Is a thermostat necessary

[tttaylorrr]

a lot of you I've noticed say thermostats are helpful for the heating mat. I'm on a budget, so I'm wondering if they are necessary, and if so what is a good cheap one?

As other members have stated a thermostat is a vital piece of equipment. I've used several Hydrofarm thermostats for the last 5 years without any issues. They're inexpensive but they've been very reliable for me.

https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Contro...arm+thermostat

i second the Jumpstart thermostats: i used them for two years before switching to Herpstats. HOWEVER they CAN fail and the probability of failure increases over time. you should consider the Jumpstart thermostat as a TEMPORARY solution until you can save up for a Herpstat. the Herpstat will not fail open (on), will last you practically forever and you will not regret it. please trust our recommendations for a Herpstat.