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Thermostat

d_rock said:
I've been searching thermostats and trying to find a cheap way to build one when i came across this. Tell me what you guys think..

http://www.next.gr/shop/shop.php?c=23&x=Digital_Temperature_Control
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly even sure what that is used for. But I would stay away from it for use with herps. One thing that you do not want to skimp on is the thermostat. If it malfunctions it could fry your snake or worst; such as possibly starting a fire if it ran the heating element way too hot.

The best are Helix and Herpstat (I personally use the herpstats). They're pricy though, but the best. Johnson and Ranco thermostats are also pretty good. They're in the $70-$80 range. At the lowest end are the ZooMed 500R and BAH-1000 thermostats. I personally used to use the ZooMed one, and never had any issues with it, but have much more piece of mind using the higher quality Herpstat.

If your room that you keep your snakes in is at a fairly steady temp, you could use a rheostat (similar to a light dimmer). This puts out a steady amount of power to the heating element and won't adjust according to the temp. So if the ambient temps fluctuate a lot, the heating element will fluctuate a lot too.

Do a search for rheostat and thermostat and you'll get lots of info. But I can't stress enough, don't go cheap and skimp on your thermostat!!! I think it's probably the most important piece of equipment to successfully keeping herps.
 
The spec sheet says it will operate a relay but does not say that it is a relay that is included on the board. I see what may be a relay on the pic (black box, left side), but it might not be the switch that turns the target load on/off. I think it is a thermostatic controller without a switch, but if it is you could still use it if you can wire it to a relay to switch your heater on/off.
Edit: it needs a 12V DC power supply, just buy a thermostat for herps.
 
yea, I'm using a rheostat now but we live in an apartment with a wall air conditioner so the temp here varies allot depending on if we are home or not. I was going to use this unit in conjunction with a rheostat (for backup) but with this temperature control unit I'm not sure where the sensor is. i wouldn't want to have to mount the whole unit in the viv.

(btw, I'm building a custom viv and want everything so i can hide it and make it as tidy as possible because it will be what the living room is based around.)
 
d_rock said:
yea, I'm using a rheostat now but we live in an apartment with a wall air conditioner so the temp here varies allot depending on if we are home or not. I was going to use this unit in conjunction with a rheostat (for backup) but with this temperature control unit I'm not sure where the sensor is. i wouldn't want to have to mount the whole unit in the viv.

(btw, I'm building a custom viv and want everything so i can hide it and make it as tidy as possible because it will be what the living room is based around.)
Click to expand...

I'd still go for a thermostat designed for reptile use. Would be a lot less hassle.
 
yea, after looking things over and checking prices again i decided to go with the ranco etc-111000. I can get the controller for 59 bucks and wire it up myself.
 
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