Repti-Temp Rheostat Model RT10

[Holbeird]

I was wondering what everyone would think of about this item. I only have one cage, its a 20 gallon glass cage with a screen top, tin-foiled + duct taped in. There are two (almost) identical hides (soon to be replaced with better ones) and I am currently using newspaper for substrate. I'm currently using dial thermometers and humidity meteres but I plan on buying a digital thermomiter/humidity meter as soon as the next check comes in. I use one UTH as well as a Red-Bulb light. Would this item be able to support each of these, and would it turn them both on/off according to the tempatures? I looked for reviews and couldnt really find one.

Here are the 3 thermostats I was looking at. Would the first or second one be able to handle the two types of heaitng I'm use, or would I need the last one?

http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=SZMRT20
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=SZMRT500R
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=SZMRT10

I will eventually be getting one thats a little more expensive, but I'm looking for one to hold me over. Thanks!

[rmune0750]

go w/ the 2nd one...thats the one im planning to get when i get the money for it....

[xdeus]

You get what you pay for with thermostats. I'd go with the cheap rheostat until you save up enough for a decent thermostat. You don't really need a "reptile" one, however, and could get by just as well with one from Home Depot or Lowes.

[rmune0750]

You get what you pay for with thermostats. I'd go with the cheap rheostat until you save up enough for a decent thermostat. You don't really need a "reptile" one, however, and could get by just as well with one from Home Depot or Lowes.

isnt that 2nd one a good one?

[Holbeird]

I was thinking of going with the 3rd one, since i found it somewhere for 20 bucks. Now do you have any good links at lowes or whatever, I went there and couldnt find one I could use!

[SnakesvsRodents]

If u going to use it for a uth and a heat lamp, i woulndt get the third one. The third one is like a dimmer and uth and heat lamps work differntly so i wouldnt get it if i were you. Go with something more like the second one.

[xdeus]

isnt that 2nd one a good one?

No. Cheap thermostats are notorious for breaking down. If one does malfunction, you run the risk that it won't control the current to the heat sources such as the UTH and it could potentially kill or burn your snake. I agree that rheostat probalby shouldn't be used to control two different heat sources such as an UTH an a light, but the worst that would happen is that the heat source would malfunction and stop working.

That's why I recommended a cheap rheostat until he could save up for a reliable thermostat such as a Helix, Herpstat, or even a Ranco or Johnson. However, as far as cheap thermostats go that Zoomed model is probably the best of the cheap ones. It would make a good backup thermostat, but I wouldn't rely on it working for years.

[xdeus]

I was thinking of going with the 3rd one, since i found it somewhere for 20 bucks. Now do you have any good links at lowes or whatever, I went there and couldnt find one I could use!

They're usually by the extension cords. Here's a link for the one I use.

[sho220]

They're usually by the extension cords. Here's a link for the one I use.

Those are what I currently use...and they're only $10 at Home Depot here!

[rmune0750]

No. Cheap thermostats are notorious for breaking down. If one does malfunction, you run the risk that it won't control the current to the heat sources such as the UTH and it could potentially kill or burn your snake. I agree that rheostat probalby shouldn't be used to control two different heat sources such as an UTH an a light, but the worst that would happen is that the heat source would malfunction and stop working.

That's why I recommended a cheap rheostat until he could save up for a reliable thermostat such as a Helix, Herpstat, or even a Ranco or Johnson. However, as far as cheap thermostats go that Zoomed model is probably the best of the cheap ones. It would make a good backup thermostat, but I wouldn't rely on it working for years.

how long do u think that 2nd one would last...like a yr??

or less?