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The Best in Thermostats and Temp Guns?

S

Scarlett_Fawn

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Hello-

I have just built my first rack system and want the perfect thermostat for it...

I see from most posts that ESU and Alife are not good thermostats, but what are some of the good ones?

Has anyone out there had a thermostat that has kept the proper temperatures for years and years? Why are Helix thermostats so popular?

Also, I'm looking for a good temp gun. Pro Exotics has the cheapest and smallest one I can find so far. Are they any good? Does anyone have any experience with these?
 
The Ranco, Johnson Controls, and Helix Thermostats are all good units. Helix are so popular because alot of people use them and they are good thermostats. The other two are very good also and are used by many people. It really is just a matter of personal preference and cost. You can find for sale listings for atleast the Ranco and Johnson Controls thermostats in the classifieds section. They are offered by a couple of different people.

I have heard nothing but good things about the temp gun from Pro Exotics. At that price, it is a great deal and it really is an invaluable tool to have.
 
I've been using the Big Apple Herp thermostats without problem. They are also some of the most cost effective ($110, I believe) and include the night drop feature as part of the standard price.
 
I have been using...

the Ranco thermostats for a short time, however I understand that they have a great reputation. The main reason I went with them is that they are available for about $48 from Controlls Depot, they also carry the Johnson Controlls for about the same price.
 
As far as temp guns go it really depends on what you want or are looking for. They are alot cheaper than buying 20 thermometers. I have 3 of them the little temp gun, the laser model and the Raytek w/ laser all are very accurate. I would go with the Raytek if you willing to put out 90.00 for the laser model or les for the one without the laser...
 
Pro Exotics sells temp guns with laser, model PE-2, for $45. I own this model and have been extremely happy with it. I actually can not believe I went so long without one.

As far as thermostats, the Alifes are ok for the price and what they are. They are basically consumer grade products. They are not the death traps many people make them out to be. I have 4 of them hooked up to various enclosures and have never had an issue. The main thing to take note of with them is that each one is a little different in its settings. For example, on one of them you can have it set to 90 and it actually get to 92 at the probe before it shuts off the heat. On another, with an identical enclosure, you can set it to 90 and it actually get to 88 at the probe when it shuts off the heat. So you have to do a little trial and error to get them properly calibrated.

Now the Johnsons, Helix and Rancos are more of a professional grade thermostat and are usually 3 times the amount of the Alifes....but they are worth every penny. All of my hatchling racks, BP cages and incubators run off of these. They are much more precise.
 
I have the PE-2 also and it is very handy. I am importing a new model from the same company that is cheaper than then PE's. I also have the model that Proexotics calls the PE-1... All good stuff but alittle high imo....
 
I use the ESU thermostat (same as Alife and the Cheap BAH one). Works "fine" for me. I set it to 92, it turns on at anything less than 88 and off at anything over 92. It mainly stays around 90 where the probe is. Im happy with it. I wouldn't use it for a rack however.
 
As far as thermostats, the Alifes are ok for the price and what they are. They are basically consumer grade products. They are not the death traps many people make them out to be. I have 4 of them hooked up to various enclosures and have never had an issue. The main thing to take note of with them is that each one is a little different in its settings. For example, on one of them you can have it set to 90 and it actually get to 92 at the probe before it shuts off the heat. On another, with an identical enclosure, you can set it to 90 and it actually get to 88 at the probe when it shuts off the heat. So you have to do a little trial and error to get them properly calibrated.
Click to expand...

How long have you been using your Alife thermostats? How much power are you running through them? Do you feel comfortable making the assessment that they are "safe", even with several people giving first hand accounts of them getting stuck in the ON position?

It's a fact - they are an analog thermostat. They will fail eventually. The 500 (sometimes 1000) watt power handling capacity I have seen advertised on them is probably the culprit. The more power you run through them, the hotter they run. And then they fail. If you're running a single 75 watt light bulb or something similar through them, you may never see problems.

Personally, I am using a few Alife style thermostats with lamp dimmers wired inline. It's the only way I feel remotely safe using this style of thermostat. And even at that - I am replacing them with Ranco and Johnson units as I can afford them (only 2 more to go!).
 
Is the alife and the BAH-1000 the same unit with different packaging? I know they are int he same caseing, just wonder is anyone knew any details one them. I know they are imported in hugh numbers from china....I ahve used the Bah but not the alife..Whith the amont of cash I have in my collection now a 85.00 tstat is cheap when compared to the value of the animals..
 
Mark and Aimee said:
How long have you been using your Alife thermostats? How much power are you running through them? Do you feel comfortable making the assessment that they are "safe", even with several people giving first hand accounts of them getting stuck in the ON position?
Click to expand...

I have been using a couple of them for just over a year. Each one has either a UTH or a foot of 11" flexwatt and a 40 to 75 watt bulb. So each has two heating devices hooked to it, maxing out at less than 125 watts. These 4 are used with aquariums that range in size from 20L to 75 gallons that are housing Leos. I can only relate my personal experiences with them. For me they have been trouble free.

Mark and Aimee said:
It's a fact - they are an analog thermostat. They will fail eventually. The 500 (sometimes 1000) watt power handling capacity I have seen advertised on them is probably the culprit. The more power you run through them, the hotter they run. And then they fail. If you're running a single 75 watt light bulb or something similar through them, you may never see problems.
Click to expand...

Everything will fail eventually. I use my temp gun on all of my enclosures at least three times a day. Even the ones running on Ranco and Helix thermostats. I don't put blind faith in any piece of equipment.

Mark and Aimee said:
Personally, I am using a few Alife style thermostats with lamp dimmers wired inline. It's the only way I feel remotely safe using this style of thermostat. And even at that - I am replacing them with Ranco and Johnson units as I can afford them (only 2 more to go!).
Click to expand...

Trust me, I know the Alifes are an inferior product when compared to Rancos, Helix, Johnson, etc. I said that in my original post. Just in my experiences the Alifes have worked out ok for what I use them for.
 
You have the URL for Control Depot ?
I couldnt pull anything up on it ?

TIA


Slitherin said:
the Ranco thermostats for a short time, however I understand that they have a great reputation. The main reason I went with them is that they are available for about $48 from Controlls Depot, they also carry the Johnson Controlls for about the same price.
Click to expand...
 
Matt Graybeal (Justcage), one of the people that posted on this thread, sells heat supplies. He is a great guy, with excellent service and the lowest prices.
I have spent a good amount of money with Matt in the last year and would never hesitate to do business with him again. Go to www.mgreptiles.com
You can't go wrong.
 
I was sitting here thinking about the fact that I haven't talked to you in a while...and read this thread...and realized if this person hadn't found you yet...they NEEDED to...
 
Actually I have been so busy I dont even think my family remembers me..lol.. Madness here I am telling ya.. Oh and BTW, need a cornsnake?..lol
 
Sorry...DEFINITELY can't help you THERE...

My wife found out about the 'real' total snake count and FLIPPED...

Besides...I still have a pair (hopefully they still have them for me, I've been VERY non-existant lately) coming from Serp and Hurley...

Got too many of the damn things as it is...
If I wasn't so attached to most of them...I would consider selling some off...and might still...LOL

Got to make room for all these damn boas and bp's...

Haven't let myself buy any snakes for a while now...thank God...saving up for the Tinley show...

You still going to be there?

Have to buy you a drink...
 
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