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T'stat question & styrofoam container

wstphal

wstphal

working in the Gulag
My cheapo rheostats are not regulating properly, temps are sometimes up to 95 on the lowest setting. Anyone know what is the least expensive t'stat that will hold the UTH at 80-85?

Also, I have a decent sized styrofoam container that could be used for an incubator, which is free. Anyone want it?
 
http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora.cgi?product=Temperature_Control&xm=on

Look at that Alife stat. I have the same one, branded as a Big Apple Herps, (older model) that is decent. I'd normally recommend the ZooMed 500R, but just today read that Chris (tyflier) had one fail ON and lost a bunch of snakes). I'd normally recommend the BAH new model, but of the two I have, one has died. If you just want a trouble-free life (in terms of heating, anyway) Herpstats are going on sale in November, soon I think, for $10 off. You're looking at just over $100, but it would be so worth it.
 
You can look up the ranco thermostats. Their under $100, have a 6 outlet extention, and work great!!
 
I've heard some bad things about the Alife stats:

http://www.redtailboas.com/forum/product-discussion/24085-alife-thermostats.html for example... there are a lot of negative reviews there. Another reason I passed them by when I was shopping for tstats awhile ago was that they're a "guess and wait and see" type of thermostat. I chose the Ranco 111000 thermostat and I got it from a heating/AC supplier cheaper than I could've gotten it from a reptile supplier. It's a little more expensive than the Alife ones, but it's got a digital readout, heavy duty probe, and the option for a differential down to 1 degree. You set your desired temperature and you're done. There's no guessing.

If you go to some reptile supplier sites, they'll sell them wired up already, but if you've got even basic skills with a screwdriver and wire strippers, you can do it yourself and save money. Check out http://www.rcreptiles.com/blog/index.php/2007/05/11/how_to_wire_a_ranco_etc_111000_thermosta for a tutorial on this. One thing I did differently was I got grounded wires and then just wire nutted the grounds together. You wouldn't want to plug a grounded appliance/heater/whatever into it without a grounded wire somewhere. One other thing I've done to save some money is that I just look for power strips with longer cords, cut them in the middle, and that saves me the added cost of buying both an extension cord and a power strip.

Danielle says they're under $100...which they are, but if you get it from an HVAC or other cheaper supplier and wire it up yourself, it'll cost you about $60 altogether. I'd rather have the peace of mind and pay a little more.
 
I got mine prewired for $79.99 with outlets for 6 cages, but mine works great and is very reliable on the temps:)
 
I am competent with wiring (not with wood/melamine though) so could wire a t-stat. The website Jeff mentions is very clear -- I could do that no prob. I think I'm getting a Ranco & wiring it. Thanks so much!
 
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