MAJOR thermostat issues, any help appreciated

I have Herpstat that reads error four messages (supposedly because of a probe dysfunction) even after I JUST replaced the probe.

I also have a Ranco (brought in last week) to replace the Herpstat, that reads 83 degrees, that it should be at 91 with a 1 degree differential. My thermometers also read 83 degrees. It appears to be giving my heat pads (I tried this with both zoomed and the laminated flexwatt pads from the Bean Farm) full power, yet they are NOT warming up.

This Ranco worked fine until last night when temps started falling. This morning it was the same.

I am soooooo frustrated and upset. This is my THIRD thermostat that has failed!!!

I have called Ranco and the customer service guy wasn't in. ANy help or ideas would really be appreciated as this is putting my life on hold right now, and I really need to start getting to classes today.

I just called the Ranco people and they ares ending me a replacement thermostat...but I wonder..

For all of you who may know anything about electricity..

Can an outlet be so bad that it destroys electrical appliances? So far, only a simple Alife has lasted more than 2 months in this particular outlet. I have gone through a Helix, a Herpstat, and now a Ranco!

It wouldn't hurt to make nice with an electrician to come out and stick a meter in there to see what's what.

clipclopclip said:

Can an outlet be so bad that it destroys electrical appliances? So far, only a simple Alife has lasted more than 2 months in this particular outlet. I have gone through a Helix, a Herpstat, and now a Ranco!

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That's what Jcapicy claims- he used to work at Home Depot and said faulty outlets killed lots of small electronics. Can you test the Herpstat in a different outlet- maybe a whole different circuit?

Nanci said:

That's what Jcapicy claims- he used to work at Home Depot and said faulty outlets killed lots of small electronics. Can you test the Herpstat in a different outlet- maybe a whole different circuit?

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I just tested it in another outlet (I think on a different circuit) and it stopped showing error messages. I think that it may be this circuit. This is just crazy though....I don't think I can move my snakes into another room or my cats will have a hayday with the wires and probably pull down my tubs. I may try, though, as it does not appear I have any choice.

I do have a lot running in this room so it could be overloaded, although I haven't blown anything yet. I just don't have enough rooms to place my snakes somewhere cat-proof. Maybe I'll try a closet......

clipclopclip said:

I just don't have enough rooms to place my snakes somewhere cat-proof. Maybe I'll try a closet......

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Your cats won't like it in there. Trust me.

If it's just that single outlet, that's easy to change out. Or maybe have an electrician check it out- whenever there's a house fire- the wiring always gets blamed. Maybe this is an advance warning...

What about leaving the tubs where they are and running an extension cord from a good outlet?

airenlow said:

What about leaving the tubs where they are and running an extension cord from a good outlet?

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Crazy enough to work..lol

Well, i moved my snakes into a closet near an outlet that works. Unfortunately, none of my thermostats will actually get a temperature up high enough for my ball pythons (90F). They will all go to about 82, then stop, but act like they need to give it more power....My herpstat does this, my Ranco does this..I have tried different brands of heat mats and I do have a super duper surge protector. What the....??????? I can't believe that this technology is incapable of the simple task of getting my heat mats to 90 degrees and staying there. They are in a good outlet now!!

I have had enough..really

How high does the heat mat go without a thermostat? How much surface area does the heat mat cover- it's not too small, about 25%? You have the thermostat set to 90?