Thermostat rant

[Eric Alan]

Thank you Eric and JD for the explanation.

I was under the impression that when the back up shut off or broke that no more power was supplied to thr primary unit. Now knowing that this is not the case, I have a better feeling about back ups.

That is the case if the backup fails in the off position.

[Eric Alan]

I have a herpstat 1.

As long as it's the regular Herpstat 1, then it had the safety relay. If it's the Herpstat 1 Basic, then it does not.

I believe the sticker on the bottom of the unit will say one way or the other if it's the regular or basic model.

[Bcycling]

Ok as I read on I realize that I want a backup. Now I am still confused on how to do this. My herpstat is set to 92.5 which is giving me hotspots on my rack of anywhere from 89 to 91. It's an eight level xpvc rack I made. 11" flexwatt cut at 12" pieces at each level. It is parallel wired and sodderd. In theory will my back up on/off tstat have to be programmed at a higher or lower temp? I am thinking lower so it is always on providing my herpstat constant power. Am I thinking correctly?

[Eric Alan]

Well then! We'll have to make it happen! I have 2 Tstat (1 rack and 1 for quarantine) and hope they are the off kind... Is there a way to know or it's a wish for the best situation ? I took the first ones I could find which are made for baby plants, there is not much info on them except that they control temperatures :\

Chances are good that yours don't have the built-in safety features that higher-end thermostats have, which would make them more likely to fail in the on position should they fail.

[Bcycling]

I didn't think it was the basic, but it is. I just looked at the sticker. Says herpstat 1 basic. I will be backing it up but now I need to figure out how to do it and what to buy for a backup.

[Eric Alan]

Ok as I read on I realize that I want a backup. Now I am still confused on how to do this. My herpstat is set to 92.5 which is giving me hotspots on my rack of anywhere from 89 to 91. It's an eight level xpvc rack I made. 11" flexwatt cut at 12" pieces at each level. It is parallel wired and sodderd. In theory will my back up on/off tstat have to be programmed at a higher or lower temp? I am thinking lower so it is always on providing my herpstat constant power. Am I thinking correctly?

The backup would be set higher. If it were set lower, the backup would cut off power to the primary before the primary could reach its set temperature. How much higher? You'll have to play with it and figure it out.

[Bcycling]

Know of any decent inexpensive backup tstats?

[Ufoo9k]

Chances are good that yours don't have the built-in safety features that higher-end thermostats have, which would make them more likely to fail in the on position should they fail.

Thanks! The more you learn. I'll have to check where I can get a backup.... but I suppose I could use the ones I have as backup and get a herpstat when I can find one...

[Eric Alan]

Know of any decent inexpensive backup tstats?

Any non-proportinal thermostat with a wattage rating at or above your primary will work as a backup. The Herpstat 1 Basic is rated at 700W, so a Hydrofarm (which are rated at 1000W) would be fine.

[Eric Alan]

Thanks! The more you learn. I'll have to check where I can get a backup.... but I suppose I could use the ones I have as backup and get a herpstat when I can find one...

Gotta love a Herpstat!