Like say it takes you. To set your helix thermostat at 94 to get 92 degrees in the tub. Well you set your ranco at 96 and then plug the helix into the ranco power strip.

Then place both probes at the same spot underneath the tub or wherever you place em.

Then your helix runs your heat. And in case it ever fails the ranco will detect it and shut the heat down at 96. So in case a stat fails you won't fry a snake.

Make sense? In essence the ranco is always in the "on" position. Was that what you didn't understand? Or did you know what back up thermostats were for?

And no I haven't gotten any messages.