!!!Warning to those with cheap thermostats!!!

[SlitherinSisters]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I'll have to check into all of those thermostats!!!

[mooingtricycle]

those Rzilla ones are the Round on top kind right?

All of those similar round on top ones seem to be made by the same company.

If you have to go cheap. Get a zoo med 500R They are a DECENT tstat for the price. And i have been using two for a few years now. No problems.

[SlitherinSisters]

those Rzilla ones are the Round on top kind right?

All of those similar round on top ones seem to be made by the same company.

If you have to go cheap. Get a zoo med 500R They are a DECENT tstat for the price. And i have been using two for a few years now. No problems.

Yes, they are round on the top with a dial that spins to whatever temp you desire.

[SlitherinSisters]

Here's John's (jpman78) thread about the dimmers.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=78848


The dimmer I have plugs into the wall, with the thermostat plugged into it, so it was very simple.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Here's John's (jpman78) thread about the dimmers.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=78848


The dimmer I have plugs into the wall, with the thermostat plugged into it, so it was very simple.

Wouldn't you want it the other way around? Right now you are throttling the power that goes to your thermostat, doesn't a thermostat need a set amount of power to function? You want the thermostat functioning on full power, but if it ever melts ON, can only fire so much juice to the heat tape.

Wall---->Thermostat---->Rheostat(throttle)---->Racks

No?

-JonV

[JD Constriction]

Yep that's how it should be But I'm not 100% sure it matters.....

Another helpful tip is to keep the "cheap" thermostat well ventilated. If it runs in a hot/warm enviornment it will not last as long as when it is kept cool.

If I was going to buy something a step up from a "cheap" thermostat I would say a Ranco/Johnson Controls and a Rheostat (dimmer) is safer than just a stand alone Helix/Herpstat with all other things being equal.

Hope that helps

Wall---->Thermostat---->Rheostat(throttle)---->Racks

-JonV

[hoax]

....several people i know say that they are going to make the switch from helix to herpstat after trying one....

I have both Helix and Herpstat. Since I got my Herpstat I will never buy another Helix. Don't get me wrong I like the Helix I just like the Herpstat so much more.... To me you get more bang for your buck with the Herpstat then you do the Helix, just alot more options and Some other really nice features...

Mike

[ScottyDsntKnow]

I've had a $25 Repti Temp 500R for almost a year and 0 issues. Yeah its a little hard to set at first but get it close once and done. And yeah you would have to run the dimmer after the tstat with the tstat being at max power and the dimmer turning it down to whatever temp you needed it to be at.

Also plenty of other ppl with the 500R for years and no issues. I'd never personally use an on/off style on a rack or anything like some do but for a single animal in a viv they're fine.

[Buttons]

I've had a $25 Repti Temp 500R for almost a year and 0 issues. Yeah its a little hard to set at first but get it close once and done. And yeah you would have to run the dimmer after the tstat with the tstat being at max power and the dimmer turning it down to whatever temp you needed it to be at.

Also plenty of other ppl with the 500R for years and no issues. I'd never personally use an on/off style on a rack or anything like some do but for a single animal in a viv they're fine.

I thought I ordered a 500R last week but somehow I ordered a ZooMed rheostat instead. I can still use the rheostat but will be ordering a 500R tonight.

[mooingtricycle]

Yes, they are round on the top with a dial that spins to whatever temp you desire.

ive known them to be horrid for a long time. lucky you had a backup!!!!