Thermostat or Rheostat

I'm wondering which is better. I understand that a thermostat works like an on/off switch and that a reheostat works like a dimmer switch. If that's right, then I would prefer a rheostat. Or do you guys know something that I don't?

i got 2 thermostats that act like a dimmer
they actually have thermostat on them. I am not sure on the names or anything but the dimmers are way better if you ask me

A rheostat is just a dimmer switch. You can set the cage up to the correct temperature and then not touch the rheostat and it will stay at that temp. That is, until the temperature of your house goes up. Which means the temp in your cage will go up too. And you will have to adjust the rheostat. I had a rheostat and I was adjusting it almost daily. No fun.

Once you set a thermostat it will keep the cage at the same temperature. It doesnt matter if the temp of your house goes up or down. The thermostat will maintain the correct temp on the hot side of the cage. There are basically two types of thermostats, on/off and proportional. The on/off ones just switch the heat pad on or off depending on whether the cage is getting too hot or too cold. I've heard this can be hard on the heat pad. The proportional ones kind of "meter out" the power to the heat pad. They give it just enough power to keep a constant temperature. If the temp of the cage drops dramatically, a proportional thermostat will put full power to the heat pad until the temp comes back up to normal, then it will back off, etc etc.

I've tried rheostats and thermostats and I have to recommend a digital proportional thermostat. You just set it and forget it. I can leave the house with the windows open and if the temp in my house gets 10 degrees hotter, I don't have to worry about the hot side of my snake's cage getting 10 degrees hotter, as I would with a rheostat.

I have to agree with Slippery E...

When I started with one snake last April I only had a rheostat, which was fine as long as I was home to adjust it. There were never huge fluctuations in temperature, but when you're new to the hobby you think (I felt like) just a few degrees were wayyy too much and would adjust it accordingly.
It was when I left my apartment for the whole day to go to work that I felt nervous. We don't run the A/C too much. So, as the temp goes up outdoors the temp tends to go up in our apartment.

I now have a rack system with a proportional thermostat and it works wonders and I'm never nervous about leaving my apartment for even a couple days at a time whether it's 90 or 30 outside.
That being said, I do still use a rheostat on my one 20gal viv, which my first ever corn is living. It still fluctuates throughout the day, but I've got the hang of how to adjust it so that it'll be okay when I'm not home. Plus, I've come to realize that she can handle larger fluctuations in temps than I previously thought.

If all else fails, you can make your own rheostat for about $7 and give it a try. If you don't like it toss it aside and try a thermostat.

As the other posts mention a rheostat just controls the voltage going to a heat source and therefore regulates the temperature but it is not dynamic ie. it will just allow a heat source to go on pumping out heat regardless of external factors.

A thermostat is effectively a switch that is on when the temperature is below that set on a dial and off when it reaches that temperature thus keeping a steady temperature. You can get more advanced 'pulse' type thermostats which put a lot of power to the heat source when below a certain temperature and then slowly lower the amount of power as the temperature gets closer to that set on the dial. This allows a much smoother regualtion of temperature than a simple on/off one but they do tend to be more expensive.

You can also get ones that work in synchronisation with daylight, ones that allow a different day and night temperature to be set, ones that provide power if the temperature gets too high so as to control a cooling fan and a manner of other ones.

I would only use a thermostat, for a basic viv set up a simple on/off one is fine. I place the heat sensor midway in the substrate but you will get varying opinions on this.

One final point is that I would always use a separate digital thermometer just to keep a double check that everything is working as it should.

I got a zoomed reptitemp 500 r and its a thermostat except you move the switch around till about where mine is to get the right temp what it does is it shoots temp up to 85 then shuts off theres a probe so when it drops to 80 it goes back on again and shoots temp back up to 85 its about 45$ and you can get it at most pet stores here is a pic

Excellent advice, guys! Thank you so much for clarifying how thermosatas work and etc. I would definately like to have a proportional thermostat. But as DannyB said, they are quite pricey. I think I'll probably go for the Zoomed Reptitemp 500R. (Thanks for the pic ChrisR.) Thanks again!

Yeah I was thinking of getting the zoomed also

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

29 dollar + 7 dollars shipping

How hard is it on the heat pad? And you want the glass to be 85 degres right? Not the substrate. My glass is 110-120 degress right now and the substrate is 80ish.

yes you want the glass at 85 not 120 which is what heat pads go to w/o a thermostat if you have a snake in that viv i suggest unplugging the pad until you get a thermostat however if ur snake has eaten it might regurge from the hot temps so get a thermostat or a rheostat(dimmer) asap and put some newspaper on top of the uth to slow heat flow

I have a Ranco thermostat that I got from MG Reptiles. I will never use a rheostat/dimmer again after getting this thing. Thermostat all the way Wish I could afford a helix but I only have 5 snakes. Maybe if I got a rack setup one day with more snakes I will buy a helix.

Thanks for that info Ratsncorns. I have to say I'm really liking theRanco thermostat myself. It has a few more options included, without a huge price jump. The only question I have is, how does the heating element plug into the Ranco? I assume the way it works is a s follows: plug the Ranco into a wall plug, plug the UTH into the Ranco, put the Ranco temperature probe next to the UTH. The Ranco will constantly monitor the temperature of the UTH with its probe and supply the appropriate power the UTH when needed. Is this right? Now can I buy the raw Ranco, or do I need to buy the Ranco with a receptable end, or do I need to buy the Ranco with the powerstrip? Thanks for being patient, I just want to make sure I get this right.

A Rheostat is a dial type device that you wire into your heat source. You then manually adjust it by hand to get the disired temperature.

Personally I find it no different than having to turn off and on lights in your viv, it is just another step. If the temp fluctuates you are still dealing with having to go tamper with the dial to get the right temp until the ambient room temp changes again and calls for you to adjust the dial again.

I just find it being much like just adding another step into the on off game of lights to keep your temps right. Everyone has differing thoughts on this. This is just my personally opinion of them.

This is a picture of one

Sorry you will have to click the link, it won't let me copy and paste this pic



A Thermostat is just like what you have on your heat pump, you set the temperature and the thermostat cuts on MANUALLY, when the temperature drops to bring it back to normal. You just have to set it once.

Here is a picture of one



Hope this helps

Alright, thanks Momfor2gifts! That wasn't the exact question that I asked in my last post, but I was able to figure it out from the picture you posted of the thermostat. Weeeee, now I'm off to spend some money!