Thermostats/rheostats

[lihairden]

I found these on Petsmart.com and wondered if they're any good. Not sure what they have in-store or what Port Credit Pets has, but this should give me an idea of what to look for.

zoomed repti temp (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 9253&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030050&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1173483957199&itemNo=3&In=Reptile&N=2030050&Ne=2)

Repti-temp rheostat (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 0630&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030048&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1173484168697&itemNo=34&Nao=24&In=Reptile&N=2030048&Ne=2)

ESU reptile electronic temp controller (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 6687&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030048&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1173484168765&itemNo=35&Nao=24&In=Reptile&N=2030048&Ne=2)

I'm pretty sure a lot of people didn't like the last one, but the post was some years ago and I thought the controller might have been updated since then (old coke/new coke thing lol). Also, is there a difference between a thermostat and a rheostat?

[bsharrah]

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money of those. Go with a quality proportional unit.

Bart

[Mooing Tricycle]

Go with the Zoo Med 500R, im currently using it and am pretty darn happy.

Avoid the round on top ESU's though.... Everything ive read about them mentions them failing.

[lihairden]

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money of those. Go with a quality proportional unit.

Bart

What's a proportional unit?

[lihairden]

Go with the Zoo Med 500R, im currently using it and am pretty darn happy.

Avoid the round on top ESU's though.... Everything ive read about them mentions them failing.

I'll have a look around and see if I can find one. I read about the round top ESU's, but wasn't sure what ones they were.

[Scott Ashton]

What's a proportional unit?

A proportional thermostat acts meters power to the heat source rather than simply turning on and off. So as your heat source approaches its targeted temperature it "throttles back" the juice, but keeps it flowing which reduces the cooling effect that simply turning the current off tends to produce.

There are plenty of folks who have great success using on/off style thermostats and there are those who prefer to use proportional because they feel that proportional units offer finer control over temperature fluctuations.

Whichever route you go you should buy the best unit your budget allows.

As far as on/off thermostats go I am partial to the Ranco units while I know that others have had good success with the Johnson Controls units.

For proportional units - I have used both HCS and Herpstat and am partial to the Herpstat units.

You can search Fauna and find quite a bit of feedback on the various thermostats used in the herp hobby.

We recently had a discussion over on BallPythonForum.com about just this topic as well: http://www.ballpythonforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=366

Good luck!

[blucifer]

What's a proportional unit?


a proportional controller mimics nature by continuously adjusting the amount of power delivered to the heater, as opposed to simply turning on and off.

spyder robotics or helix systems are about it for those and they're pricey. i'd still recommend nothing else as they are the best money can buy and most others are really just junk.

[lihairden]

I think I'm going with the Zoomed 500r unless I find a proportional unit for a cheaper price. I did see something that might've been a proportional unit at PCPC, but I'd have to go back to be sure. 'Course, there's always the dimmer route if I can't find anything before I get the gecko.

[lihairden]

Forgot to ask if proportional units can be bought at places like Walmart and Zellers.

[blucifer]

i highly doubt it.

[deborahbroadus]

*bump* for newcomers!

This information is always good to know when trying to choose the best thermosat for reptiles for the least money!

Some people swear by Alife and some have sucky luck. Thermosats rise in reputation or fall depending on the performance of a few. I have had one Alife fail on me, but the others are working great so, I haven't fully made up my mind yet whether or not this was just a freak accident.

Some have been swearing by the most expensive proportional thermosats, but I haven't found them that reliable for racks expensive or cheap. I do have a Big Apple Porportional Thermosat on my "hospital" tank *where I put reptiles that I need to observe for a while*

It seems to be working great.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j113/phenomenon20002/pastelnov2007004.jpg

Showing plexiglass top...humidity is awesome!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j113/phenomenon20002/pastelnov2007005.jpg

I found this link UK stuff...just to check out what they are selling on the other side. :)

http://www.petsparade.co.uk/

[deborahbroadus]

OH MAN!! Forgot to say that nothing is on..so ignore the numbers on the thermometer! :)