat lamps, 3 identical uth's and they all need to be maintained at the same temp...so what do I do in this case?

You should still be fine with the herpstat 2. Only 2 different types of heating element. As long as you don't exceed the maximum wattage of each output (700w) you should be fine.

Can you explain how the thermostat would be set up to control 3 cages? I'm such a newbie to this stuff....sorry :P .....so if I use a thermostat with 2 outlets, what gets plugged into them (which heating elements get plugged into the thermostat??)....if there are 6 heating elements, how are they monitored with only 2 outlets on the thermostat? I know I'm missing the concept here... :(

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Originally Posted by snakemum

Can you explain how the thermostat would be set up to control 3 cages? I'm such a newbie to this stuff....sorry :P .....so if I use a thermostat with 2 outlets, what gets plugged into them (which heating elements get plugged into the thermostat??)....if there are 6 heating elements, how are they monitored with only 2 outlets on the thermostat? I know I'm missing the concept here... :(

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You would need to plug a power strip into each of the outputs. On one output you would plug all 3 heat lamps and on the other all 3 UTHs. Each output also has a probe which measures the temp at the location where you would want the thermostat to control. One probe would go under the heat lamp and the other probe would be taped to one of the UTHs. By the way, why are you using a heat lamp? Is the room where your snake is very cold? Hope this helps!

Jamie

I love my Herpstat Pro. There are four plugs in the thermostat to control four different cages/racks. There is also four probes to control different temperatures. It is excellent and controls all of my racks.


If you need cheaper, I have a Ranco that has been with me for a while, and I really like it for the basic stuff.

As for thermostats, you place the plugs into the machine, which is usually attached to a powerstrip. This entire powerstrip is controlled by the heating element that is varied by the probe that is placed in the cage/rack. SO!!! all six heating elements would be controlled by one thermostat by the powerstrip, which is in turn watched by the probe. Get it?

The Herpstat 2 has two outputs, each output with either 3 or 4 outlets, so you would be fine!

Thanks for being so patient and trying to explain this all to me :) ...OK....now I get the power bar thing....but if there is only one probe for each type of heating element, and 3 cages....do you just put the probes in 2 of the cages....one to measure the temp of the heat lamp and one in another cage to measure the temp of the uth?? Then how do you know that all the cages are the same temps if only two cages are being monitored, and in those two cages, only one of the heating elements are being monitored?? I hope that makes sense....it's kind of hard to explain what I'm trying to ask....


Now, as for the heat lamps....here is my other dilemma.....the temp of the substrate directly over the uth is around 89F....but the ambient temp WITHOUT the heat lamp, directly above the uth is around 75F.....and the ambient temp on the cool side of the tanks is about 74F.....so I figured that the ambient temp on the hot side of the tank should be the same as the temp of the substrate on the hot side (ie ~89F)....so I figured I needed a heat lamp in each cage to do this....is this wrong????

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Originally Posted by snakemum

Thanks for being so patient and trying to explain this all to me :) ...OK....now I get the power bar thing....but if there is only one probe for each type of heating element, and 3 cages....do you just put the probes in 2 of the cages....one to measure the temp of the heat lamp and one in another cage to measure the temp of the uth?? Then how do you know that all the cages are the same temps if only two cages are being monitored, and in those two cages, only one of the heating elements are being monitored?? I hope that makes sense....it's kind of hard to explain what I'm trying to ask....


Now, as for the heat lamps....here is my other dilemma.....the temp of the substrate directly over the uth is around 89F....but the ambient temp WITHOUT the heat lamp, directly above the uth is around 75F.....and the ambient temp on the cool side of the tanks is about 74F.....so I figured that the ambient temp on the hot side of the tank should be the same as the temp of the substrate on the hot side (ie ~89F)....so I figured I needed a heat lamp in each cage to do this....is this wrong????

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Not a big deal! Trust me, when you get all set up, you will look back and say, "I can't believe I didn't understand this," it's that easy!

The heat lamp situation: All I would think you have to do is make sure the air on the outside of the enclosure is in the high 70s, low 80s. The UTH will make a small increase in the ambient air if its too cold around it, but most of the time, depending on the size of UTH, it only affects a small area anyway. Just try and get the bottom of the tank to ~93 degrees, and have a thin layer of substrate. If the ambient air is still in the 70s, you should use your heat lamp on the cool side to get it up to ~82 degrees So, with all that said, hopefully you are following me, if not it will surely sink in sometime!:) Good luck!!!!!!

Thanks guys....the breeder told me that BP enclosures should be between 88-90 on the hot side and around 78 on the cool side???? I have read so many other recommendations in books and on the internet about temps....so what is right???? I'm so confused about this! :confused: I have Kevin McCurley's book "The Complete Ball Python" and he says it should be 88-95 in the basking area and 80-85 ambient...so does this mean that the entire cage on both sides should be 80-85 and then the substrate at the hot spot should be 88-95?

Can BP's tolerate fluctuations in temp in those ranges I mentioned above? If I shut off the heat lamps to retest the temps without the lamps, is that a bad idea? Will it harm the snakes?

82-84 cool, 92-94 hot. Right in that area..

Sorry Jamie...I must sound like a complete idiot...but when you say "right in that area"....do you mean substrate or ambient temps??

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Originally Posted by jglass38

82-84 cool, 92-94 hot. Right in that area..

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To clarify, those are belly temps. Ball Pythons need belly heat, which is why you measure the ground temps. The ambient temp just means the air in the cage, which is usually also the cool side belly temp. The ambient air will be hotter on the hot side, and cooler on the cool side.

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Originally Posted by snakemum

Sorry Jamie...I must sound like a complete idiot...but when you say "right in that area"....do you mean substrate or ambient temps??

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92-94 on the warm side under the substrate (because 92-94 on top of the substrate could equal well over 100 on the surface of the tub. Your snake will get to the heat). 82-84 on the cool side. Since snakes don't fly, I worry about the temps where they will be laying. Hope this made some sense, I'm a bit rushed today in my posts.

Thanks a million....I'm going to go and re-check my "substrate temps"...you guys have been a great help :)

^ Yeah this site is pretty cool. It helped me out tremendously, so I love to pass on the knowledge!!