Bang for Your Buck Thermostats

Could you guys provide links to the thermostats you use? I had a bunch bookmarked on my old computer but I lost everything on it.

And I remember reading about cheap thermostats that run full blast when they short circuit/malfunction. Preferably I'd like to see some units that shutoff at the first sign of trouble. :)

Thanks,
Dennis

Here's the link for some cheap Repti Temp 500r thermostats I ordered. Granted, they're not the best, but they are cheap

http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/502819

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Originally Posted by Hapa_Haole

Could you guys provide links to the thermostats you use? I had a bunch bookmarked on my old computer but I lost everything on it.

And I remember reading about cheap thermostats that run full blast when they short circuit/malfunction. Preferably I'd like to see some units that shutoff at the first sign of trouble. :)

Thanks,
Dennis

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I just seen a double ranco that is set up that if the first malfunctions the second steps in and keeps it at the temp you have set. www.plasticreptilecages.com Just go to thermostats and it will be a little down the page.

You DO get what you pay for. The BEST bang for your buck is going to be one that's industry proven to be reliable.

Johnson's or Ranco for on/off
Helix or Herpstat for proportional

Thanks. What's the difference between these two Ranco models besides the fact that one comes pre-wired with a power strip included. Will they both shut off if if trouble ensues?

1.)Pre-wired w/ power strip. http://reptilebasics.com/Johnson-Con...d-p-16178.html

2.) Normal. http://reptilebasics.com/Ranco-ETC-111000-p-16171.html

Dennis

The links you provided are for a Ranco and a Johnson controls. Different brands.

Rich at Reptile Basics sells both of these either pre-wired or not, but it is exactly the same unit. He will just hook up the wiring and include a power strip for a small extra charge. EDIT TO CLARIFY: Ranco and Johnson are not the same unit. Ranco and Ranco pre-wired are the same unit.

When I bought them, I decided to go with the Johnson controls, because Rich told me the night drop feature that is available on them can be bought separately and adding it is simple enough I should be able to do it myself.

Haha thanks. I'm not sure how I failed to notice that...

Herpstats from www.spyderrobotics.com all the way!

Best thermostats, period, and not very much more than the Ranco or Johnson on/off thermostats, and a lot cheaper than Helix.

I love my herpstat pro. I use it to control the heat in all of my cages and a ranco to control the room temp.

Ditto that!

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Originally Posted by AndrewGeibel

I love my herpstat pro. I use it to control the heat in all of my cages and a ranco to control the room temp.

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Ok so silly question...
The probes on the thermostats look pretty girthy. How do you get them inbetween the tub and the ultratherm UTH without bumping the tub up off the heat mat?

All I can come up with is having a portion of the UTH extending out past the tub for the probe to lie on. But that seems like a waste of UTH.

Dennis

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

Herpstats from www.spyderrobotics.com all the way!

Best thermostats, period, and not very much more than the Ranco or Johnson on/off thermostats, and a lot cheaper than Helix.

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looks to be the same price as helix, all the helix ones' i'm finding are anywhere between 100-120 same as these

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Originally Posted by Hapa_Haole

Ok so silly question...
The probes on the thermostats look pretty girthy. How do you get them inbetween the tub and the ultratherm UTH without bumping the tub up off the heat mat?

All I can come up with is having a portion of the UTH extending out past the tub for the probe to lie on. But that seems like a waste of UTH.

Dennis

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i've seen ran 2 diff ways (in a rack system), inbetween 2 tubs on the uth, taped down , or with a piece of the same tub you use cut out and put under the probe and taped to that, and all of that taped to the heat tape (that way you know what the general temp will be in the tub rather than just the temp of the tape.

Are there any methods that don't involve mutilating the tub?

Dennis

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Originally Posted by shadraak

looks to be the same price as helix, all the helix ones' i'm finding are anywhere between 100-120 same as these

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Where are you seeing new Helix thermostats for $100? You can get a new Herpstat for $100 on occasion, or $109 shipped every day, but Helixes have a retail price of $139.00. I just looked at a few sites that sell supplies, and they all sell them for $135-$149. That's a 30% - 50% price difference. Even if they were the same price, the Herpstats are all around better thermostats, imho.

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Originally Posted by Hapa_Haole

Are there any methods that don't involve mutilating the tub?

Dennis

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most dont mutilate the tub just get another one and cut a piece out of it, and use that one for storage etc... that's the way i plan on doing it with my rack just gotta figure if i wanna go thermostat or rheostat, i really dont ever have a problem with rheostats room temp really doesn't mean anything if it's providing the same amount of heat to the belly, well it's going to keep it that temp consistantly unless there's a massive drop in temp, which usually doesn't happen in a house.

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

Where are you seeing new Helix thermostats for $100? You can get a new Herpstat for $100 on occasion, or $109 shipped every day, but Helixes have a retail price of $139.00. I just looked at a few sites that sell supplies, and they all sell them for $135-$149. That's a 30% - 50% price difference. Even if they were the same price, the Herpstats are all around better thermostats, imho.

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was looking at a ranco sorry i'm pretty out of it lately with worrying about my new leo's and everything sry.

use the Herpstat 2 and its great... but now I wish I had spent the money for the pro :(