Need Advice - Thermostat/Timer/Thermometer/Humidity Gauge

Okay guys,

I was thinking I would not be able to afford a thermostat for my new BP for a while, but am stumbling into a bit of money and want to make the best, most educated purchase that I can.

So tell me if what I'm looking for is possible.

I have three heat sources I would like to plug into it. One UTH, a day time lamp and a night (infrared) lamp to provide a light cycle (since the room he is in is DARK) and additional heat (my house is FREEZING at all times). I would also like this device to be a timer to automatically switch on and off my lamps...and I presume that this potential device will have a digital thermometer display with two probes...but I don't suppose they come with humidity gauges? But I could purchase an inexpensive one separately that is digital...

So please...tell me what to buy!

You could just buy a couple of regular old timers from the home depot for the lamps. One for the day time, one for the night time.

As for a thermostat, I would recommend getting a ranco or johnsons control. They are about $70 but they are well worth the money. You can plug up to 6 heat sources into these but the catch is, you can only set them to one temp. If you want to set your lights to a different temp than your thermostats, you can get some light dimmers and plug the lights into those and then into the thermostat, allowing you to dial down the temp of the lights.

Make sense? lol

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You could just buy a couple of regular old timers from the home depot for the lamps. One for the day time, one for the night time.

As for a thermostat, I would recommend getting a ranco or johnsons control. They are about $70 but they are well worth the money. You can plug up to 6 heat sources into these but the catch is, you can only set them to one temp. If you want to set your lights to a different temp than your thermostats, you can get some light dimmers and plug the lights into those and then into the thermostat, allowing you to dial down the temp of the lights.

Make sense? lol

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OMG my head is going to explode!

Okay, well...I'm going to ask what you think...

Let me give you an idea what I'll need...I'm going to be gone to an out of town internship for 12-16 hours per day 5 days per week at the end of August....So...What is going to be my best bet for temp maintenance with little daytime intervention?

My cool end gets COLD...so I'm either going to need to keep a night lamp on it at all times, or I'll need a secondary heat pad on that end...but then I would need two thermostats to regulate each side correct? And I remember reading about some thermostats that auto drop temp for night time???

Thank you!

Another option would be instead of light bulbs, a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) for the cool side. You can still plug this into a dimmer and then into the thermostat that controls the hot side. In this case, you don't need two thermostats. You don't need a night-time drop.

For measuring temps, I highly recommend an accurite weatherstation. This unit will measure, humidity, hot side temp (with a probe) and the ambient cool side temp. You can find these at wal-mart, lowes, or the home depot. You might have to do some digging to find one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Another option would be instead of light bulbs, a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) for the cool side. You can still plug this into a dimmer and then into the thermostat that controls the hot side. In this case, you don't need two thermostats. You don't need a night-time drop.

For measuring temps, I highly recommend an accurite weatherstation. This unit will measure, humidity, hot side temp (with a probe) and the ambient cool side temp. You can find these at wal-mart, lowes, or the home depot. You might have to do some digging to find one.

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Okay, well...I'm heading out to find some more supplies for tomorrow's feeding expo so I'll try and find one!

I could go look at the boxes in my basement, but do you happen to know if I can use a Ceramic Heat Emitter in my basic lamp reflector dome? Or do I need to use a different metal dome?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Another option would be instead of light bulbs, a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) for the cool side. You can still plug this into a dimmer and then into the thermostat that controls the hot side. In this case, you don't need two thermostats. You don't need a night-time drop.

For measuring temps, I highly recommend an accurite weatherstation. This unit will measure, humidity, hot side temp (with a probe) and the ambient cool side temp. You can find these at wal-mart, lowes, or the home depot. You might have to do some digging to find one.

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And by doing this little number, you can measure warm and cool hides.

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Originally Posted by bella

Okay, well...I'm heading out to find some more supplies for tomorrow's feeding expo so I'll try and find one!

I could go look at the boxes in my basement, but do you happen to know if I can use a Ceramic Heat Emitter in my basic lamp reflector dome? Or do I need to use a different metal dome?

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The CHE's require that you have a ceramic socket on the lamp. Most reptile domes have this.

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

And by doing this little number, you can measure warm and cool hides.

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Seriously, can I hire you as my personal herp tech?

I should see if my dad could do that, he is an electrician and an engineer after all...

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

The CHE's require that you have a ceramic socket on the lamp. Most reptile domes have this.

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Indeed, mine do!

Do you have a preference for CHE or lights?

I like the light for the day/night cycle since my house is a cave, but I wonder if one is considered better?

Okay, if I were to purchase something from say Reptile Basics, what would you recommend?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

Lights don't put out as much heat compared to CHEs. But, a CHE will suck humidity like there's no tomorrow. Considering your house is dark, a lamp may be the best option. Just make sure it's not too bright or you'll stress the bp. One thing you can do is hang it a little above the tank, but then you'll lose some heat from that. It's a never ending struggle haha.

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Originally Posted by bella

Okay, if I were to purchase something from say Reptile Basics, what would you recommend?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

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The Johnson or Ranco. When it says "pre wired," it means that they have already installed a power strip in the tstat. If you didn't get it pre wired, besides getting a lower price, you would have to wire it yourself with an acceptable power strip. Don't worry, I heard they come with good instructions on how to do so.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bella

Okay, if I were to purchase something from say Reptile Basics, what would you recommend?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

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I have a Ranco and it works very well.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/Ranco-E...d-p-16172.html

A Johnson's will also do a good job.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/Johnson...d-p-16178.html

Don't spend extra money on a thermostat with a night drop. That is specifically for other animals that need it, which ball pythons really do not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

Lights don't put out as much heat compared to CHEs. But, a CHE will suck humidity like there's no tomorrow. Considering your house is dark, a lamp may be the best option. Just make sure it's not too bright or you'll stress the bp. One thing you can do is hang it a little above the tank, but then you'll lose some heat from that. It's a never ending struggle haha.

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LOL, yea, that's a good point. Thus far, the lamps don't seem to bother him, he's rummaging around the tank as I type looking for lunch. I have so much foliage and crap stuffed in there, I think he feels pretty secluded anyway.

Thus far I'm thinking the walmart thermostat/humidity gauge and then getting a dimmer switch for my cool side's light...and hooking up my warm side's lamp and my UTH to a thermostat...will that work? And do you recommend one? There are so many out there, I've been reading reviews but feel more confused than I was when I started!

Thanks again!

EDIT* Ah, I see the recommendations above!

Okay, this is way cheaper, is this the same as the one linked on the Reptile Basics site?

http://www.climatedoctors.com/items/...?itemid=429705

That one is un wired. Reptile Basics has un wired ones on the bottom of the tstat page, but they are $10 more than at climate doctors.