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Need some help

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  • 03-06-2009, 06:32 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Need some help
    i bought a human heating pad and was happy at first as it had stabilized at 94 but it started to fluctuate and i then realized i wasn't gonna be able to cut corners on this one.Can anyone recommend a good thermostat that's under 40$? What would be best thing to do until i get another one?I have towels over the pad should i put down another?Thanks everyone
  • 03-06-2009, 06:56 PM
    Slim
    Re: Need some help
    Sorry, but a T-Stat for under $40 would be cutting corners. Pay the money for a good UTH and T-Stat, and it will pay you back 10 fold in ease of use and peace of mind.
  • 03-06-2009, 07:04 PM
    wolfy-hound
    Re: Need some help
    The only way to do a cheap thermostat is to wire a dimmer switch. It's not the best way.
    Best is to buy a reliable thermostat. You'll probably keep it a long time.
  • 03-06-2009, 08:14 PM
    frankykeno
    Re: Need some help
    Did you happen to buy the human heat pad that switches itself off? Most do and aren't meant for continuous usage. You can control any heating device with a rheostat basically made out of a simple lamp dimmer device. Those cost about $10.00. Here's a link to explain how. Please note the advice though that this is not a replacement for a decent tstat but simply a stop gap measure and is better than nothing controlling a heat source. Rheostats need to be checked more than once daily and will temps will still fluctuate depending on the conditions of the room your enclosure is in and how efficiently that enclosure retains both heat and humidity.


    http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...=855662#855662
  • 03-06-2009, 09:21 PM
    771subliminal
    Re: Need some help
    its not the best thermostat but if your in a pinch and need one till you get a better one the reptitemp 500 r will work. its a standard on and off and will run you 35 http://reptiledepot.com/thermo.html

    but you can get a ranco which is alot better for 59 so keep that in mind when you go out and buy.
  • 03-06-2009, 09:29 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    is the Johnson A 419 or the Ranco ETC-111000 good choices? both of these are on reptilebasics.com.If they are can anyone tell me which one would be the better choice?
  • 03-06-2009, 09:38 PM
    Kaorte
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ILOVEBALLS View Post
    is the Johnson A 419 or the Ranco ETC-111000 good choices? both of these are on reptilebasics.com.If they are can anyone tell me which one would be the better choice?

    I have a johnson controls and it works great! I think more people have the Ranco though.
  • 03-06-2009, 09:43 PM
    771subliminal
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ILOVEBALLS View Post
    is the Johnson A 419 or the Ranco ETC-111000 good choices? both of these are on reptilebasics.com.If they are can anyone tell me which one would be the better choice?

    i have a herpstat 2, a helix, a ranco and a reptitemp 500 and i like them in that order
  • 03-06-2009, 10:06 PM
    Argentra
    Re: Need some help
    Between Johnson and Ranco, I prefer the Johnson. It's smaller, has a quieter click, and has an indicator light to show when it's on and off. :)

    Other than that, they are both equally good stats.
  • 03-06-2009, 11:18 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    Thanks you for the answers i would still like some more opinions and could someone tell me how much work it is for unwired. is prewired worth the extra money?is there any soldering involved in the unwired one?
  • 03-07-2009, 12:31 AM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    bump. purchasing tomorrow like to have as many opinions as i can get
  • 03-07-2009, 12:33 AM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Need some help
    We have used the repti-temp when we needed in a pinch, it works just like a dimmer pretty much. All dimmers, rheostats and cheap t-stats will fluctuate with the room temps.
  • 03-07-2009, 12:36 AM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    Would Johnson or ranco considered cheap?
  • 03-07-2009, 12:58 AM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Need some help
    Cheap as in bad? No, I dont think so. We have both, ranco's outnumber the johnson, but they work all very well.

    As for price, they aren't as expensive as some, but not dirt cheap either. :)
  • 03-07-2009, 01:24 AM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    in the post before you said cheap tstats will fluctuate.would ranco or Johnson tstats fluctuate is what im trying to ask ?
  • 03-07-2009, 10:06 AM
    littleindiangirl
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ILOVEBALLS View Post
    in the post before you said cheap tstats will fluctuate.would ranco or Johnson tstats fluctuate is what im trying to ask ?

    No, its a programmable thermostat that will keep you temps +- 1 degree. They are not 'cheap' in that regards... I highly recommend them! :gj:
    http://reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

    The dial thermostats/rheostats like the reptitemp will fluctuate. Those are quite a bit different. I recommend these for in a pinch, when your really strapped for cash, but that really is my own personal opinion. I am sure others agree.
    http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75
  • 03-07-2009, 01:54 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    Thank you soo much.I will be buying one today:bow::bow::bow:
  • 03-07-2009, 02:14 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    I am on the website and decided to go with the Johnson.Can anyone tell me how hard it is to wire them.Would it be worth the 20$ to get a prewired instead?
    After this im done asking questions.
  • 03-07-2009, 03:07 PM
    cinderbird
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ILOVEBALLS View Post
    I am on the website and decided to go with the Johnson.Can anyone tell me how hard it is to wire them.Would it be worth the 20$ to get a prewired instead?
    After this im done asking questions.

    If you're not fimiliar with how to wire stuff, or just dont want to risk it, i'd suggest getting it prewired. I have a johnson controlls from reptilebasics that was prewired and it is great.
  • 03-07-2009, 03:21 PM
    ginagizzy
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Slim View Post
    Sorry, but a T-Stat for under $40 would be cutting corners. Pay the money for a good UTH and T-Stat, and it will pay you back 10 fold in ease of use and peace of mind.



    Slim, i was in the wrong section so u told me husbandry so i hope this is correct .... do u have any input on y my ball wont eat and y 2 nights outta the week she goes crazy she doesnt seem to calm down and trys to break out

    :confused::confused:
  • 03-07-2009, 03:34 PM
    Kaorte
    Re: Need some help
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ginagizzy View Post
    Slim, i was in the wrong section so u told me husbandry so i hope this is correct .... do u have any input on y my ball wont eat and y 2 nights outta the week she goes crazy she doesnt seem to calm down and trys to break out

    :confused::confused:

    Please Start a new thread with your question. At the top of the Ball python Husbandry page there is an icon that looks like this:
    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/theme.../newthread.gif
    That will give you a form to start a new thread.
  • 03-07-2009, 05:44 PM
    ILOVEBALLS
    Re: Need some help
    Thank you all for the help i have decided to purchase the johnson prewired.
    End Thread:gj:
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