Running an Oil filled heater

[L.West]

How many of you run one of these oil heaters to raise the room temp where your racks are??

I know I will need to get a thermostat to regulate it and was wondering what thermostat you all recommend.

Also, do you worry about a fire hazard with using one of these when your not home?? If so, what other options do you suggest to heat the room.

Thanks

[Newbie39]

I use an electric with a built in thermostat to heat the room.

[SDA]

I would recommend a duraflame infrared heater with a digital thermostat built in. Does it need to be the brand duraflame? No but making sure it has a digital read out thermostat will help out a lot.

[L.West]

Do you trust those built in thermostats - I've always heard they were junk. I would prefer to use a separate thermostat for security. I like the oil filled heaters that look like the old time radiators. They seem the safest to me. I have cats in the house and I don't want them to get burned either.

If I can keep my room 72-73 degrees - do you think my rack will be able to sustain a cool side of 74-75 degrees without having to run this heater. I just worry about fire hazards since I work all day.

[L.West]

Reptile basics use to sell Ranco Thermostats all pre-wired and ready to go. I don't think they offer them any longer. Where could I get one pre-wired and ready to go??

[SDA]

Reptile basics use to sell Ranco Thermostats all pre-wired and ready to go. I don't think they offer them any longer. Where could I get one pre-wired and ready to go??

Spyder Robotics has two different room thermostats they offer. One is a pre wired like you are wanting and the other is to be tied into a home HVAC themostat

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=48


Vivarium Electronics has a high powered as well

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...e/ve-hi-power/

You need a high powered one as the kick off load of all these space heaters is really high and you need something that can handle that intial load.

If you don't want a unit with a built in thermostat make sure to get a new space heater that has tip over protection (all new space heaters should by law) so your cats don't ever tip them over. Oil filled are not any safer than infrared or ceramic, they all are really tightly regulated now so any new one is going to be safe.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Oil filled heaters are the safest heaters out there, I have been running one for 11 years straight now the last 7 years during the winter only and previously it was year round for 4 years (snake room was in the basement then). I never had any worry.

Never trust the built in T-stat on oil filled heaters or other heaters, especially digital ones.

The thermostat I use is a Ranco, when it gives out I will go with this http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=48

[L.West]

The spyder robotics thermostat says it handles up to 1500 watts. I believe my heater is 1500 watts. Is that too close for comfort??

[L.West]

Oil filled heaters are the safest heaters out there, I have been running one for 11 years straight now the last 7 years during the winter only and previously it was year round for 4 years (snake room was in the basement then). I never had any worry.

Never trust the built in T-stat on oil filled heaters or other heaters, especially digital ones.

The thermostat I use is a Ranco, when it gives out I will go with this http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=48

Deborah,

Was it very expensive to run the oil filled heater per month?? Just curious

[SDA]

You would look at around $100-150 a month in addition to normal electric cost. This of course depends on the per kWh rate of your electric company so it might be less or it might be more. If you want to check my math, just google cost to run a 1500 watt space heater. Wattage is the cost, not design. All electric space heaters, of which oil filled is one, heat generally the same and will cost the same to draw power to heat a space.

Now as far as the thermostat controlling the wattage, it should be fine so long as that is the only thing plugged into the wall outlet. Meaning that thermostat with your space heater is not also running on a power strip plugged into other devices.