On/off vs Proportional Thermostat

[BlckPhntm]

So my new rack should be arriving soon and I've been reading on thermostats but cannot tell if there is a safety hazard using on/off and proportional thermostats? Do on/off pose extra threats I.E. fire hazards w/ heat tape? I have a Johnson's Controls laying around and I'd thought of using that but now I'm a bit skeptical.

[stevepoppers]

I have never heard of them being a safety hazard. I think it would be pretty prominently known if it were. So many people use Helix and Johnson, etc.

[BlckPhntm]

TY for the quick response. I guess I follow "better safe than sorry" a bit too much.

[stevepoppers]

Oh, of course not. That's the way to be when these animals depend on it. Proportional thermostats seem better to me just because they'll hold slightly steadier temps, but if you've got a Johnson lying around use it!

I've also heard that Flexwatt melts and shorts out before it or anything else burns. Your snake would still be in trouble, though.

[Adam Chandler]

I've never heard of flexwatt causing a fire. As Steve said it melts before it would get hot enough to ignite.
If you are worried about your snakes you can do what I do. For all my racks I run my proportional thermostats (Herpstats) through on/off thermostats (Rancos) and set the on/off one 5 or so degrees higher than the proportional, that way if you proportional bugs out and starts heating like crazy your on/off turns it off before it can do any damage.