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Favorite Thermostat?

carol

carol

Down with the sickness
Hi all! I would post a poll, but I imagine I'm in the dark regarding a lot of products out there. I need a thermostat, badly. So far I'm looking at a Helix and a Herpstat. Anyone have any input on either one of these, or another similar product? I need something that adjusts itself according to changes in room temp, so one you rig yourself with a dimmer won't do for what I need. So lets hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks!
 
I'm using the [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][size=-1][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Herp Power Thermostat from bigappleherp.com and the basic helix controls thermostat. I've used them both for about 2 years and they both work great. The helix is incredibly stable... I mean it will stay at exactly 95.3 and not budge either way. The Herp Power Thermostat is pretty stable too but a little more difficult to set up the night drop settings. If I get another one it will be a Helix. I don't have The Habitat Control System but it's something I've looked at... Oh the toys. :rolleyes:
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My Helix DBS1000 has been great, regulating my two AP racks. I keep the place cool (~67) most of the time, and it does a great job of keeping the temps where I want them anyway. The only problem I have is that the tub temps are a couple of degrees cooler (generally) than the temp at the probe. I just run the Helix a couple of degrees warmer than the temp I want to keep, and all is well.

I just ordered two more AP racks, and I had to buy another thermostat. I did a bunch of research, and I found nothing but praise for the Spyder Robotics Herpstat Proportional. Since AP distributes them anyway, I decided to give them a try. I haven't used it yet, but if you do a search for Herpstat on Fauna, there's a recent thread that will give you real opinions on the product. :)
 
Thanks guys!
VJ, I remembered you telling me about yours, but I just didn't remember which one you liked! Thanks for giving me that info again!

Dean, Doh! I didn't even think about Fauna. Found some great info over there! Thanks!
 
I have to second Dean on the Helix DBS1000 - we have our two racks hooked up to it and they're great. I do keep it slightly higher just because the probe is right next to the heat source and it is slightly cooler in the tubs. I don't have to worry about a thing with it either (and I don't get along with most electronics).

~Katie
 
Roy Munson said:
My Helix DBS1000 has been great, regulating my two AP racks. I keep the place cool (~67) most of the time, and it does a great job of keeping the temps where I want them anyway. The only problem I have is that the tub temps are a couple of degrees cooler (generally) than the temp at the probe. I just run the Helix a couple of degrees warmer than the temp I want to keep, and all is well.
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Ditto. I only have good things to say about my Helix. :)
 
Guess I'll chime in and follow the pack. I love my Helix controllers. I have two for racks and one for the incubator.

After purchasing my first Helix DBS1000, I thought about getting the Herpstat. The one feature I liked about it were the + and - buttons that allow you to make adjustments quickly.

It's not quite as easy with the Helix. If I want to adjust the Helix set temperature from 83 to 82, I have to hold the button down until it counts up through 100 then it starts back at 40 and reaches the desired 82 set point. It's really not too bad, but I think the +/- buttons would be an added plus to the Helix product. In the end, I decided to stick with Helix. I was very happy with the performance and figured "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

When I first started looking at Helix controllers, I didn't realize that there were two DBS1000 models. I think most places carry the "high temp" model which allows a temperature set point from 60 to 120 F. When I called Helix, they told me about the "low temp" model. It allows a temperature set point from 40 to 100F. I was told to request the "low temp" model when ordering directly from Helix, otherwise the DBS1000 "high temp" was sold as the standard.

I bought the "low temp" models for the racks, because as an added bonus I can use them to control my desired brumation temps too. My incubator came with the "high temp" model.

Bottom line, I'm very happy with Helix.
 
Red Mama said:
When I first started looking at Helix controllers, I didn't realize that there were two DBS1000 models. I think most places carry the "high temp" model which allows a temperature set point from 60 to 120 F. When I called Helix, they told me about the "low temp" model. It allows a temperature set point from 40 to 100F. I was told to request the "low temp" model when ordering directly from Helix, otherwise the DBS1000 "high temp" was sold as the standard.
Click to expand...
Thanks. This is good info. It would be difficult to kill a corn in a short period of time in the 40-100F range. Not so at 120F.
 
Good point Dean!

I wanted to add a bit about the "low temp" Helix and brumation. Last year, I used the closet method. It stayed pretty cool and I could open the window to adjust temps a bit when needed. Most of the time, the temps stayed in the mid 50s, so it worked out okay. The garage temps were too cold, so I opted for the closet method. I didn't have a controller to spare for the snakes that were being brumated and the closet method ended up working well.

This year, I may take the incubator Helix, re-arrange a bit, and have the option of brumating in the garage with one of the "low temp" controllers. Don't know what I'll decide yet, but I do like having a Helix that will give me that option.
 
I use the Herpstat for my chondros. Love them! Easy to use and the least expensive proportional thermostat you can get.
 
I am getting my Helix tomorrow :)
Jeff at helix has been extremely helpfull with designing my rack and advise on setting up my tape. I was going to buy it from the local reptile store but Jeff was so helpfull I spent the extra $$ and got it direct from him

Tim
 
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