Question about thermostat

[chris4554]

So currently I'm using the Hydrofarm Thermostat for my ball python tank. It works fine at keeping the temperature where it needs to be but I'm getting another snake soon. I have been trying to set up another tank for it and am having trouble with the temperature in it. I was wondering if its possible to use that thermostat for both heat mats? It only has one probe and one plug but I have a thing so I can plug both heat mats into it. I thought they would equal out to the same temp but they haven't yet. Has anyone else tried this and been successful? I could buy another thermostat I just wanted to save a few bucks

Link to thermostat I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...9924522&sr=8-6

[chris4554]

Well not I think it is the thermostat probe malfunctioning. It was never super accurate i had to set it a little lower than i wanted my temp to be but now its making it way to hot and I haven't changed the temp. I only moved the probe.

Can anyone recommend a good thermostat to use? I don't want to spend a ton on it if I can help it but I would like it to be able to accurately control two heat pads at least.

[BallsUnlimited]

herpstat . It may not be what you want to spend but imo its second to none. I currently use the johnson as well as the herpstat and the herpstat has all sorts of features. night drop,high and low alarm etc. Im curious as to where you had the probe and where you moved it to??

[chris4554]

I'll look into it but it is more than I wanted to spend really. I don't think I need all those features either I just want it to keep the temp accurately where I want it. But if it will do that maybe I need it. It would work alright with plugging more than one heatpad into it?

I moved the probe from one heatpad and placed it on the other.

[BallsUnlimited]

My herpstat has never let me down yet. its easy to set up and while it may be overkill for some i think its one of the first things someone should get. As long as the heatpads are the same brand\size there should be no problem with it.

[JLC]

You have to answer one key factor before determining if ANY thermostat will help you with your quest. Are the two tanks in question absolutely identical in type and size and location? Obviously, they are in the same proximity because you're plugging both into one t-stat....but maybe one is on a solid wooden desk while the other sits on the floor or on a bookshelf or on a different level...etc.

Different sized tanks will require different amounts of heat to reach the temps you want. Different styles of tank may have varying thickness of bottom glass, and therefore require different temps to reach the same surface temp. A thing as simple as a breeze from your AC vent or drafty window can alter how well one tank heats over another...or the surface that they are sitting on my absorb/reflect heat differently.

Even with tubs all the same size in a single rack, you will get some slight variations of temps across the stack....but they are the best way to control multiple enclosures with a single t-stat. Doing it with glass tanks could, theoretically, be done, but I imagine it may be a lot more challenging, no matter how good the t-stat is.

[chris4554]

That is an excellent point Judy that i had overlooked. The heating pads are different sizes which is why they can't equal in temperature I suppose.

I'm looking to get a thermostat now and I like the Herpstat but I was also looking at the Ranco. Has anyone used the Ranco and like it? They seem pretty similar except the Herpstat has a few more features and also cost more.

I'll figure something out until the snakes are the same size and need the same size heating pad

[JLC]

That is an excellent point Judy that i had overlooked. The heating pads are different sizes which is why they can't equal in temperature I suppose.

I'm looking to get a thermostat now and I like the Herpstat but I was also looking at the Ranco. Has anyone used the Ranco and like it? They seem pretty similar except the Herpstat has a few more features and also cost more.

I'll figure something out until the snakes are the same size and need the same size heating pad

Yeah...as I re-read my post, I realized I forgot to mention different sized heat mats would cause an issue, too.

As for the T-stats...there are four reliable brands. Johnson and Ranco are both on/off T-stats, which control the temps of the mats by flicking the power on and off as needed. Both are equally reliable, so far as I know. Herpstat and Helix control the temps by altering the amount of power flowing to the mats...they tend to keep more reliably steady temps...but also cost more. In the interest of saving money, either a Johnson or Ranco is fine, in my opinion. The degree of tolerance for the on/off switch can be set as low as 1 degree, so the temps don't vary a whole lot.