Help with thermostat!!

[mikel81]

I have more than 10 of the hydrofarms. My racks all run herpstats but I use the hydrofarms as a secondary probe on each rack. If one gets knocked free I have a backup to cut the power. I also have them on a few other enclosures as the primary thermostat. It has been 2 years, I just checked the date of my amazon order for the first one I bought. All have been running non-stop and no failures here.

[Inarikins]

I thought Herpstats failed off so there wasn't a need for a second thermostat?

[The Serpent Merchant]

I thought Herpstats failed off so there wasn't a need for a second thermostat?

It depends on the model, and generation. Herpstats that are a few years old don't have the extra safety relay/software in them, and neither do the current generation herpstat intro and herpstat basic.

[mikel81]

I thought Herpstats failed off so there wasn't a need for a second thermostat?

One of mine is the old kind and doesn't have the safety relay. Also, I like having the second probe. If for some reason one got knocked off it would shut off and I would notice a temp difference on the display.

[The Serpent Merchant]

One of mine is the old kind and doesn't have the safety relay. Also, I like having the second probe. If for some reason one got knocked off it would shut off and I would notice a temp difference on the display.

The new ones have software that detects if a probe has come lose and shuts power off to the heat source/sounds the alarm. Basically if the thermostat can't get the probe to read the set temperature in 30 minutes it figures that the probe has been dislodged. This is one of the many features that I believe makes the herpstat the best/safest thermostat available right now.

[mikel81]

Nice I didn't know that. Do you know if it needs enabled or if it always does it? I know the safety relay was disabled by default on the intro+ I just got. There are so many settings on the new herpstat 1s, I just went to go through the menu and forgot I set a password on them. And then it beeps really loud to scare you a few seconds later when you don't enter anything and go to look at the snakes.

[Willie76]

Hydrofarm is what I use on my QT tank and Herpstat on my established. I have never had an issue with the Hydrofarm and they do the job. The Hydrofarm is an on/off type. When it gets too cool, it turns on when it gets to temp it turns it off. Constant switching between on and off. It does work. The Herpstat and others are a proportional type. These constantly adjust the flow to the heating element without actually shutting it off. Plus, some, like the Herpstat have a safety relay that will cut the power before any real damage can be done to the enclosure or snake...

I have always recommended the Hydrofarm as this is better than nothing. Save your pennies and invest in a proportional when you get a chance...

[Trackstrong83]

I used my hydrofarm for about a year, never went out on me, just upgraded to a herpstat.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

Exact same here.

[kitedemon]

Anything can fail, the controller could fail in the new herpstats and no longer register the set points. A failsafe is never a bad idea, I have 3 HS pros and one HS 4, 2 and an ND. I have failsafes for all of them. The failsafe is far cheaper than vet visits and Silver Sulfadiazine cream. I still feel the new generation of Herpstats are the only T-stat where it is questionable.

Hydrofarms are not accurate. They have a horrible error specs (4ºF up or down from accurate) add the hysteresis (2ºF) before you even speak of backlash you have a 3ºF up or down range (set at 90º you could have temps between 87-93º). Some feel this is fine others do not. I personally believe 1º+/- is fine but more? NO. My opinion. I personally feel that if you feel the need of using a hydrofarm you should have a known accurate thermometer. There are a few around ones that have a reasonable error amounts (1ºF) Aaron found a 100$ one I have not seen that one yet. There are also more expensive ones but a good accurate thermometer for a reasonable amount is the base herpstat. It is 100$ too, or you could save 40$ (CAD) and buy a herpstat.

[the_knot]

Thanks or all the replies guys. I ordered the hydrofarm and should have it in a couple days.