lower grade parts?

i recently checked out reptilesupply.com and saw they had ESU Thermostats for around 25 bucks....are these things like total junk?? like should i not even bother with it? i would just rather spend 100 bucks on thermostat, heat pad, substrate, moss, and some lights, rather than 100 bucks on thermostat and heat pad. If it's really just a piece of crap, i'll go to reptile basics and get the goods.

I don't have any personal experience with ESU t-stats....but I've heard many stories of outright failures. And usually, when a cheap t-stat fails, it does not have any safeguards built in that will shut the heat off...rather it will allow the heating pad to heat to max temps. I'd rather not take that chance. You'll rest much easier if you buy a more reliable t-stat, even if it does cost a bit more. It may seem like a lot now...but over the life of the t-stat, it's just pennies!

we'll see what my upandcoming paycheck looks like, maybe i will just spring for the good stuff :( two rancos would look quite sexy next to eachother.. another question..how difficult is it to wire a ranco? because i notice it's like 20 bucks cheaper to get it unwired.

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Originally Posted by NCKarlov

are these things like total junk??

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yes.

-adam

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Originally Posted by NCKarlov

.. another question..how difficult is it to wire a ranco? because i notice it's like 20 bucks cheaper to get it unwired.

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I would imagine if you're at least mildly mechanically inclined...and have a rudimentary understanding of electronics...it's probably not hard at all. But I've never done it myself, so I'd wait for a more exprienced voice to answer that one. :P

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Originally Posted by JLC

I would imagine if you're at least mildly mechanically inclined...and have a rudimentary understanding of electronics...it's probably not hard at all. But I've never done it myself, so I'd wait for a more exprienced voice to answer that one. :P

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They are'nt real complicated, but if you have never seen how one was wired it could be very tricky to figure out. The best way to make sure it is wired right is to buy a prewired unit. Really by the time you buy the wire etc and spend the time doing it, you might as well have them do it. Especially if you do it wrong and fry the thermostat they will not replace it. If they do it wrong then they will have to replace it. :sweeet::sweeet:

The problem with those cheap ESU thermostats is that you have NO way of knowing what temperture you set them at....no digital readout of temperature. So basically, you have to adjust the dial....with the funny blue shaded to read sticker similary to the one that controls air temp on the A/C in your car.....and hope that you get the temperture right..or rely on what ever means you use to measure the temp that you set it at.

After you spend countless hours trying to get the temperature right.....then it will probably break on you.

...yep...complete waste of money.

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Originally Posted by NCKarlov

how difficult is it to wire a ranco? because i notice it's like 20 bucks cheaper to get it unwired.

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IMHO....if it is something that you are not confident in doing yourself, pay someone to wire it for you....

....there is nothing like trying to save 20 bucks and burning down your house because you mistakenly wired something wrong ;)

Also, in undertaking an animal I would not suggest cutting any corners. It will cost you more money in the long run.

alright, my only predicament is i can spend about 100 bucks every pay check towards my snake. and the last things i need are some reptile carpet, 2 lower wattage bulbs because her heat is gonna come from 2 UTH now, and i WOULD LIKE a timer for her lights so i don't always have to switch them, and then sometimes forget and blah blah. oh i also need the one more UTH and thermostat. So you guys would advice me to buy the UTH and thermostat now? and then with my next paycheck pick up all that other stuff for like 50 bucks? since i would agree it is less of a priority.

If you are looking to save money....

....don't get the reptile carpet and use newpaper for now...
....buy a 'night time' bulb for your lamp and use it 24/7 instead of getting a timer...

Also, are your UTHs identical? If not, they would need to run on different thermostat or a single thermostat that has multiple settings.

Get the UTH and thermostat.

they're identical...but the temperature they are being set at is not, i just have the one ranco for my cool side, and i have a heat lamp on the hot side. I want to switch to two UTHs each with a thermostat and a low wattage light in the middle of the tank (for ambient air and her light cycle)

She doesn't need a light cycle.

I would go with a uth and a good t-stat, newspaper and use her light w/ a red or night glow bulb for addt'l heat.

kewl, thanks guys, veryyyy helpful. I have one brick of eco-earth left, so i'll use that until i can buy some carpet (i'd just like it for asthetic reasons because i have a glass enclosure ya know?) i just don't like the eco-earth because she is always getting it jammed in her mouth when feeding and such. It also makes her humidity super high right after i change it and it's still moist. One more question if anyone is still reading this thread...Mouth rot. How do i know what it looks like and such? she has little black marks along the sides of her mouth, but i can't tell if it's just a pattern on her, or if it's mouth rot or some other type of disease. I'm a very overly precautious owner if you can't tell :)

I can't help with the mouth rot, but as far as substrate goes, Aspen looks real nice and cleans up easily. Repticarpet is known for sticking horribly even after multiple cleanings.