security thermostat

[gavakas]

HI,
does anyone use a second thermostat as backup in case the first stops working? i want to do it but i dont know how to wire them.does anybody knows?
thanks.

[mpkeelee]

check the husbandry section, i read a thread that someone had done this. i dont know how to do it and i dont think its really necessary if you are using a quality thermostat. if my Helix or Herpstat fails i will be pretty ticked off

[gavakas]

ive checked but couldnt find it. i just want to be safe...

[mpkeelee]

what are you using for a thermostat, any quality epuipment should do what it is supposed to do

[gavakas]

habistat. Nobody knows??come on!!!

[mpkeelee]

i checked out habistat and im guessing you are in europe. some people here are over there so they may be familiar with their products

[Adam Chandler]

Hey there, I personally believe running a backup thermostat is a great idea and provides extra safety and piece of mind. Something alot of people worry about is their thermostat failing and cranking up the temps and killing their animals (as temps being too hot are much more deadly than too low temps).
In order to set up a primary and back up thermostat system you need a proportional thermostat and a on/off thermostat.
For my back up setup I use a Helix proportional thermostat with a Ranco on/off back up. Basically all I do is plug the on/off thermo in the wall and set it about 5-8 degrees higher than my desired warm side temp (whatever you set it to will be the cut off temp)and then plug my proportional into the on/off thermo and set the proportional to my desired warm side temp and plug your heating element into you proportional thermostat. Now tape the 2 probes together and place them in the proper spot. Now if you proportional thermostat breaks and starts cranking up the heat your on/off will turn the power off to it once the temperature reaching your cutoff temp.

You can also check out more info about thermostat backups here http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostat-faq.html

And one more quick note. If you set something like this up make sure you do not use a UPS or generator as a power source as it will mess up the proportional thermostat.

Hope that helps

[kitedemon]

That is exactly what i have done for the most part. Just check to be sure the wattage you are running through the primary can be handled by the secondary. I have the primary set to 92ºF and the secondary set to 98º so if the prime fails 'open' when the heat hits 98º (on the flexwatt the enclosures in my case take 2º so inside 90 and max would be 94 the heat comes on very fast if it runs away...) the secondary shuts the power off period. I have had a herpstat fail (Dion has been great with that too BTW) it is never a bad idea to have a back up.

This may help not the right brand but the principal will be the same.

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/suppor...edocument.html

[gavakas]

thank you so much!you are really helpling me on this!
thanks!
im using habistat and i dont really know if its on-off or proposional but why it should be 2 different thermostat (on-off and proposional) and not 2 habistats for example?

[kitedemon]

i believe there is a on off version and a proportional version but that is from memory so I am not 100%.