what is a good thermostat?

I need one for my UTH. I want to try and keep costs down, ya know times are tough, but want one that I can count on to do the job. I went to RBI and there are so many options. And then I saw something by zoo med called reptitemp 500r, is that the same thing? It is around $25 so I figured it probably isn't

The ZooMed stat is still a thermostat...and a good one for those of us who can't yet afford the big time. :)

Many folks say they aren't worth the money, but I beg to differ. When you can't (yet) afford the $80 for a Johnson or Ranco and need something to control heat, the ZooMed ReptiTemp 500R is a lifesaver! It's the first t-stat I got and I used it until I'd saved up for the better ones. I have four of the ZooMed stats now and ALL are still in great working order.

Yes, they take a little work to get set, since they are dial stats with no numbers. But, once you get everything setup and stable it's just as good as the other stats.

By all means, if you need something now and have to save up for a while for a Johnson or Herpstat, get the ReptiTemp. It's a TON better than a crappy rheostat or dimmer. :)

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Originally Posted by Argentra

The ZooMed stat is still a thermostat...and a good one for those of us who can't yet afford the big time. :)

Many folks say they aren't worth the money, but I beg to differ. When you can't (yet) afford the $80 for a Johnson or Ranco and need something to control heat, the ZooMed ReptiTemp 500R is a lifesaver! It's the first t-stat I got and I used it until I'd saved up for the better ones. I have four of the ZooMed stats now and ALL are still in great working order.

Yes, they take a little work to get set, since they are dial stats with no numbers. But, once you get everything setup and stable it's just as good as the other stats.

By all means, if you need something now and have to save up for a while for a Johnson or Herpstat, get the ReptiTemp. It's a TON better than a crappy rheostat or dimmer. :)

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I've got one for my QT tub, and it works great. Definitely worth it to pick it up. It took a while to set it up, but it was well-worth it to keep my collection safe.

thanks! i'm happy i can save some money and still get a good product

i love the 500R's Never had a problem with mine!!!

If you go towards the expensive ones. HERPSTAT all the way. trust me, you will NOT find a better tstat, or better customer service AFTER the fact anywhere :D Dion is the MAN!

I actually would agree...although my Johnson stats (2) are just great. :) The only real difference I see between the Herpstat and the Johnson is that the Herpstat doesn't click on and off...which is the best thing in the opinion of my BF since the snakes are in the bedroom. :D

I loves me some Spyder Robotics. My Herpstat is an outstanding piece of gear!

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Originally Posted by Argentra

I actually would agree...although my Johnson stats (2) are just great. :) The only real difference I see between the Herpstat and the Johnson is that the Herpstat doesn't click on and off...which is the best thing in the opinion of my BF since the snakes are in the bedroom. :D

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they do have the ability to be an on and off type stat, if you want them to be. Proportional is the way to go, if you want precise temps! (Especially for incubators!)

I've had a 500R for months. Every now and then I have to turn the dial a smidge but just check your temps once a day when you wake up or whenever and you should be good to go. Just make sure you have a good thermometer to read your temps. Acurites are $12 from lowes or home depot and work amazingly well.

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Originally Posted by imh0813

I need one for my UTH. I want to try and keep costs down, ya know times are tough, but want one that I can count on to do the job. I went to RBI and there are so many options. And then I saw something by zoo med called reptitemp 500r, is that the same thing? It is around $25 so I figured it probably isn't

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Until you can get a Helix, spyder etc. Just go to Home depot and pick up a Levitron lamp dimmer for $8 and change it does the same thing as the reptitemp 500r

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Until you can get a Helix, spyder etc. Just go to Home depot and pick up a Levitron lamp dimmer for $8 and change it does the same thing as the reptitemp 500r

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the 500R is an ON and off style thermostat. it is NOT the repti temp Rheostat.

i like my zilla tstat for daytime and rstat for night

they seem to work fine for me

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

i like my zilla tstat for daytime and rstat for night

they seem to work fine for me

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Why not tstat 24/7?

I'd go with the Johnson Control's A-419 thremostat. I have a few, and they work great.

On ebay you can regularly find used Ranco or Johnson Control thermostats already wired for $50 or less shipped. You can also buy new ones unwired there. Search "thermostats" and bettter yet "Temperature controls". These Ranco's are commonly used by home beer brewers and that's how they end up on ebay. For that price a Zoo Med price may not look so attractive to you. But you can get by with Rheostats or ReptiTemps or whatever until you can do better. :)

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

On ebay you can regularly find used Ranco or Johnson Control thermostats already wired for $50 or less shipped. You can also buy new ones unwired there. Search "thermostats" and bettter yet "Temperature controls". These Ranco's are commonly used by home beer brewers and that's how they end up on ebay. For that price a Zoo Med price may not look so attractive to you. But you can get by with Rheostats or ReptiTemps or whatever until you can do better. :)

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Thats pretty cool. I tried looking up thermostats a few days ago, and i never saw a thing ( maybe One Herpstat, that wasnt worth it) . But now... when i do the "Temperature Controls" I find a bunch!

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Why not tstat 24/7?

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i have a night and day cycle so i uses the tstat during daytime hours and rheostat during night time hours

my room is complete blacked out cause the sun shines through my window when im tryin to sleep i work long and wierd hours

I've only ever used the Johnson's.

I have recently purchased a Herpstat ND....They ARE the way to go....Customer service is OUTSTANDING...they will answer any questions about tstats, heat tape, etc. and that means alot to somebody who just started out!! (like myself). The herpstat has a TON of features and they several different modeels depending on your setup. I would recommed HERPSTAT all the way!! IMO it would be better to just skip to the chase and go Herpstat from the very beginning, by the time you spend 20-30 dollars (or whatever) buying the cheap stuff, you could have almost half of your Herpstat paid for!! GO HERPSTAT!!

This advertisment was in part sponsored by M. Goodwin and Goodwin Reptiles. All of the above info should be accepted as factual product info. LMAO :D

I agree with the post above. Go ahead and buy what you will need later. I feel like if I bought the 500r or other products that look like that, I would be endangering my animals because of many things I would have running off of it. If I only had one to three animals and did not want any more, then I might pick one of those. I'm not downing those thermostats but I will say that I do not think they are professional grade. To each his own.