Can someone recommend a thermostat?

[babyknees]

I have a 500r and HATE it. It doesn't tell you a NUMBER for the temp that you have it set at it's just a color gradient from red (for HOT) to blue (for cold). The only thing I like about it is that you can plug in two heat sources. I hooked it up and then fiddled with the temp while watching my thermometer to try and guess which COLOR was the right temp. It turns off and on and my temps stay correct but the fact that there are no numbers infuriates me. In my opinion it is not worth the money and the Zilla thermostat I have (in the same price range) is much better. It has numbers and seems to be very effective at turning the heat source on and off as needed. The Helix thermostat that came with my GTP's cage is FAR superior but over your $100 limit.

[mainbutter]

Johnsons and Rancos do the job just as good as herpstat or helix. Only thing is one makes a on off sound other does not.

I'm going to have to put in a TINY argument and say that for ME, non-proportional t-stats don't work as well as proportionals.. and HERE's why:

For much of the year the indoor room temperature is ~65 degrees. With a proportional t-stat, my temps are SUPER stable. With a non-proportional t-stat, the temperature difference between the target cage temps and the room temps are large enough that cage temps just plain drop too fast with flexwatt turned off for a period of time. Since I use my t-stat to monitor flexwatt temperature and not the actual tub/hot spot temperature, this causes pretty wild fluctuations that are even worse than running rheostats (3 degree ambient swings, ~10 degree hot spot swings).

That's just my experience with Rancos @ 65 degree room temps.

With room temps at 75+, they're amazing, and I'd probably be running dual Ranco (system of using a second t-stat as a safety backup) on my cages/racks

[LizardPants]

My recommendations:
$30 Hydrofarm - Will do just fine for your intended use. Consider upgrading to a proportional at a later time.
$100-$400 SpyderRobotics Herpstat, Helix, RBI VE-200+ - Cost's about $60 more, but with the benefit of proportional adjustment.

Not recommended:
$5-20 rheostat - Might as well shell out a little bit more for a thermostat. Your time saved from not constantly making adjustments is worth far more than the negligible price difference.
$? 500r, Zilla - You get a lot more with the Hydrofarm.
$60 - $85 Johsnon/Ranco - Not any better than a Hydrofarm. At this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.
$85 VE-100 - It has nice features, and it's a little more advanced than the Hydrofarm, however it's still non-proportional. Again at this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.

[kitedemon]

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

The Johnsons make killer back up units however I have a few 'in case' ones.

[RichsBallPythons]

My recommendations:
$30 Hydrofarm - Will do just fine for your intended use. Consider upgrading to a proportional at a later time.
$100-$400 SpyderRobotics Herpstat, Helix, RBI VE-200+ - Cost's about $60 more, but with the benefit of proportional adjustment.

Not recommended:
$5-20 rheostat - Might as well shell out a little bit more for a thermostat. Your time saved from not constantly making adjustments is worth far more than the negligible price difference.
$? 500r, Zilla - You get a lot more with the Hydrofarm.
$60 - $85 Johsnon/Ranco - Not any better than a Hydrofarm. At this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.
$85 VE-100 - It has nice features, and it's a little more advanced than the Hydrofarm, however it's still non-proportional. Again at this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.

Hydrofarm uses cheap components that will eventually fail during surges or power outtages. Your paying more for johnsons due to better components that will not fry so quickly. I have been using Johnsons for 8 years not no problems.

But to categorize a 30$ garden thermostat to a industrial grade thermostat is ridiculous. Just cause both are on off dont make them the same.

[RichsBallPythons]

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

Thats within the probe its self not the device. Each one will have varying temperatures. My johnsons are all set at 91 and i get a 91. Each probe is not made to operate identical so thats why they have the +- variance.

[Druzy]

Since I only have one snake I have a rheostat. I don’t have any problems with it at all, but I do believe that you defiantly want to test it out beforehand. It also helps a lot if you know the accurate temps of the room that the snake is housed in. That would give you a better idea of how low/high you want to set the rheostat.

[LizardPants]

Hydrofarm uses cheap components that will eventually fail during surges or power outtages. Your paying more for johnsons due to better components that will not fry so quickly.

Ok, if you have the EE knowledge and proof to back it up, I'd like to see it. Though, I'm willing to bet the op has a surge protector.

[RichsBallPythons]

Ok, if you have the EE knowledge and proof to back it up, I'd like to see it. Though, I'm willing to bet the op has a surge protector.

Yea cause the manufacture of the companies will display how the manufacture their product so others can copy. Just buy one of each and open them up and youll see for your self.

[LizardPants]

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

The Johnsons make killer back up units however I have a few 'in case' ones.

All very good points.